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Tag: Buju Banton

  • I am an Igbo man, says Jamaica’s Buju Banton

    I am an Igbo man, says Jamaica’s Buju Banton

    Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton has made a revelation about his ancestry, stating that he has Igbo heritage. 

    In a recent interview on the “Drink Champs” podcast, Banton disclosed that his tribe, the Maroons, originated from the Igbo people of Nigeria.

    Banton expressed concerns about the threat to his Indigenous land and way of life, blaming the Jamaican government for allowing Chinese and other foreigners to encroach on their sacred region, the Cockpit. 

    He emphasised his pride in his Igbo roots and his people’s history as warriors who fought against British colonisation.

    He said: “Our Indigenous way of life and our land are being threatened by the current government of Jamaica which seeks to bring Chinese and other nationalities into the Cockpit region which is an Indigenous sacred region to usurp us the Maroons as the warriors.

    “Maroons are some of the Indigenous warriors on my Island. We fought the British relentlessly. We are called Blackmaroons. My generation originated from Nigeria. I am an Igbo man according to my bloodline, we fought the British relentlessly”.

  • You stole from us without credit, Buju Banton knocks afrobeat artists

    You stole from us without credit, Buju Banton knocks afrobeat artists

    Jamaican dancehall singer Buju Banton has sparked a controversy on cultural appropriation in music, accusing some afrobeats artists of borrowing from Jamaican reggae and dancehall without proper credit or respect.

    In a recent appearance on the “Drink Champs” podcast, Banton expressed his concerns about the lack of acknowledgment and reciprocation from some African artists who have been influenced by Jamaican music. 

    He emphasised the significance of reggae and dancehall as a cultural heritage and a symbol of resistance, urging artists to use their platform for social commentary and liberation.

    He said: “A lot of culture vultures out there. They’ve focused on our music so hard and stolen our culture. I’m not knocking nobody but they don’t give us no respect. And you still expect us to act like we take something from you? 

    READ ALSO: Buju changes stage name to ‘BNXN’

    “This [reggae] is the King’s music. Your music [afrobeats] shall come and go because it has nothing to with soul, building energy. Our music is a time marker. You can remember when you went on your first date, when you got married, when you are happy and when you are sad. Because it’s the King’s music.

    “I went to Africa in 1991, I spent three weeks educating people from Ghana and all over the continent about reggae music and dancehall.

    “I was happy when they came to their senses to realise that music is the bridge that’s going to connect us. But I was disappointed because they didn’t try to connect with Jamaica, the root. They connected with everyone else except us. I’m talking about afrobeats [artists]”.