Dancehall deejay Spragga Benz declared Bounty Killer and Beenie Man Accompong Maroons on Wednesday and simultaneously urged the Canadian, British, and US embassies and the European Union to ensure they face no obstacles when travelling abroad.
The A-1 Lover artist, who is also a Maroon, made the call to the international diplomatic bodies via an Instagram post, a day after Bounty Killer and Beenie Man received ICONS awards from the Government of Jamaica, during the Independence Day Gala at the National Stadium in Kingston, for their outstanding contributions to Jamaican music.
“On this day, the Indigenous people of Accompong Town and Cockpit Country take this opportunity to renew to the United States, Great Britain, and Canada, the assurances of their highest esteem. Honorable Notice and Request to all embassies, high commissions, and consulates. In the spirit of Peace and Friendship; please do recognize and accommodate fully without obstruction these named Maroon/Moors Noble ‘Rodney @grunggaadzilla Price’ El and Noble Moses @kingbeenieman Davis’ El,” Spragga Benz wrote in his post.
“They are extraordinary, unique living souls. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the State of Accompong requests and requires, in the name of God and the Maroon Government of Accompong, that all those whom it may concern allow the Maroons/Moors named to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford them such assistance and protection as may be necessary,” he added.
Continued Spragga: “Their passage into your territories will bring great benefits to the indigenous communities through their philanthropic and charitable undertakings to aid Maroons/Moors in Jamaica and throughout the diaspora. @usembassyja, @britishhighcommissioncan, @canadianhighcommission, shengen.visa.jamaica.”
Bounty Killer and Beenie Man’s United States visas were revoked in 2010.
The US Embassy had not stated the reason for the revocation at the time, but in January this year, Bounty had declared that his US visa denial was due to his strong opposition to the LGBTQ community, and his perceived close acquaintance with former West Kingston don, Christopher “Dudus” Coke.
Bounty, in elaborating on his contention that the embassy’s decision was directly linked to his utterances about his dislike of homosexuals, during in an interview with The Fix, had said that his position on the LGBTQ grouping would remain the same.
“That’s one thing why America took my visa too. And they don’t want to admit it. It’s all about (expletive deleted) LGBT and Dudus. That’s why they took my Visa. I done nothing! Me is a straight man and me naw like no ben-up man, no lean bway!” Bounty had said.
In August 2021, Beenie Man had declared that he was “never banned” from travelling to the UK during an interview with Zeze Millz, but that his visa had been restricted due to a legal matter.
In October last year, Bounty Killer returned to the UK for the first time in 15 years, three weeks after he revealed that his visa had been reinstated.
As for Spragga Benz’s petition regarding the two men’s access to Europe’s Schengen area, it also carries a practical element, as the two, as National Icons, are cultural ambassadors whose influence transcends borders and are to be granted the freedom to continue their work globally.
The Schengen area, which encompasses 27 European countries, allows for seamless travel across its borders once entry requirements are met. A Schengen visa grants non-EU nationals the ability to make short visits—up to 90 days in any 180-day period—within these participating nations, without the need for border controls.
The Schengen area includes countries in which Reggae and Dancehall music are extremely popular, among them France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
