ROTOTOM Sunsplash Festival organisers have backtracked and reinvited American Jew reggae singer Matisyahu to perform on show in Benicassim, Spain, on Saturday.

Matisyahu (given name Matthew Miller) was yanked from the festival’s line-up earlier this week after he failed to sign organisers request to endorse a Palestinian statehood. He was slated to be replaced by reggae act Etana.

The festival’s action drew condemnation from the World Jewish Congress which labelled it as “anti-Semitism”. The Spanish government was also outraged.

“Rototom Sunsplash would like to publicly apologise to Matisyahu for having cancelled his concert and invite him to perform at the festival next Saturday, 22 August, as was initially programmed in the line-up,” read an official statement on the festival’s Facebook page, yesterday.

“We respect both their culture [and] religious beliefs and we sincerely apologise for what has occurred,” it continued.

It is unclear, however, whether Matisyahu will appear.

Etana, in speaking with the Jamaica Observer in an exclusive on Monday, saw the singer’s absence as “unfortunate”.

“The world has been at war for generations over religion, money, oil, even the colour of skin, and I can go on and on. However, music has been known to heal, strengthen and unite the people. Matisyahu has the right to choose and it’s unfortunate that he will not be able to perform. Just like his message, mine is also of peace and love. I don’t believe in religious and political war but I know the power of reggae music. Music has no prejudice and neither do I,” she said.

Now in its 24 staging, the Rototom Sunsplash is a major European summer festival and draws thousands of patrons annually.

–Brian Bonitto