ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – Thousands of Ethiopians and Rastafarians were jamming on a hot Sunday in the capital’s main square as Ethiopia threw a birthday bash for the late reggae star Bob Marley, in what is billed as the country’s largest concert.

The bash, part of month-long celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Marley’s birth, marks the first time the event was being held outside the singer’s native Jamaica and was organised by the Bob Marley Foundation, the UN children’s agency, the African Union and others.

Last night in Jamaica, a concert to mark the occasion was staged in New Kingston, featuring a host of local reggae artistes.

Marley, who died in 1981, looked to Ethiopia throughout his life as the spiritual home of his Rastafarian faith.

A priest from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church blessed the event and then first on stage was Burundi’s Royal Drummers.

Many of those in Meskel Square for yesterday’s concert wore T-shirts emblazoned with portraits of Bob Marley, including Minister of State for Information Netsanet Asfaw. Others wore hand-bands, jewellery and T-shirts decorated with the Ethiopian national flag and Rastafarian colours of green, yellow and red.

Organisers said they expected as many as 300,000 people to attend the free event, which is dubbed “Africa Unite” after one of Marley’s many famous songs. There were, however, 2,000 seats for guests who would be paying US$100 (euro77) each.

“I think it is incredible that so many years after brother Bob’s death, he still inspires such an amazing show,” said Yohannes, a Rastafarian, who only goes by a single name. Originally from Crystal Palace, London, he now lives in Addis Ababa and is married to an Ethiopian.

The audience had swelled to about 20,000 people early yesterday when the first set was played. About 2,000 policemen patrolled the venue, a policeman said.

Benin music star Angelique Kidjo sang later, as did well-known Ethiopian artistes. Marley’s five sons, widow and former back-up singers were expected to perform, along with Senegal’s Youssou N’dour and Baaba Maal.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrived with his wife and children to attend the concert.

Information Minister Bereket Simon told journalists that the concert will raise Africa’s profile in the world and improve its image.

Ethiopia’s evangelical churches on Saturday objected to the celebrations, saying that Rastafarians are wrong to consider Ethiopia’s last emperor as a living god and warning they would expose Ethiopian youth to marijuana.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the country’s main church, has, however, supported the celebrations.

Meskel Square, which has been undergoing a facelift over the past month with new paving and streetlights, was fluttering with Ethiopian, Jamaican and other countries’ flags. Around the main square, bars, hotels and nightclubs were awash with the red, gold and green colours.

“This is a big day for Bob,” said Bisrat Teddesse, an Ethiopian businessman out for a morning walk with his wife. “I like the Jamaicans,” he said, using a common Ethiopian term for the country’s small Rastafarian community. “And I love Bob. He is Ethiopia’s elder son.”

The concert was broadcast live on Ethiopian television.

Organisers say that the celebrations have cost about US$1 million (euro760,000) and aimed to raise funds to help poor families in Ethiopia as well as tsunami victims in neighbouring Somalia.