Jamaican Artiste Vybz Kartel was filled with positive messages for Guyanese children and young adults on Friday as he urged men to stop promoting toxic masculinity and encourage children to intervene and combat bullying in schools.
Addressing Guyanese Artistes during a recent engagement alongside President Irfaan Ali at State House, Kartel said a lot of conflicts can be avoided if youths “stand down… be a bigger man and say I am sorry.”
“Young men who think they feel the need to push toxicity and mistake that with masculinity and that is the problem with…Caribbean people and that mindset needs to change… It is ok to have fun, it is ok to smile, it is ok to walk with your girlfriend, you don’t have to be on the corner smoking a spliff and thinking that is manliness,” he noted.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, served 13 years in prison after being convicted of murder in 2014. His conviction was overturned in March 2024, and he was released from prison in July 2024. Since his release, he has been promoting positive messages on every platform.
He was in Guyana last week for the launch of his Str8 Vybz Rum here.
Noting that not everyone gets a second chance like he did, the artiste said not every argument needs to end with the use of a fist, knife or gun but instead, people can “talk things over.”
“A lot of people in prison now would never come out, a lot of people through gangster violence lose them life so now we are promoting positivity, we are promoting love, respect and we promote communication,” he said.
Kartel also address school bullying in response to a question from a local artiste. He highlighted that music can be used to reduce school bullying, which is not only an issue in Guyana but also in Jamaica.
However, he urged onlookers of such practices to intervene and help to address the issue.
“One of the biggest hinderances to stopping that people don’t want to get involved and sometimes if you don’t get involved, you’re just as guilty as the person that’s doing the harm,” he said.
“You can have a Grade six child being bullied by a Grade 10 child and you have guys in Grade 10 that will just watch. They’re not partaking but just sitting by and not doing anything, so I think it needs a community and a group effort
He urged students to contact a Teacher or someone in authority once they notice bullying to stop situations from escalating.
During Friday’s engagement, it was announced that two Guyanese artistes, a male and female, will be given what President Ali has described as “an opportunity of a lifetime,” to collaborate with Vybz Kartel also known as ‘World Boss’ or ‘De Teacha’.
The Jamaican dancehall sensation is expected to return to Guyana before his May 24, 2025, Baderation Concert at the National Stadium, to conduct auditions.
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