The last good-bye: Bunny Wailer's funeral will be held tomorrow at Dreamland Farm

Bunny Wailer performing at The Beacon Theatre, NYC on 14 December 1997. (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)

The moment has finally arrived when reggae legend Bunny Wailer will have his well-deserved farewell as a family, He will be veiled during this day and later tomorrow, Friday, his funeral will be held in an intimate way and under the restriction protocols for the development of funerals established by the Jamaican health authority.

According to an obituary that ran in the local Sunday Gleaner newspaper this week, Bunny Wailer will be buried in Dreamland Farm, on the border of St Thomas and Portland, In Jamaica. The news was shared by his son, Asadenaki Livingston, who avoided delivering a specific schedule regarding the development of the funeral in order not to violate the island's strict Covid-19 prevention protocols.

“It will be a private funeral for family members (…) Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the public will still be able to view the proceedings on the Facebook and IG platforms 'theofficialbunnywailer'”, Asadenaki Livingston told the local Jamaica Observer newspaper.

This was also confirmed by Peter Perry, CEO of Perry’s Funeral Home, who explained that from 9 a.m. from today 17 of June, the artist's body will be veiled in Spanish Town, St Catherine, "While the burial will take place on Friday 18 June in the family plot ".

It should be noted that the government decreed that burials are allowed from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. The ceremony will not last more than 30 minutes with 10 people and five clergy. From the 14 of April, the maximum number of people allowed in the church is 30 people.

Meanwhile, All the directors of Solomonic Productions Ltd have been summoned to a virtual meeting of directors this afternoon to discuss issues related to the corporate governance of the company and the future of Bunny Wailer's musical legacy.

It is important to remember that the death of Bunny Wailer has not been without controversy. In April, Asadenaki Livingston provided a lengthy explanation of Wailer's outstanding medical fees and the apparent confusion over his estate in a post on his Facebook account..

"Since the death of our father, She. Neville O’riley Livingston OM OJ, aka Bunny Wailer, there have been numerous reports of alleged disputes over your estate and who could do what on your behalf. U.S, their children, we have been working as a unit, to resolve all matters related to our father's inheritance ", published on the occasion.

Added: "Several other people, mostly unfamiliar, have attempted to sabotage and manipulate the situation with misleading media reports. As an additional insult, other external relatives, none of whom have offered support or condolences since our father passed away, have come to our residence without notice, taking photos and videos all over our house “.

Bunny Wailer, whose given name is Neville Livingston, died at the age of 73 years past 2 March after being hospitalized several times after suffering a second stroke in July 2020.

Hailing from Trench Town, is a founding member of The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, and a Reggae music icon. The singer of “Reincarnated Souls” rose to the heights of the genre and won three Grammys during his lifetime. Some of his best known titles include "Blackheart Man", launched in 1976, y “Rock ‘n’ Groove”, that came out five years later. His hit songs include "Cool Runnings", “Ballroom Floor”, “Crucial” y “Bald Head Jesus”.

In 2017 the Government of Jamaica awarded Bunny Wailer an Order of Merit, the fourth highest honor in the country. The Government recognized his contribution to Jamaican music again in February 2019 with a Reggae Gold Award, award that he managed to receive in life.

Credit: Jamaica Observer