Planned Vybz Kartel performance during Trinidad Carnival faces backlash
Planned Vybz Kartel performance during Trinidad Carnival faces backlash . 
The Jamaica Observer
Vybz Kartel

A promoter in Trinidad & Tobago has sought to clarify details of a Carnival Friday concert featuring Vybz Kartel after an earlier announcement of the event, featuring the Jamaican dancehall superstar during the country’s annual cultural festivities, sparked immediate backlash in the twin island republic.

Critics of the concert accused the promoters and Kartel of disrespecting Trinidadian culture on a day traditionally dedicated to spotlighting the top soca artistes.

In one video making the rounds on social media, a T&T actor/comedian addresses Kartel directly, telling the ‘Worl Boss’ to “Put some respect on our Carnival season”.

“Vybz Kartel, now everybody respects you because of your legendary history, but you see what you’re doing there, planning to have your own concert on ‘Fantastic Friday’, the Friday before Carnival, I don’t think too much people is going to agree with that,” the entertainer popularly known as Starks said. “So, please, before things get hectic, go back to the drawing board, because if it is one thing about Trinidadians, you see when it comes to our Carnival season, we don’t want to hear nothing else.”

In a statement, promoters One Caribbean Music Festival sought to clear the air, noting that the event “features a stellar cast of superstar performers from across the region representing 80 per cent soca and 20 per cent other genres of musical performances.

“The One Caribbean Music organisation consists of a group of individuals with a deep love for all Caribbean music. We are following the long tradition of well-loved events that have invited performers from all over the world to participate in the greatest show on earth,” the organisers said.

Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, was freed from a murder charge earlier this year after spending nearly 13 years in prison.

In 2014, Kartel, fellow entertainer Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell; Kahira Jones; and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of associate Clive “Lizard” Williams.

The accused appealed the case up to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, where the murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct and the case remitted back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial.

On July 31 of this year the Jamaica Court of Appealed ruled against a retrial and the men were freed of the charges.

Kartel will perform for the first time since his release from prison on New Year’s Eve in Kingston.
Jamaica
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https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/11/27/planned-vybz-kartel-performance-trinidad-carnival-faces-backlash/
2024-11-27
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Planned Vybz Kartel performance during Trinidad Carnival faces backlash