|
Gregory A. Lewin
glewin@bluefieldspulse.com
Nov28-Lucky Dube’s visit to the Caribbean coast of
Nicaragua was supposed to have been one of the most memorable moments in
our history. Instead, It turned out to be one of the most scandalous¾a
lowlight now shared throughout the international reggae community.
According to La Prensa newspaper, Realstone
Production, a company under Realstone “Bada” Bent’s management, did
not pay Lucky Dube for the Corn Island show, which left over two-thousand
five hundred fans waiting all morning for Lucky Dube to come on stage. He
did come on stage however but only to tell the waiting public that he had
not been paid to perform, a situation that could have caused bodily harm
to him and his crew.
“Thank god the people on the island did not act
aggressively toward the artist” one outraged fan told the pulse via
telephone. The fan also stated angrily that the people’s trust in
organizers from Bluefields is at an extreme low, and that it was the
second time they have been tricked. The first time was in 2000 when Judy
Boucher and Donna Marie came over here to lip synch.
The shows seemed to have been financially doomed to
failure from the beginning. Sources said the reason why the shows started
late at night was because Lucky Dube would not go on stage unless he had
been paid and for lack of confidence in Realstone Bent. He demanded his
money before every show. This clearly coincides with what happened in Corn
Island. La Prensa reported that Realstone Bent took the money that he had
received from Javier Jackson, who had purchased the Corn Island show, and
did not pay Lucky Dube, leaving him at the mercy of the fans.
One may ask how can a well-thought out and
well-planned event go so wrong? Again, according to La Prensa, dated
Friday, October 29, 2004, Lucky Dube was invited by Rayfield Hodgson, the
current president of the regional council, to celebrate the 17th
Anniversary of the Autonomy Law 28. There should not have been any
financial issues since the President of the council invited him. In
previous months, Bluefieldspulse had learned from ex Governor Cox that a
disbursement of $6,000.00 had
been issued to Rayfield Hodgson and Realstone Bent to secure Lucky Dube
for the October events.
One may also ask why was there a financial struggle
with Lucky Dube when he was supposed to have been performing for free to
help build an art center on 20 acres of land at a cost of $150,000.00
according to promoter Realstone Bent in the Prensa articles dated Tuesday,
October 25 and Wednesday October 26, 2004. Sources told the pulse that the
four events including transportation cost amounted to approximately
$100,000.00. Why and how can so much money be spent to build an art center
that would cost $150,000.00 in a region where unemployment is nearly 95%?
Note: Fans in Corn Island who had proof of purchased
tickets were reimbursed.
Chronology of reggae/soca Concerts Held in Nicaragua for the
benefit of the Caribbean People
Bluefields and Corn Island
(2000)
Promoter - Orel Schollotte
Artists - Judy Boucher and Donna Marie
Caught lip-synching (fonomimica) and got booed.
Thought this event was embarrassing?
Bluefields (2001)
Promoter - Oneness Entertainment Group (formerly SLC Inc.)
Artists - Yvonne Curtis and Ray Mondo
Wonderful show that will always be remembered for years to come.
Bluefields (2002)
Promoter - Oneness Entertainment Group
Artist - Owen Gray
Great performance! Magnificent artistry.
Bluefields (2003)
Promoter - Oneness Entertainment Group
Artist - Yvonne Curtis
A free show for all to celebrate the 100 years of struggle on the
Caribbean coast.
Managua (2004)
Promoter - Oneness Entertainment Group
Artist - Burning Flames
You haven’t seen anything until you see Burning Flames live.
Managua-Bluefields-Bilwi-Corn Island (2004)
Promoter - Realstone Bent
Artist - Lucky Dube
Disastrous, since Lucky Dube did not get paid for one show. It was
revealed that Lucky Dube was not doing the shows for free as stated by the
promoter in La Prensa; instead he was charging $10,000.00 a show.
|
