In the past, Guyana has had a tendency to restrict dancehall acts from performing in their country due to incidents involving the artists. In 2011, Vybz Kartel’s music was banned from the local airwaves, and in 2008, Bounty Killer and Mavado were temporarily banned from performing after gunshots were fired at their concert. Unfortunately, last year’s “Baderation” concert resulted in an incident that prompted the banning of Skeng from public performances in the country.
Regardless, this year’s staging of the popular concert series was incident-free, thanks to the extra precautions taken to ensure the safety of patrons. The event was headlined by Jamaican dancehall stars Alkaline and Jada Kingdom, alongside newly signed Interscope recording artiste Byron Messia of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Kicking off the showcase, Byron Messia received a lot of love for his trending hit “Talibans“. Meanwhile, Jada Kingdom delivered a very over-sexualised set to the audience’s amusement and appreciation. However, the night belonged to Alkaline, who captivated the audience from his opening entry, “Gone Away“. He performed for over thirty minutes and delivered a noticeably improved set.
Despite the previous setbacks, the “Baderation” concert remains a popular event that attracts large gatherings. However, last year’s incident led Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, to announce his intention to ban any dancehall artist whose lyrics promote violence from performing in the country.
