Monéa finds support amid alleged snub from BVI festival organisers
Local dancehall and pop artiste Monéa Richardson says she was left disappointed after she was allegedly overlooked for this year’s Tortola Festival lineup, despite expressing a willingness to perform with a cleaner, less explicit set following her recent decision to recommit her life to Christianity.
In a video shared on social media, Monéa explained that she initially declined an invitation from festival organisers earlier this year because she was on a break from music and uncertain whether she would continue performing.
However, after what she described as a spiritual journey and a renewed commitment to Christ, she later contacted organisers to say she was willing to perform. The only condition, she said, was that she would no longer perform some of her most sexually explicit songs.
“I told them I would do the show, but I won’t be singing Inna Di World, Green Light and those super explicit songs,” Monéa said. “I have new music coming out that’s still my vibe, and it will still be a great show.”
According to the artiste, organisers expressed concern that audiences expected those songs and told her they would discuss the matter before getting back to her. She said she never received a follow-up.
Monéa later accepted an invitation to perform at the St. John Festival in the US Virgin Islands, where she said she successfully delivered a family-friendly performance without singing the explicit tracks. She said Tortola Festival organisers subsequently questioned why she had performed there after indicating she had become a Christian.
“They assumed what my show would look like,” she said, adding that her performance in St. John proved she could still entertain crowds without relying on explicit lyrics.
The artiste also questioned why she was ultimately left off the lineup after seeing additional performers announced at the last minute.
“I honestly feel I’m from home. I have a track record of great performances on Tortola. I don’t see why that would be any type of issue,” she said.
Her video quickly drew widespread support online, with many commenters praising her decision to change direction and urging festival organisers to reconsider. Others commended her for publicly standing by her faith while remaining true to her identity as an entertainer.
The controversy comes amid ongoing criticism from sections of the community that successive governments and party promoters have continued to fund performances featuring sexually explicit and violent lyrics during public festivals.
Critics have long argued that taxpayer-supported events should place greater emphasis on music and entertainment that reflects positive values, particularly for younger audiences, while supporters maintain that dancehall and other contemporary genres remain popular with festival patrons.
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How much better a VI festival would be celebrating VI emancipation if it was only local VI artists.
If an employer offers you a job and you decline it, you can’t expect the position to still be there when you change your mind. Why should a festival booking be any different? I still want to see our local artists succeed, but supporting locals doesn’t mean every decision made by organisers is automatically the wrong one.
A young woman prefers to entertain the crowd with wholesome social lyrics instead of the sexual explicit and exploits and degradation of a woman body with lewdness to sexual overtones and wok up and you deliberately leave he rout, do not complain when the society social ills increases to a height we cannot control
How ypu find God and still want to be on the wrong path way. Ypu said no. What they must do??. Girl sit down because you are confuse
just flexing the lil power they have, her performance for St John shows that she can still deliver an engaging set while sticking to her boundaries. she’s skilled enough to rewrite her hits and still have a crowd sing along.
Cuz you either stand for something or fall for everything! Keep your faith as the vampires will come and try to derail you from your chosen path. The road will be rocky but worth the freedom to walk with grace and faith.
Christians are so confused. The sheep don’t mix with the goats. Why she want to mix with the goats? I’ll tell you why; it’s because she’s still a goat masquerading as a sheep. You can’t serve two masters young lady. You shouldn’t even want to be in that crowd, much less share a stage with artist who sing slackness. Lol who you think you fooling?
@Gadaman and you are still a jackass.
How can U call the new wannabe consultant that ? •¿• ( buffalo soldier) has a better name for this predator “vampire ) , who preys on people who he dislikes and bad mouth them using different names to blogg his racists and derogatory narratives on them , and embelishes those he likes , by calling them “popular business man ” when the whole territory already know who had blood on his hands and wants his hero , who he adores , freed ~ we all know who that is
Christians.Wow.Yall love to overdue it when your younger..but can’t take the guilt..the cheating,the lying it all continues under the guise of being born again..wackos.embracing victimhood is the new Christian way
By the time Monea finds out there is no Jesus coming back here she would have already loose out on thousands of dollars.