Scam! Dancehall Star Vybz Kartel refutes claims of planned Kenyan concert
Dancehall fans across East Africa may need to cool their excitement after Jamaican superstar Vybz Kartel poured cold water on reports that he will be touring the region in May 2026.
For a few days, colourful posters and online posts had been doing the rounds on social media claiming the self-declared “Worl’ Boss” would headline shows across East Africa. The news spread quickly, with fans already imagining the kind of chaos songs like Fever and Clarks would cause in packed arenas.
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But the dancehall heavyweight has now made it clear that the rumoured tour exists only on the internet.
In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the Jamaican artiste said neither he nor his management team had any involvement in the supposed concerts.
“It has come to my attention that a post is circulating claiming that I will be embarking on an East African tour in May 2026,” Kartel said.
Adding;
“Let me be absolutely clear: neither my management nor I have any knowledge of, or involvement in, any such tour. No East African shows have been announced or confirmed by my team.”
“Any individuals, promoters, or platforms claiming to be booking or advertising these shows are acting without authorisation and are misleading the public,” he said.
“Fans, promoters, and venues are strongly advised not to engage with or send money to anyone making such claims, as these may be scams.”
The artiste also made it clear that any official announcements regarding his concerts will only come from his verified platforms or authorised representatives.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all official announcements regarding Vybz Kartel appearances and tours will come directly from my verified platforms or from my authorised representatives only,” he said.
“As a reminder, the only individuals authorised to speak or act on my behalf are my manager, Linton T.J. White, and my attorney, Jason Mitchell. Anyone falsely using my name to promote unauthorised events will be dealt with accordingly.”
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, remains one of the most influential figures in dancehall music. Despite spending years away from the stage earlier in his career, his music has continued to dominate clubs, street playlists and party scenes across the Caribbean, Africa and beyond.
In Kenya and across East Africa, his songs are a regular feature in nightclubs and matatus, which partly explains why the rumoured tour announcement caused such a buzz online.
