Rohan Marley, entrepreneur, former athlete, and son of the legendary reggae artist Bob Marley, has built a life and career rooted in purpose, resilience, and cultural heritage. His life story is an incredible journey of resilience and entrepreneurism from navigating life without his father to forging his own path in sports, fashion, coffee, cannabis, and hospitality. He is also a devoted dad and the father of model Selah Marley, reggae artist YG Marley, and former NFL football player Nico Marley, Zion Marley, Sarah Marley, John Marley, and Eden Marley.
Shaped by his deep connection to the Rastafari movement, Rohan shares how his philosophy influences his approach to business, his commitment to sustainability, and his vision for creating lasting impact. Whether pioneering Marley Coffee, launching Lion Order in the cannabis industry, or expanding into hospitality, he remains dedicated to authenticity, legacy, and empowerment.
Through his insights and experiences, Rohan offers a powerful perspective on entrepreneurship, culture, and the importance of building something meaningful for future generations.
Rohan, can you give us an overview of your journey, your background, and what led you to where you are today?
Yeah, so where do I begin? You see, my story, it’s life after ‘81—after my father, Bob Marley, passed. I was just a boy, nine years old, no father figure to guide me through life, no one to teach me to ride a bicycle or drive a manual car. I had to find my way. I was expelled from school at a young age, shifting between Jamaica and Miami, and trying to find a path. But one thing always fascinated me—the Coptic movement. These Rastafari priests weren’t just spiritual leaders; they were businessmen, farming the land, sustaining a livelihood through cannabis. They were the first legal cannabis movers in the ‘70s, contributing millions to Jamaica’s economy. Their legacy sparked something in me.
When I was expelled from school in 1984, I was sent to Miami to live with my uncles. There, I met some of the people from the Coptic movement I had read about but never seen. I saw their success, their wealth, and their business acumen. But the government shut down their operations, imprisoned them, and took everything. That’s when I thought I’d become a lawyer—to free my Rasta brethren from prison, persecuted for using our sacrament. But life had other plans.
I played sports, got into football, and earned a scholarship to the University of Miami. While there, I met people connected to the old Rastafari movement in Michigan, where they had reestablished themselves legally. That’s when my mind started shifting again. I realized I wasn’t going to the NFL—I was too small. So, I turned to my roots, my heritage, my spirituality. I traveled to Ethiopia with my grandmother, my guiding light, to reconnect with my essence. And that’s where the next chapter began.
You’ve lived and worked in different places—Jamaica, Miami, Ethiopia. How have these environments shaped your worldview?
Every place I’ve lived has taught me something different, but they’re all connected in my journey.
Jamaica is my foundation. It’s where I learned resilience, where I first saw the strength of the Rastafari movement, and where I was introduced to the power of self-sufficiency. Growing up there, I saw both struggle and ingenuity—people making something out of nothing. That mindset shaped me early on.
Miami was where I had to learn survival. When I moved there as a teenager, it was a whole new world—different energy, different opportunities. It’s where I got into football, where I saw the business side of things, and where I learned to adapt. Being in Miami also put me closer to the Latin American market, which later helped me expand Marley Coffee and other businesses internationally.
Ethiopia, though—that was a spiritual homecoming. It’s where I truly reconnected with my roots, not just as a Marley, but as a man of African heritage. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and the spiritual heart of Rastafari. When I visited, I realized that my path wasn’t just about business; it was about purpose. That’s why I source coffee from Ethiopia, why I support communities there, and why I carry that energy into everything I do. Living and working in these places didn’t just shape my worldview—they gave me the tools to build something meaningful.
Can you tell us about your journey in the fashion industry?
Fashion was a big part of my journey. My sister, Cedella, was working on a women’s brand called Catch a Fire, and she wanted me to develop a men’s line to complement it. But I told her, ‘If I’m going to do this, I have to call it Tuff Gong Clothing.’ So I went all in, learning everything I could about fabrics, dyes, and design. I traveled to Portugal, worked with seamstresses in New York, and really immersed myself in the craft.
Tuff Gong Clothing was taking off, but then we hit some challenges. We ran out of money, and my business partner at the time refused to take a pay cut. I had to shut it down. That was a hard moment. But when one door closes, another opens. My sister brought me in to work on another fashion line in New York, where I designed a collection called Relics of Antiquity. It was built around Ethiopian church art, blending culture and heritage into fashion. But even then, I realized my true calling wasn’t just in clothing—it was in building something deeper, something that could last for generations. That’s when my focus shifted more towards coffee, cannabis, and lifestyle brands that truly represented my essence.
