Buju Banton concert back on again in Dallas

by Rich Lopez of Dallas Voice

Buju Banton

Dallas’ House of Blues last month canceled a scheduled concert, originally set for this month, by reggae artist Buju Banton after controversy over the singer’s blatantly anti-gay and violent lyrics. Due to pressure from gay rights advocate groups across the country, LiveNation dropped the tour and Banton’s concert itinerary looked finished.

However, Banton’s trip to Dallas is back on after promoter Tony Gold booked Banton to perform at the Palm Beach Reggae Club in Deep Ellum on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The announcement of the rescheduled appearance has prompted further protests from the local LGBT community.

Resource Center Dallas released a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 7 calling for quick action from the LGBT community to ensure the concert does not happen.

“It’s really unfortunate this venue booked him. I don’t think any place would host a performer who stood up and made equivalent statements against African-Americans, Asians or women,” RCD Associate Executive Director Cece Cox said.

“This shouldn’t be offensive to just GLBT people. This is someone using their profession to incite violence against people. Nothing that he says is acceptable,” she said.

“We want a welcoming neighborhood here. Having an artist come here with a message of hatred is not something we can stand behind. We don’t want to be the thought police, but at the same time we want people to know that’s not the kind of stuff we’re throwing down,” Sean Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald is president of the Deep Ellum Community Association that works to maintain a creative and open neighborhood.

The RCD is encouraging people to contact the club and ask respectfully “why they are promoting hate by booking this performer” and then requesting the club to cancel the show. RCD officials are also pointing to the website, CancelBujuBanton.wetpaint.com, as a resource of information on Banton’s homophobic lyrics and music.

RCD is working with Equality March Texas on efforts to cancel the show. Should the concert go through, both parties say they are ready to respond.

“We’re basically giving them until the 16th. We’re looking at protests as a last resort, but Equality Texas is prepared to do so,” Equality March Texas co-founder Daniel Cates said.

Calls to the club have not been returned. However, their answering machine message says the club does not open until 9 p.m. Thursday evening, and the RCD had just received word about the show earlier this week.

Banton was scheduled to perform in Hollywood’s Cabana Club Thursday, Oct. 8, but the show was canceled after protests by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

Banton is infamous for his 1988 song “Boom Bye Bye” which promotes shooting “batty boys” in the head with an Uzi. “Batty boys” is slang for gay men.

Reggae music was under pressure to denounce anti-gay lyrics from artists and the Reggae Compassionate Act was created in 2007 by the Canadian-based Stop Murder Music campaign. Artists would then not perform songs promoting violence — especially toward the gay community.

The act was allegedly signed by Banton who later denied ever signing and continues to perform the song.

In 2004, he was believed to be involved in a gay-bashing of six men in Jamaica although he was never convicted. It has been alleged that authorities there conducted a sloppy investigation and colluded to protect the homegrown celebrity.

Banton has been known to yell out comments such as, “Faggots have to die,” and “There is no end to the war between me and faggots.”

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Anonymous

I have many friends in the GLBT community, and in the reggae community. This protest is just over doing it. I overstand that the community doesn't like what he wrote in a lyric 21 years ago, however, he has the right to perform a reggae concert in a historic reggae venue. I have seen him 3 times in the last 10 years, and he hasn't performed that song once at any of those concerts. I would more see the protest if he were performing at a GLBT frequented venue, or showing up in the "gayborhood"....but he's not. There are so many more important things to protest. Let the man have his concert. It is a double standard to not allow this man to have his own opinion, and people have a choice whether or not to be a patron at his show. Isn't is the same crime to go after him for being anti-gay, then him shouting 21 years ago at the gay community for what he doesn't agree to.? The church does it ALLLLLL the time. I don't see protests every sunday at every church. Come on, guys.

one_tribe Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
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I agree with one_tribe. I think you guys have over stated this thing in order to win support for your main reason which is probably someone's personal vendetta.This issue is without merit it has been over 20 years since "boom bye bye" was released. Come on now 20 years!!!!.. it appears to me some one in the organization has a personal vendetta against this artist. It don't add up. ... Equal rights and Justice!!! Pure and simple. I thought that democracy and free speech was America's motto.

To have someone harrassed and strong armed in this way is unacceptable. Enough is enough already.

Many, many other artist have recent songs out, why not target them?? Worse songs than this. Why this particular artist. It makes me think it's someone high up with the beef using this organization to do their dirty work. It just does not make any logical sense.

There are many other issues out there that you could put positive energy to.

You guys are really the ones causing a division between communities for making a target out of someone and its a shame.

jamgirl Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
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Buju Banton's infamous song "Boom Bye Bye" says "gays must be killed' and it calls for gays to be shot in the head, shot with an Uzi, have acid thrown in their faces and to be burned like an old tire. This song has been controversial since it was released in 1992.

In all those years, Buju Banton has never distanced himself from this song.

For videos that show Buju Banton reiterating the anti gay statements in "Boom Bye Bye," see and

In the first video he is actually singing "Boom Bye Bye" at the beginning. Listen for the line "There is no end to the war between me and faggots." Listen carefully, there is more in the first video. Listen to the intensity and the anger.

In the latter video he refers to the churches and asks "What have I done wrong when I say that homosexuality is wrong?" With these words, Buju Banton actually says that he is standing by his "kill gays" words in "Boom Bye Bye."

For more information see http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/ and http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic...

SamK Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
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Wow! The videos show up in the comments! I love it!

Watch the videos!

Buju sings in Jamaican patois. "Batty boy" is a derogatory term for "gay boy." Your "batty" is your butt. You can read excerpts of the "Boom Bye Bye" lyrics, with translation from the patois at http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic... Read the translation.

In Jamaica, there is tremendous violence and hatred directed at LGBT people. Buju Banton and some of his dancehall artiste friends must bear some responsibility for this. There are online reports by groups like Amnesty International and many other reports of this extreme violence in Jamaica. One very good account is in this Time Magazine article: http://www.time.com/time/world/articl... "The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?" Britain and Canada have given asylum to a number of Jamaican gay men because of the extreme homophobia and violence in Jamaica.