'I Don't Need Sumfest, Dem A Try Clown Me' - Says Ninja Man

Dancehall icon Desmond Ballentine, more popularly known as Ninja Man, says he will not be performing on this year's Reggae Sumfest.

"Mi nah work Sumfest, dem can gwaan. Mi nuh need Sumfest. I'm Ninja Man, longest-reigning icon in the business, mi nuh need dem," Ninja Man told the media.

According to the artiste, he was being advertised on the show and when he contacted Johnny Gourzong, head of Summerfest Productions, about his fee, he was not pleased with what they had to offer.

"Dem waan come gimme $500,000. You know how long me stop work fi dem likkle money deh? A clown dem a try clown me. Mi nuh need fi a run up and dung pon stage fi dat. Mi bigger than that," an irate Ninja Man said.

The artiste says that since he and Sumfest organisers were unable to reach a compromise, he has refused to perform at the event.

"After dem advertise me pon di show and mi tell dem say me nah work fi dat, dem run go back go talk say me nuh deh pon the show. Dem did well a advertise me though, so me tell dem fi take me offa dem commercial and mi make me lawyer contact dem also cause me no need Sumfest work," he said.

Although there were doubts as to whether he would be able to perform on the show because of his curfew, Ninja Man said that his curfew has been lifted for some days.

The artiste's curfew has been lifted on Wednesdays through to Saturdays but his 8 p.m. curfew remains in effect on Sundays through Tuesdays. He, however, still has to report to the station every day of the week.

"Mi curfew lift so mi cudda perform. Tell Sumfest say me spend US dollars every day, mi nuh have no Jamaican account, me nuh need dem. Sumfest keep once a year, dem caan style me," Ninja Man said.

The artiste says he is now focusing his attention on upcoming shows such as St Mary Me Come From and his upcoming charity show on July 21 in Oracabessa, St Mary.