Jury deliberates fate of homophobic reggae artist Buju Banton, who faces life in prison

The Associated Press is reporting that closing arguments have been given in the case of reggae singer Buju Banton’s drug case.

The 37-year-old Banton is accused of conspiring with two other men in setting up a drug deal in December of 2009. His album “Before the Dawn” won a Grammy for best reggae album this week, and he remains wildly popular in his native Jamaica.

A jury deadlocked in his first trial last year. If convicted of all the charges, he faces up to life in prison.

Every seat in the federal courtroom in Tampa was filled as the lawyers gave their closing arguments. Many of the seats were taken by Banton’s friends and fans, including well-known reggae artists Gramps Morgan and Wayne Wonder. During the lunch break, about a dozen supporters held hands and prayed for Banton in the court hallway.

“I’m fighting for my freedom,” said Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie. “I’m fighting for my life.”

Banton is notorious for his strongly homophobic songs calling for the torture and murder of gay men — or “batty boys” as they are known in his native Jamaica. He came to Dallas in 2009 on tour to face a protest at his concert at the Deep Ellum reggae venue The Palm Beach Club.

3 Comments

Ramon Leal on February 18, 2011 at 11:30 am

Homophobic reggae artist? This implies that he is a homophobe first and reggae second. If you bothered to listen to any of his music, you would realize that his music is about upliftment and providing a voice for the voiceless. The ONE “homophobic” song Boom Bye Bye was written when the artist was only 15, which was over 20 years ago and was written as a social commentary after a gay man abused a child. Can you please enlighten us about how he is homophobic? I understand that the gay community hasn’t forgiven the man for a “crime” he committed 20 yrs ago, but the man signed the Reggae Compassionate Act and has not performed his “homophobic” song, as agreed with the gay community. Has the gay community held their part of the agreement?

Lloyda on February 18, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Clearly the writer of this story knows very little of Buju Banton…Buju has one song that is homophobic. ONE. He was a child when he wrote it and since then he has grown into a world class artiste singing songs of redemption and peace. Secondly, you cannot ignore the context in which the song was written. It was born out of the anger of the people over the molestation of a child. I find that Americans like to paint people with a brush and forever see that that way regardless of the facts, the context or how that person might have grown or changed over the years. Shame on the writer of this article.

Justin Normand on February 18, 2011 at 12:39 pm

It would seem to me that “ONE” homophobic song — as described by Lloyda and Ramon — is “ONE” too many… ESPECIALLY since this wasn’t just a song about merely disliking gay people. No, it was about “burning, shooting in the head and pouring acid over the faces of gay people.” [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9251.html]. By the way, his name is not Buju Banton – it’s Mark Myrie, and Mr. Myrie has disavowed signing the Reggae Compassionate Act. And, what’s with you people who are so fired up to rally to his defence? Aren’t there plenty, plenty, plenty of musicians who actually DO sing about “upliftment”(sic)?

Ramon Leal on February 18, 2011 at 11:30 am

Homophobic reggae artist? This implies that he is a homophobe first and reggae second. If you bothered to listen to any of his music, you would realize that his music is about upliftment and providing a voice for the voiceless. The ONE “homophobic” song Boom Bye Bye was written when the artist was only 15, which was over 20 years ago and was written as a social commentary after a gay man abused a child. Can you please enlighten us about how he is homophobic? I understand that the gay community hasn’t forgiven the man for a “crime” he committed 20 yrs ago, but the man signed the Reggae Compassionate Act and has not performed his “homophobic” song, as agreed with the gay community. Has the gay community held their part of the agreement?
Lloyda on February 18, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Clearly the writer of this story knows very little of Buju Banton…Buju has one song that is homophobic. ONE. He was a child when he wrote it and since then he has grown into a world class artiste singing songs of redemption and peace. Secondly, you cannot ignore the context in which the song was written. It was born out of the anger of the people over the molestation of a child. I find that Americans like to paint people with a brush and forever see that that way regardless of the facts, the context or how that person might have grown or changed over the years. Shame on the writer of this article.
Justin Normand on February 18, 2011 at 12:39 pm

It would seem to me that “ONE” homophobic song — as described by Lloyda and Ramon — is “ONE” too many… ESPECIALLY since this wasn’t just a song about merely disliking gay people. No, it was about “burning, shooting in the head and pouring acid over the faces of gay people.” [https://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9251.html]. By the way, his name is not Buju Banton – it’s Mark Myrie, and Mr. Myrie has disavowed signing the Reggae Compassionate Act. And, what’s with you people who are so fired up to rally to his defence? Aren’t there plenty, plenty, plenty of musicians who actually DO sing about “upliftment”(sic)?