Comments on: Buju Banton, At His Best

By: Brenda

Brenda — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:01:54 +0000

All that I have to seh is
WHOM GOD BLESS NO MAN CAN CURSE….

By: Professor Demus

Professor Demus — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:28:17 +0000

I think such fervor over “Boom Bye-Bye” is completely unwarranted. A young man spoke his mind through lyrics, as people (young and old alike) often do. The young man holds on to his belief that certain unnatural acts that defy the most basic laws of nature ought to be condemned. So what! Is this not the essence of the Rastafarian? Believing anything else is betrayal, so don’t speak of the gay Rastafarian, for there is no such thing. Don’t hold it against Buju, his being honest throughout. There are countless lyrics in countless songs that offend many different segments of society or personal sensibilities but we don’t expect the art to disappear, or the artist to pretend it never existed. The tune carries a very powerful, irresistible beat and rhythm. I know many in the gay community who are not offended at all by this tune. They take it for what it is; an opinion fashioned into the basic art of music that represents reality. Not everybody thinks being gay is cool. Get used to it. Get over it. When one chooses to be so deviant from the most basic natural order of the universe, one should not be offended by the fact that some people will oppose the very grit of said deviancy. If yu luv Buju, jus luv im an dun.

By: buju banton « Letters from Grenada

buju banton « Letters from Grenada — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:39:17 +0000

[...] She wrote: [...]

By: Penny

Penny — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:15:23 +0000

I have read many articles about Buju Banton since learning of his arrest and the Grammy controversy, and yours comes the closest to the way I feel about the artist. He was so charismatic and energetic when I heard him twice at Reggae Sunsplash. I loved the messages in ‘Til Shiloh’. I know he wrote “Boom Bye Bye” before he turned to Rastafari, and the song’s lyrics still make me feel awful. I may share Buju’s Old Testament-based view about practicing homosexuality, but am dismayed about the horrible violence he advocated. I’m disappointed about the serious drug mess he got himself into, and the repercussions his family will face. Yet I don’t expect him to make career-saving concessions to gay-rights groups if he doesn’t mean it. I don’t believe I have ever felt so conflicted about an artist as I do about Buju.

By: SamK

SamK — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:01:58 +0000

If you have doubts about other reggae dancehall musicians “kill gays and lesbians” songs, see “Dancehall Dossier” at http://tinyurl.com/2xax3b “8 anti gay reggae dancehall performers and their anti gay songs”

The website “Murder inna Dancehall” has a list of hundred or so “kill batty bwoy” songs http://tinyurl.com/ye8paw2

You might also want to check out http://forum.dancehallreggae.com/showthread.php?p=3365330 “BIGGEST BATTYBWOY KILLING ANTHEMS OF ALL TIME”

This article describes a 2004 Rastafarian concert where most of the songs were anti gay http://www.amnestyusa.org/lgbt-human-rights/country-information/jamaica/page.do?id=1106567

By: ebonys

ebonys — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:55:03 +0000

Like you ‘bella I am a Buju fan; his Inna Heights was the first CD I ever bought for myself. I do not support any anti-gay sentiment, and certainly never chanted/sung along with BBB. But I do not think we can allow his contribution to dancehall/reggae to be define by that 1 song. Having said that his arrest & charges are a very bitter pill for me to swallow. I tell you my dissapointment over this situation sometimes cannot be put into words. The discussion here actually sounds like the one that took place at my family’s table at Christmas lunch. We had very opposing camps – distressed but accepting vs. distressed and disbelieving; notwithstanding the video of Gargamel tasting cocaine on the knife.
You may want to read Carolyn Cooper’s article Mi can’t stop cry fi Buju http://tinyurl.com/ylz8jup
I think she captures well the conundrum that Buju’s fans find themselves in.

By: Ikarus

Ikarus — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:47:52 +0000

Hi Hope,

Here are some answers

1. I don’t know of any court cases where BBB was given as the intention for murder, but there was a murder a few years ago in Jamaica where the song was sung by an ensuing crowd. The victim was the only ‘out’ gay man at the time in Jamaica I’ve heard.

2. Buju is not the sole target, you can research “The Stop Murder Music Campaign”. There are about 8 artists being ‘targeted’. I think the buzz now is more related to the grammy nod protest, and subsequent theories he was set up.

3. Buju and a group of men allegedly viciously beat and hospitalized a group of gay men a few years back. It went to court, case was dropped, but he wasn’t found innocent. Victim was poss. afraid to testify. Many believe Buju was guilty.

4. If you research the gay rights groups involved in the campaign against “murder lyrics”, they are also involved in campaigns around the world. Peter Tatchell, one of the people who started the “stop murder music campaign” was beat unconscious by Robert Mugabe’s bodyguards in recent years.

5. I think the important thing to understand is that this “battle” between Buju etc has been going on for 15+ years, the issue is that Buju and other artists have issue with signing the “Reggae Compassion Act” (saying they won’t perform violent music, one love, etc) And continue to perform the songs – activists retaliate with boycotts. No peace deal.

6. Buju has made other homophobic songs over the years, they can be found on singles released in Jamaica. He continued to sing BBB at shows. He has a clear anti-gay ideology. The unfair use of BBB to boycott and cancel shows is a fair topic of debate, but it seems Buju made promises to stop performing it, then condradicted and continued, at least that’s my take. Presumably because he maintains a moral position he feels backed by his nation, and is being arm-twisted to compromise those beliefs. But I’ve never seen a full account of the history.

7. Osama is the head of Al Qaeda, KKK is an organization, Buju is an imprisoned popular artist with no political motivations, just ugly beliefs, prob similar to Mugabe’s on gay sex, that reflect and encourage a suffocating and often life-threatening situation for a certain minority in their country. If they attempt to love freely. I imagine it’s similar to Zimbabwe? How do people respond to Boom Bye Bye over there?

By: Hope

Hope — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:14:18 +0000

Im still waiting patiently for a response to my earlier post (38), can someone out there please assist with some answers? I wish you all a prosperous and happy 2010.

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:03:47 +0000

Wonderful essay, you capture the contradictions of Buju well.

@ 42 Black Brenda- Have you bothered to read the whole thing???Bella calls BBB his most shameful song and you say she shows little criticism. You don’t have to be militant in your attitude to get your point across- do you realize how patronizing you sound? Appreciate the message but your condescending tone is off-putting.I too celebrate Buju’s music post BBB- it’s who he should have been. Please don’t pray for me.

p.s. If Eminem’s so homophobic how come Elton John and his partner are good friends with him?

By: Black Brenda

Black Brenda — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:59:54 +0000

I agree with Mitchell’s point. You are celebrating the music of the artist who supports the killing of human beings. We shoud all be concerned at Buju or any other artist that contines to produce and perform music of this kind.

Mafioso don’t make personal attacks discuss the issue–homophobic music. Also one does not have to bee from Jamaica to discuss this issue

Bella, your piece is well written and seems to speak with an authentic voice. But as you remeber Buju as an artist and as you have empathy for his recent arrest you show little criticism or awareness what his lyrics like his has done. Bella he has broken the law and he continues to perform a song full of hate. Envoking anothe homophobic artist like Eminem does not help your case.
I’ll pray for you and Buju

god bless and bon anniversare