Cordel ‘Skatta’ Burrell, a key member of the Downsound Entertainment and Reggae Sumfest organizing committee has provided clarity on Bounty Killer’s recent withdrawal from this year’s staging of the festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Speaking with the Jamaica Gleaner following Thursday night’s official launch of the 2024 edition of the annual music festival, Burrell expressed disappointment over the breakdown of negotiations to honour the dancehall icon but said: “All is not lost.”
“The Bounty Killer aspect of the show was one of the first things we came up with,” Burrell explained. “A member of the team came up with the plan, and we loved it so much that we delved into it quickly. However, to execute something of this magnitude, it required a lot of resources, and at the time, we were unable to get enough information on what was needed to proceed in terms of the dollar amount, so the negotiation broke down.”
Bounty Killer, a revered figure in the world of reggae and dancehall, announced his unexpected withdrawal from this year’s Reggae Sumfest on Tuesday night. The news, delivered through a poignant video post of a past Reggae Sumfest performance, left fans disheartened but supportive. In the video caption, he wrote, “Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control, there won’t be no Bounty Killer tribute this year at Sumfest, and I won’t be appearing either. Salute to all the fans, alliance, and allegiances. Thank You????????.” His absence from the lineup is a notable loss for the festival but also opens up possibilities for the future.
Burrell emphasized that the complexity of honouring an artist of Bounty Killer’s stature made the planning particularly challenging. “It is a huge spend to celebrate an artist like Bounty Killer; it is not like booking an artist and writing one cheque. It takes a lot of measures to put in place, and a lot of personnel want to celebrate Bounty Killer. It is not just a regular or typical thing,” he added. Despite the setback, Burrell remains optimistic about the future. “There is still room (for it to happen)… because it is not based on a disgruntled situation between Reggae Sumfest and Bounty Killer. So I know it is not hard for us to get back to the drawing board and make it happen, whether this year or next year.”
As Reggae Sumfest approaches, Bounty Killer’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, but Burrell’s comments offer a glimpse of hope that the tribute can still materialize. The festival team and fans alike are left anticipating what comes next for the “Godfather of Dancehall” and his celebrated contributions to the genre.
