Organizers of the popular dancehall show, Sting are set to honour a slew of legendary acts within the genre at this year’s edition for their vast contributions to the industry.
The organizing committee, headed by controversial CEO, Isaiah Laing will hand out special awards to the likes of Papa San, Lady Saw (Marion Hall), Lieutenant Stitchie, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Vybz Kartel, Shabba Ranks and others. It is being done as a commemorative gesture to conclude the Sting series as we’ve known it since 1983, when the first edition was held.
As of next year, Sting will be known as One World Sting, which will take the show across the world annually in an attempt to promote Jamaican music worldwide; particularly focusing on exposing its brand and mixing reggae and dancehall with others genres.
Two of dancehall’s heavyweights, Ninja Man and Bounty Killer, who are also set to be honoured on the show have indicated their respected refusals to attend and collect their awards. Though both entertainers insist they have no personal issues with Laing, they cite past disagreements with him and the way he has treated big-name acts during negotiations to perform as reasons behind their reluctance to appear.
“It’s always great to be honoured, but only when it’s sincerely done,” Bounty Killer told the Jamaica Star. “I know Laing very well, and he doesn’t appreciate or honour what we artistes has done for him.”
“Me and Laing don’t have anything, we just don’t see eye to eye. If him see me and say, What’s up?’ I say, ‘Hi, no problem.’ We talk, we’re not enemies,” he added. “I get to understand as a youth coming up that these people don’t really rate me or honour me. Dem man deh nuh too rate nobody, dem man deh just rate the sensation of the moment and who dem can sell some tickets off of.”
Ninja Man expressed similar sentiments to the publication, saying “I’m not in Mr. Laing frame of mind. I don’t know what is in his real intentions, but all I know if him making a move like this, it would be a positive move to bring back Sting to the level that it’s supposed to be. And if him a make a move like this to honour the artiste this year and not clashing them, it will be a more appropriate show to bring a proper energy to Sting.”
The special awards are being doled out in various categories including top performer, Sting Icons and Sting Champions.
Sting 2016 will be held on December 26 at Jamworld in Portmore, St. Catherine