You’ve built multiple businesses—coffee, cannabis, fashion, hospitality. How did that all come together?
It started with the land. In Jamaica, I bought a piece of land with $200,000. It was raw, untouched, and full of potential. The community told me, ‘This land is known for coffee.’ I asked, ‘What’s growing on my land?’ They said, ‘Blue Mountain Coffee.’ And just like that, I was in the coffee business.
I didn’t just want to farm—I wanted to do it the right way. Organic, sustainable, ethical. I became the first organic coffee farmer in Jamaica over two acres. But the industry wasn’t set up for small farmers. I was selling my raw cherries for pennies while corporations made millions. I said, ‘Nah, I need to take this to market myself.’ That’s when I created Marley Coffee. I learned the entire process—from seed to cup. And when I went back to Ethiopia, I realized coffee wasn’t just Jamaican; it was Ethiopian, the birthplace of coffee itself. So, Marley Coffee became a universal movement, sourcing from Ethiopia, Jamaica, and beyond.
From there, I expanded. I built House of Marley, an eco-friendly audio and lifestyle brand, because if I’m going to be about sustainability in coffee, I need to be about it in everything. Then came my hotel—RoMarley Beach House in Mexico. While running that, I saw people drinking wine that wasn’t mine, so I developed my own, King Clementine wine. The same happened with tequila—so now I have my own tequila coming, too. It’s about creating a lifestyle that represents my roots.
The coffee business started in Jamaica, but you later transitioned to Ethiopia. What inspired that move?
Jamaica was where I first started growing coffee, but the industry there wasn’t designed for small farmers. I was selling raw cherries for a fraction of what they were worth, and I couldn’t even get an export license. It wasn’t sustainable. Then, in the year 2000, I traveled to Ethiopia—the birthplace of coffee. That’s when everything changed.
I visited a monastery where the monks were drying coffee cherries on a barbecue slab, using an ancient wine process. That was my moment of enlightenment. The monk threw me a coffee cherry and said, ‘This is your future business.’ I carried that cherry in my pocket as a reminder.
But it was more than that. I realized that coffee wasn’t just about business—it was about history, culture, and identity. The world calls it Arabica, but the real name is Aetiopica. That knowledge lit a fire in me. I wanted Marley Coffee to be more than just a product; I wanted it to tell the true story of coffee. Ethiopia is not just where coffee comes from; it’s the birthplace of civilization, the roots of Rastafari, the land of Haile Selassie. It all connects.
So I expanded, sourcing from Ethiopia, bringing that authenticity into the brand. That’s why my Ethiopian single-origin coffee is called One Love. It’s about unity, about honoring the origins, about bringing the story full circle—Jamaica to Ethiopia, back to where it all began.
Lion Order has been a major part of your entrepreneurial journey. Can you tell us more about it?
Cannabis is sacred. It’s our sacrament, part of our identity as Rastafari. My journey with herb started long before it was legal, back in the ‘70s through the Coptic movement. It all came full circle in 2020 when I realized I couldn’t be buying herb for the rest of my life—I had to create my own. That’s when I launched Lion Order, my cannabis company.
Lion Order isn’t just about selling herb; it’s about a movement. It’s about returning to self, owning our identity, and standing in righteousness. We’re building a brand based on premium genetics, pure quality, and a message of empowerment. We just signed a deal for Florida, making Lion Order one of the legal cannabis brands in the state. This isn’t about business for me—it’s about legacy.
You’ve also expanded into hospitality. Can you share more about that?
Hospitality is a natural extension of my journey. I created RoMarley Beach House in Mexico as a space where people can experience the lifestyle we represent—relaxation, culture, good food, and good energy. It’s not just a resort; it’s an experience where people can feel the essence of what we stand for.
Every detail, from the design to the menu, reflects our philosophy of quality and authenticity. We wanted to create a space that wasn’t just about luxury but about connection—connection to nature, to great food, to music, and to the spirit of togetherness. Whether it’s the handcrafted cocktails, the locally sourced ingredients in our dishes, or the music that fills the air, RoMarley Beach House is about celebrating life in an intentional way.
Developing the hospitality side of my business has shown me the power of creating spaces where people can connect, unwind, and be inspired. And there’s more coming. RoMarley Beach House is just the beginning—I see hospitality as another way to build community and expand the reach of our culture. We’re working on expanding into more locations, ensuring that wherever we open, it embodies the same warmth, authenticity, and excellence
You’ve described yourself as a ‘Rastapreneur.’ What does that mean to you? How does your Rastafari philosophy influence your business?
