Wyclef Jean cancels Raggamuffin appearance

Musician Wyclef Jean has cancelled his performance at Raggamuffin 2010 in Rotorua on Saturday. Photo / AP

Haitian-American musician Wyclef Jean has cancelled his performance at Raggamuffin 2010 in Rotorua on Saturday following last week's devastating earthquake in his homeland.

The singer and rapper, known for his work as a member of The Fugees as well as his solo music, has decided to postpone his appearance until next year to remain in the US to help his charity, Yele Haiti, raise money for aid relief, the festival's promoters said.

Collections would be taken at Raggamuffin to support the disaster relief effort.

The promoters said Wyclef Jean's former Fugees bandmate, Lauryn Hill, would now bring her own band to the festival.

Shaggy would close the event, and Sly and Robbie would perform a separate set in the annual one-day festival of hip-hop and reggae music.

New Zealand band House of Shem had been added to the line-up, which also included Bob Marley's son Julian Marley, Sean Kingston, reggae legends Steel Pulse and New Zealand's Katchafire, Sola Rosa and Iva Lamkum, Pacific Herbs and Sweet and Irie.

Over 10 hours of funk, dub, hip-hop, soul and reggae would take place at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday in the third Raggamuffin festival.

- NZPA