Bunny Wailer, U-Roy: Funeral Arrangements For The Reggae Legends Facing Challenges

The family and friends of U-Roy and Bunny Wailer have to find a way to bury the iconic Reggae singers amid the new COVID protocols implemented by the Jamaican authorities.

It’s a task that will be extremely difficult as the Jamaican PM Andrew Holness announced that from today, (March 25) until April 13, all burials will have to be conducted on weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and that no more than 15 persons can be present. In addition, a burial cannot be longer than half an hour.

The Jamaica Gleaner spoke with Marcia Smikle, the partner of U-Roy, about the challenges that she is facing and how she hopes to overcome them. U-Roy, fondly known as the ‘Godfather of the Dancehall’, died on February 17.

Smikle revealed that she was hoping to meet with Daddy U-Roy’s daughter soon to try and figure things out. The original plan was to have his body lie in state at National Arena on March 25 and then viewing at Perry’s Funeral Home on March 28.  These plans have since had to be revised.

“A new date has not been finalised fully as yet, but we should know by later today what exactly is happening. U-Roy [had] a lot of fans and they were looking forward to seeing him one last time, but if the COVID not getting any better, we can’t do anything except follow the instructions,” she said.

While she admitted that she is disappointed that fans will not get a real chance to say goodbye, she is committed to following the law. She also revealed to DancehallMag following the legendary singer passing in February that Dovecot Memorial Park was a preferred final resting place for the legend. Now, Smikle who spent over 40 years by his side is hoping for at least some sort of live stream of his burial. At that location.

It hasn’t been easy losing a partner after so many years. “I am doing well, sometimes I break down, but I am trying to be strong with all that is going on,” she told the Gleaner.

The other legend, Bunny Wailer, will be laid to rest at his 142-acre Dreamland property on the Portland-St Thomas border. His business partner, Maxine Stowe, told the Gleaner that she was in contact with Smikle and that they both believe the ceremonies should not be delayed for too long.

She added that April would be ideal for Wailer since it’s the month that he had hoped would become recognized as Rastafari Month. He had been hosting celebrations in his advocacy for the month since 2017.

“He had written to the prime minister and the governor-general for it to be made official. In the same way that they took that energy from Reggae Month and built it around Bob Marley’s birthday, Jah B wanted to have his own birthday, on April 10, treated in much the same way. So as a champion of Rastafari Month, it would be significant for him to be laid to rest during the month. Plus, there are the events that have occurred in the month [which are] central to Rastafari,” Stowe added.

Using her business acumen, Stowe has suggested a rotation system for both Jah B and U-Roy as both men have large families.

U-Roy had 16 children, and Bunny Wailer 13.

“The specified number would stay for 10 minutes, and then another set could come for another 10 minutes, until the half an hour is ended. Maybe that could ensure that as many family members as possible get a chance to see and grieve. But it would have to be well-coordinated,” she admitted.

Peter Perry of Perry’s Funeral Home in Spanish Town will be handling the arrangements for both funerals and believes that Stowe’s suggestion can work.

“Yeah man, that could certainly work. I endorse a suggestion like that, because there is no church service and the families are large. I have not received a date from either of the families,” Perry said.