One Trinidadian Soca artiste has come out in protest over the announcement that Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel will perform in Trinidad on Carnival Friday.
Yankey Boy is among many who have taken to Social Media to express their disappointment since the announcement Tuesday.
The Soca artiste took to his Instagram page Wednesday, to announce the start of a hunger strike in protest.
“Not carnival Friday. Carnival supposed to be only soca, calypso, chutney, steel pan, tassa,” a caption accompanying a photo on Yankey Boy’s Instagram page read.
In the photo, the artiste adorns a placard, the front of which reads; “Since Vybz Kartel is set to perform Carnival Friday Feb 28.” To the back: Yankey Boy hunger strike day #1. Until he change the date. Ash Wed. Open.”
In a separate post Yankey Boy wrote: “There are 52 Fridays in the year, pick another date. You people are killing Soca and continuously make excuses. This is extremely irresponsible and greedy.” In the background could be heard a song with the lyrics, “we doh want to hear no dancehall in de carnival, only soca.”
As a result of some of the backlash, the promoters of the event has sought to clarify details for the concert, saying that it will feature 80 per cent soca and 20 per cent other genres of musical performances.
They have also stated that an official launch for the “One Caribbean” event will be held soon.
In 2014, dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, while at the peak of his career, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams.
The Jamaican performer and two other accused were released from prison on July 31, after the Jamaica court of appeal ruled against a retrial.
Since his release from prison Vybz Kartel has been signed to perform his first concert in Jamaica on December 31. This will be followed by performances in a number of other Caribbean islands including Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana.
