Asadenaki, Son Of Bunny Wailer, Denounces His Father’s Manager Maxine Stowe

Abijah Asadenaki Livingston, the son of the legendary artist, Bunny Wailer, has publicly denounced all dealings with Maxine Stowe who functioned as the late elder Wailer’s most recent manager.

Bunny Wailer passed away earlier today at a hospital in Kingston at the age of 73. Asadenaki’s lengthy statement, which was posted to his Facebook page today, appeared to have been written prior to his father’s death.

It began, “I would like to preface this statement by acknowledging that the family of the living legend, the Hon. Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingston OM, OJ, CD, has always and will continue to do what is best to preserve his health and legacy. The following statements are necessary, as we continue to focus on that.”

“I have worked closely with my father and his manager for many years. However, since the disappearance of Jean Watt aka Sis Jean, my father’s wife of over 50 years on May 23, 2020, I have become suspicious of Maxine’s behavior. While I have not said anything publicly to date, I have made my suspicions known to her and the police. After months of further skeptical behavior and her recent promotions concerning my father and I without our knowledge or approval, I now have to address this publicly.”

Asadenaki, who is himself, a singer, said the stress of Jean Watt’s disappearance caused Bunny to suffer a second stroke in July 2020, which according to him, left the legendary artist “medically incapacitated”.

“This harsh reality has not stopped Maxine Stowe from making decisions without my consent or that of my siblings. On Friday, February 26, 2021, I was forwarded an article from website dancehallmag.com alerting me of a re-launch of my father’s solo-catalogue,” he said.

Last week, Stowe had told DancehallMag of plans to make Bunny Wailer’s solo catalog — which has been off the market for at least two decades — available on all the digital service providers. “BunnyWailerMusic.com will anchor this digital campaign. This is an integrated merchandising platform, where Bunny uniquely owns all his intellectual property in his album covers, masters, and publishing. This is proving to be one of his greatest assets allowing for a seamless storytelling and promotion,” Stowe had said.

But now that move seems to be in limbo given the tone and tenor of Abijah Asadenaki Livingston’s letter. Asadenaki claimed that these plans were never finalized with his father, himself, or any of Bunny’s other children.

“This is something my father, Maxine and I have discussed for years that somehow was never finalized while my father was still functioning. According to this article, now, his entire catalogue is suddenly ready for Spotify, t-shirts branding “The Wailers” imagery and a host of other plans that I nor my father played any part in making. This decision also begs the questions: Why re-launch Bunny Wailer’s solo catalogue and focus the branding around The Wailers? And why am I only privy to this by a published article? Were contacts made with the estates of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh?” the statement queried.

“None was made with Bunny Wailer’s children,” the statement said tersely.

He continued: “Over the years, I have worked with my father in different areas as a jack of all trades. While my father and Maxine managed his finances together, the execution of most, if not all projects over several years, were completed by myself and the hardworking team that I assembled which also included some of my siblings.”

“My wife and I curated the Wailers’ Museum celebrating the life and legacy of Bunny Wailer and organized and documented the launch event. I built and managed the website wailersmuseum.com and also managed the museum’s private tours. My team and I have coordinated most of the public events celebrating my father, including events celebrating his Order of Merit status, The Wailers Statue launch, and his Earth-Strong celebrations for the last four to five years. My team also conceptualized and produced the Rootsman Skankin’ event.”

“I have been the chief designer for all promotional material, artwork, and merchandise. My father being so impressed with my work over the years offered me a full-time position in his company asking me to leave my job at the time and manage his multimedia archives, event production and branding. As I developed musically, my father has featured me on his tours, and local shows always encouraging & supporting my musical growth with his stern “no nonsense” approach,” Asadenaki continued.

“I would like to make a few things clear as it relates to the dancehallmag article, Maxine outlined that the catalogue and digital platform will be anchored on www.bunnywailermusic.com a fully designed site supported by rare content facilitated by myself coming directly from Bunny Wailer’s rich archive. The site was designed by myself and Zaken Media, a team I commissioned, who since December have been awaiting funds for its renewal.”

“Since the website is down, it is not only confusing, but misleading that it was mentioned in the article… unless it was done to give the impression that everything is still running under the orders of my father and I. Last year, the site was launched on my father’s 73rd earth-strong alongside the mini-documentary, “The Blackheart Man”, which was a family project directed by myself and produced by wife. Last year’s launch was also the first inclusion of the “Live High” company who were hired for design and strategic marketing roll-out including Instagram promotions under the supervision of myself and Maxine.”

In the statement, he wished to make it publicly known that:

• “That I am no longer a member of “The Wailer’s Trio” and I’ve informed Maxine of this since Sis Jean’s disappearance. As such, my image and likeness must be removed from all promotional material. With my absence and my father’s current state, she has no Wailers linkage.”
• “That any organization conducting business with Maxine Stowe must know that she is acting on her own agenda as I have not been consulted, neither has my siblings or my father, as he is currently incapacitated.”
• “The WAIL label/ brand that she is promoting is legally registered to my father and I. Maxine Stowe, therefore does not have autonomy to conduct any business without our authorization.”
• “That there has been no transparency or accounting done by Maxine Stowe in regards to my father’s affairs since his hospitalization in July after many requests from his children.”

Abijah Asadenaki also announced that he is the executor of his father’s living Trust.

“My father in his own wisdom chose me as his executor in his living Trust demonstrating his confidence in me. Now, at a time when he is incapacitated and unable to walk or speak for himself, I must act in his best interest and on behalf of his children,” the statement said.

The statement, which was re-shared several hundred times on Facebook, then touched on Bunny’s finances and the state of his health and treatment, prior to his passing today.

He also lobbed a number of accusations of impropriety at Stowe, claiming that he has had lost all confidence in her stewardship.

The statement continued, “Finally, to be clear, the family of Bunny Wailer is committed to our father’s recovery and the preservation of his legacy. It is not our intention to disparage anyone, but to allow for transparency, which has been denied. We have tried to arrange meetings between ourselves and Maxine to amicably resolve these matters but have been repaid only with avoidance.”

“My father and the family have been in despair since Sis Jean’s disappearance. The reward offered for any information leading to her recovery is in no way comparable to her true value. I am asking that if anyone has any information or citing that you do the right thing and report it to the police. We also ask the public to keep Bunny Wailer aka “JahB”, his wife Sis Jean and the rest of our family in their prayers, as we continue the search and focus on the recovery of our beloved father.”

Maxine Stowe did not immediately respond to requests for comment on  Asadenaki’s statement, which was signed “LONG LIVE THE LEGEND!!! One Heart Abijah Asadenaki Livingston.”