One of many largest moments of this 12 months’s Reggae Sumfest would be the official coronation of dancehall icon Vybz Kartel as the brand new “King of the Dancehall”, promoters confirmed on the competition’s current media launch.
The announcement was made by Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Leisure, throughout the launch occasion held on the Iberostar Resort in St James.
“We’re additionally crowning Vybz Kartel, that’s a giant deal!” Bogdanovich informed the Jamaica Observer.
The symbolic crowning comes greater than a decade after Beenie Man obtained the identical honor at Reggae Sumfest 2009, full with gown and crown. However Bogdanovich instructed that it’s time to go the torch.
“Kings come and go. They will’t be a king on a regular basis,” he mentioned.
The thirty second version of Reggae Sumfest is ready for July 13–19, reworking Montego Bay right into a cultural hotspot with seven occasions unfold throughout the week. The competition will culminate in two main live performance nights on the Catherine Corridor Leisure Advanced.
The 2025 lineup boasts an eclectic mixture of native and worldwide stars, together with Toni Braxton, Vybz Kartel, Tarrus Riley, Masicka, Protoje, and Tommy Lee Sparta, amongst others.
“This 12 months’s competition guarantees to be nothing wanting eclectic… From July thirteenth to the nineteenth, Montego Bay will as soon as once more turn out to be the heartbeat of the Caribbean,” mentioned Bogdanovich.
Tradition and Leisure Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, in remarks learn by fellow minister Homer Davis, praised Sumfest as an emblem of Jamaican pleasure and creativity.
“For many years Reggae Sumfest has been simply greater than a music competition. It has been a celebration of our id, a showcase of our expertise and the highly effective reminder of the influence Jamaican music has had on the world,” the message learn.
Director of Tourism Donovan White echoed these sentiments, calling the competition “our cultural North Star.”
“It displays the essence of our individuals, the heart beat of our tradition, and the spirit of our nationwide id. For numerous guests, it serves because the gateway to discovering Jamaica,” he added.
The launch occasion additionally paid tribute to Robert “Ducksie” Russell, co-founder of Reggae Sumfest, who handed away in December 2023 on the age of 76.
“Robert was greater than a co-founder, he was a cultural visionary, a champion of Jamaican music, and a beloved determine whose legacy nonetheless guides this competition even in the present day,” Bogdanovich mentioned.