Being a Rastapreneur means doing business in a way that honors my roots, my values, and my people. Rastafari is about consciousness—it’s about living in harmony with nature, standing firm in truth, and building something that uplifts others. So for me, business isn’t just about making money; it’s about creating opportunities, building generational wealth, and keeping our traditions alive.
Rastafari teaches self-reliance. We farm our own land, grow our own food, and create our own businesses. That’s why everything I do—whether it’s coffee, cannabis, fashion, or hospitality—follows that same principle. I don’t just want to be a consumer; I want to be a creator. I want to control the process from start to finish and make sure that whatever I put my name on aligns with my beliefs. That means organic, sustainable, ethical business practices. It means treating people right, giving back to the community, and staying true to my essence.
You’re passionate about giving back. What philanthropic efforts are closest to your heart?
Giving back is at the core of who I am. It’s not just about writing checks; it’s about being present, about lifting others up every single day. One of the projects I’m most proud of is supporting over 10,000 students in Ethiopia through the JKS Karate Foundation. Education is key—it’s what empowers the next generation to break cycles and build something of their own.
I’ve also helped build churches and homes for the elderly in Ethiopia because our elders are the keepers of wisdom. They hold the stories, the traditions, the culture. We have to take care of them the same way they took care of us.
But philanthropy isn’t just about big projects—it’s in the small things too. It’s in helping an elder cross the street, in mentoring young people, in speaking to kids at schools. It’s in making sure that every business I create gives back in some way. That’s the Rastafari way—we rise by lifting others.
Your family has been in Florida for nearly 50 years. What does that mean for your legacy?
My family came to Miami in 1976. That’s almost 50 years of history, of roots being planted. Just like we built a foundation in Jamaica, we’ve built one here in Florida. When I launch my businesses, I’m marking them ‘Established in 1976’ because that’s part of the story. This is home, and in 50 more years, we’ll have a century of legacy in Florida, just like the great families who built lasting institutions here.
It’s about more than just existing in a place—it’s about contributing to it. It’s about making an impact. My businesses, my children, my family’s work in music and culture—it all connects back to that foundation we built here.
What advice do you give to your children?
Stick to your lineage. If your father was a plumber, own a hardware store. Build on what’s already been laid for you. My son, YG, is an artist. I tell him, ‘Your mother is Lauryn Hill, your grandfather is Bob Marley. If you sing outside of those roots, people won’t connect with you.’ It’s about embracing who you are, staying authentic, and being responsible for carrying the legacy forward.
More than anything, I teach my children about independence. Don’t wait for someone to give you something—create it yourself. That’s how dynasties are built. You take what’s been passed down to you, and you expand it, elevate it. And most importantly, stay humble. Stay true to yourself and your purpose.
What’s next for you?
Expansion. I’m always looking ahead. Right now, I’m working on launching my own tequila brand, King Clementine. More coffee shops, more lifestyle brands. The mission continues, and I’m just getting started.
But beyond business, what’s next for me is continuing to grow, to learn, to give back. Every day is an opportunity to do better, to build something meaningful, to make an impact. That’s what drives me.
Your family has been honored at Playing for Change. Can you share more about your family’s ongoing legacy in music and business?
Music is in our blood. The Playing for Change event in Miami was a beautiful moment of recognition for my father’s impact on the world. But his legacy isn’t just in the past—it’s alive today in everything we do.
My brother Ziggy continues to lead in music and film. Cedella is involved in both music and fashion. My own work in business carries the same principles that my father stood for—unity, consciousness, empowerment. Everything we do, in some way, connects back to that foundation he built.
The Marley name isn’t just about music; it’s about movement. It’s about inspiring people to be their best selves, to live with purpose, to create something that lasts. That’s what we’re carrying forward.
What does family legacy mean to you?
Family is everything. My father left a legacy not just of music, but of purpose. My siblings and I, we’ve each taken that and built upon it in our own ways—Ziggy in music and film, Cedella in fashion, me in business and lifestyle brands. But legacy isn’t just about carrying a name; it’s about responsibility.
Legacy isn’t just about what you inherit—it’s about what you build and pass on. It’s making sure that your children and their children have something to stand on. That’s why I work so hard, why I build with intention. Because what I create isn’t just for me; it’s for generations to come.
Any final thoughts?
A: Life is about intention. Everything we do has to have meaning. Whether it’s business, music, philanthropy, or just how you treat people on a daily basis, it all matters. I move with purpose because I know that what I build today isn’t just for me—it’s for generations to come.
I always say, ‘Don’t chase money—chase purpose.’ When you live with purpose, everything else falls into place. Success isn’t just about how much you have; it’s about how many lives you touch, how many people you uplift. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.
