Buju Banton
According to Amnesty International in London, Buju Banton, one of the most notorious Jamaican dancehall artists, whose lyrics incite the murder of lesbians and gay men, was identified by witnesses as part of gang who attacked four gay men in their home. Jamaican police are now seeking to interview Banton in connection with this attack.
With hit songs like "Boom bye-bye (in a battyboy's head)", Banton has been the focus of an OutRage! campaign to stop “murder music”.
“Critics of the campaign have said that the homophobic content of his lyrics is ‘metaphorical’ or just ‘fantasy’. Now the star is wanted for a very real violent incident,” said Brett Lock of OutRage!
Buju Banton, who's real name is Mark Myrie, is accused of participating in the beating of four men in Carlisle Avenue on June 24. One of the men's arms was reportedly broken in the alleged beating after they were accused of being in a gay relationship.
“This substantiates our claim that there are clear links between murder music and actual violent attacks against lesbians and gays,” added OutRage! campaigner, Peter Tatchell.
“OutRage! has been campaigning over the past two years for the prosecution of Jamaican dancehall artists whose lyrics incite and glorify the murder of gay people. The campaign, which has been taken up internationally by other gay and human rights activists, has resulted in concert cancellations in Europe and the United States.”
See also:
http://www.outrage.org.uk/briefing.asp?ID=43
http://www.outrage.org.uk/briefing.asp?ID=86
With hit songs like "Boom bye-bye (in a battyboy's head)", Banton has been the focus of an OutRage! campaign to stop “murder music”.
“Critics of the campaign have said that the homophobic content of his lyrics is ‘metaphorical’ or just ‘fantasy’. Now the star is wanted for a very real violent incident,” said Brett Lock of OutRage!
Buju Banton, who's real name is Mark Myrie, is accused of participating in the beating of four men in Carlisle Avenue on June 24. One of the men's arms was reportedly broken in the alleged beating after they were accused of being in a gay relationship.
“This substantiates our claim that there are clear links between murder music and actual violent attacks against lesbians and gays,” added OutRage! campaigner, Peter Tatchell.
“OutRage! has been campaigning over the past two years for the prosecution of Jamaican dancehall artists whose lyrics incite and glorify the murder of gay people. The campaign, which has been taken up internationally by other gay and human rights activists, has resulted in concert cancellations in Europe and the United States.”
See also:
http://www.outrage.org.uk/briefing.asp?ID=43 http://www.outrage.org.uk/briefing.asp?ID=86 
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Blacks have gone racist...........whos to blame?
19.07.2004 13:01
The fact that the blacks are now experiencing what the white were 100 years ago doesnt justify the actions.
they must understand to learn from history not to want to repeat the big mistakes of others.
the blacks have alway been jealous of what the white boss was doing.now they became the boss they are like the white boss.
we must remind them the struggles of their forefathers.we must remind them that Malcolm X didnt die for nothing.ML King didnt die for nothing.
Human rights activists diodnt give their blood for nothing,not for them to be able to produce such filth today.
we must not be afraid to condemn our black brothers when they fall in the mistakes our forefathers have done .We should try and avoid repeat of history .we cannt afford to have another slave trade.
But this is what we see today with the mercenaries ,black americans who once would have no social rights ,now they are given a weapon,the most advanced in the world and sent to rule over others.and they produce the disaster of iraq.because they are paid to kil.because they accepted to get paid to kil.And in my book any human who does that ,for money or other benefits(land included) doesnt deserve any kind of existence on our earth.
So are we not suppossed to staert dealing with all these crimes some day soon?
George Soilis
e-mail:
george.soilis@btinternet.com
Outrage fueling hatred
23.08.2004 13:48
Moreover, the song does not mean that people should literally kill homosexuals. Buju, “the Voice of Jamaica,” was merely echoing the sentiment of most Jamaicans. Homosexuality may be prevalent and accepted in many European cultures but that is not the case in Jamaican culture. Outrage is participating in cultural imperialism by dictating that reggae artists should not reflect their own culture.
Furthermore, Buju sings about the many injustices in the world. He addresses many issues like child abuse, imperialism, globalization and the suffering of the under-privileged. He has also worked to prevent the spread of HIV by dedicating a song to condom use and has formed an organization to assist people suffering from AIDS in Jamaica.
Buju Banton is being crucified by Outrage for reflecting his culture. Moreover, outrage is only increasing the tension between heterosexual and homosexual Jamaicans by instigating a fight with their attacks on Jamaican Reggae Artists. As a result the youth of Jamaica are now even more anti-homosexual after hearing about the war Outrage is waging against their cultural icons.
Kaya
Whose fueling who?
23.08.2004 18:10
When Buju Banton sang Boom Bye Bye at a concert in Jamaica earlier this month, *he* was fueling hatred. Yours is a typical homophobic response to any attempt by gay and lesbian people to stand up for themselves or to show support and solidarity with their queer sisters and brothers around the world. Assaulting and murdering people because of their sexuality may be part of heterosexual Jamaican culture (if you insist) but it certainly isn't part of gay Jamaican culture.
It is homophobic Jamaicans who are doing "cultural imperialism" the biggest favour - by continuing to believe what some idiot white Christian missionaries said 200 years ago. Besides, if homophobia really is such a big part of Jamaican culture, how come Bob Marley never said anything about it? Instead, he said "one love".
Brett Lock
He Did
08.10.2004 04:23
The song starts Man to Man is so Unjust.
Robert
Misinterpretation
21.10.2004 18:52
that is not say that i would doubt that Marley was possibly homophobic. i have not seen or heard him directly address this, but given the prevailing Jamaican attitude toward this lifestyle and his strict adherance to a fundamentalist Christianity (Rastafarianism), it is quite possible.
i certainly hope that this is not the case, because i would like to believe that his love for his fellow man tracended this form of hatred, and wish that today's cultural and religious artists would feel the same. as it is said "leave your judgement to Jah", as it is not for man to judge each other and if things are sins they will be punished on His time and conditions.
Tim
easy
09.12.2004 09:16
well, where to start? first of all i am for myself a black dude.of course, i am aware of the fact that racism is spreading out everywhere in black communities and in the view of reggae/ragga/dancehall listeners. this happens due to the fact non-jamaican people who dont understand the language and the lyrics of jamaican artist are exposed to the artists' view, just because they get used to the music so quickly without realizing it....finally when the get the ability of understanding the language, there comes the acknowlegdement of bitter taste for one's self....
i for myself stated listening the music which is really great and just liked the beats but i didnt know what the intention or the message of the artist was because i couldnt understand the language....
when i started reading reports about abuses of some famous artists like buju banton or sizzla i was shocked of what i have supported with buying records or visiting concerts... i think now i am at the edge of understanding and denying antigay or antiwhite musics... due the matter that racism is bad no matter who's to blame for it...
but one should remind himself that rhe really
e raida