Buju, Bye Bye?

An op-ed in the Jamaican Observer looks at the situation of anti-gay reggae singer Buju Banton who is currently cooling his heels in a federal lock up in Florida on a charge to purchase 5 kilos of cocaine with an intent to distribute the drug. It's a serious charge and as I have said before, given Banton's lack of remorse over his grossly homophobic lyrics in Boom Bye Bye, I find it difficult to find much sympathy for him. Indeed, perhaps some prison time might give him time to reflect on his vile homophobia. One thing I want to make clear - I am not anti-Jamaica. Rather, anti-homophobe. Here are some highlights from the column:
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LET'S remind ourselves of the rules: (1) If you break the law you should be punished; (2) freedom of speech is the greatest human right that we have; and (3) if the law is an ass, speak loudly about it and seek to change it.
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Mark Anthony Myrie, aka Buju Banton, aka Gargamel, was last week remanded in Federal custody in Miami, Florida by Drug Enforcement Administration agents and charged by the US Attorney with conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, some five kilos of cocaine. Buju faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.
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He is as controversial as he is conscious: his 1993 song Deportees criticised Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home; Tribal War condemned political violence; and Willy, don't be silly promoted safe sex. Buju -- as his recent Grammy nomination (his fourth) for his ninth album, Rasta Got Soul will attest -- is one of the greatest reggae artistes out there.
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But Buju, who is also world famous for his anti-gay rhetoric and his 1988 song Boom Bye Bye, which was allegedly written (when he was 15 years old) in painful response to a widely reported man/boy rape case in Jamaica, is destroying his career. The lyrics called for the burning of homosexuals "like an old tyre wheel", and the international gay community responded by protesting against his every performance since -- essentially making it difficult for him to make a living.
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While Buju may be the poster boy for political incorrectness pertaining to gays, he is not the only offender. Elephant Man sang, " Two women in bed/ That's two Sodomites who should be dead." Bounty Killer told listeners to burn "Mister Faggoty" and make him "wince in agony", while Beenie Man suggested that we "hang chi chi man with a long piece of rope".
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"We don't believe that the state should be pushing down people's bedroom doors to find what they do there, because if you push it down today to enforce laws that relate to sexual activity, you will push it down tomorrow for some other purpose. So we are not going there."

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Jamaica is a gorgeous country and I found the people to be wonderful when I traveled there twice years ago on business. However, until the Jamaican populace condemns lyrics such as Bantons, I will continue to urge people to boycott the country. There are many other beautiful tropical destinations where murdering gays is not glorified in the local music.