“Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head”
Translation: “Shoot and kill a gay man in the head”
Back when I was living in Toronto in the late 90′s, I went to a Black club for a comedy night event. A local and very popular Black comedian was in the middle of his set when he made a rather offensive gay joke. At the end of the crowds laughter, a group of 3 people… a man and two women if I remember correctly… started chanting rather loudly, a pro-gay slogan while approaching the stage. The intent of their protest was to disrupt the set so that the comedian couldn’t continue. He (and everyone else) looked shocked and tried to make a couple of jokes at their expense, but they only got louder and more intense and he finally had to leave the stage. This was the first time I had ever seen anything like this in a Black club. The place was silent. The three protesters walked back to their seats, but you could cut the tension with a knife. After what seemed like an eternity, the DJ played “Boom Bye Bye”, an anti-gay reggae dancehall song by Buju Banton, that advocates deadly violence against homosexuals:
The mood changed for the worst as the song played and the crowd started chanting along with the above chorus. The three protesters, sensing that it would be in the best interest for their own safety… “life” … decided to leave.
Buju who is set to begin a North American tour at the end of September, recently has had shows that were scheduled in some major American cities, canceled due to protests, including a Facebook campaign, from gay rights advocacy groups. Apparently shows in Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston and elsewhere have been canceled, as well as a growing daily list of venues. He is being referred to as a “murder music” reggae artist by the gay rights activists in their protest against him.
Recorded first in 1988, then re-released in 1992, the song catapulted Buju onto the reggae dancehall scene. I remember when it became a dancehall “hit”… it was an anthem that we (and I) all sang along with. Back then there was some controversy around the song, especially after the “hot” dancehall reggae artist at that moment, Shabba Ranks, made some anti-homosexual comments in support of the song and Buju. Similar to what is happening now, Shabba had some North American concert dates canceled due to protest from gay rights activists. He was dropped from appearing on the Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall and David Letterman Shows and eventually had to issue a statement of apology. His career, in North America at least, never recovered and he was subsequently dropped by his record label.
Although Buju has gone on to make a lot more positive, “conscious” and uplifting music, it is said that he still performs the infamous song, even after it was reported that he and other reggae artists had signed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007, renouncing homophobia and violence against gays and lesbians (Buju, who’s real name is Mark Myrie, is the last signatory on the document). He later denied signing the document. In 2004, he was charged but acquitted of participating in an attack on 6 gay men in Jamaica.
There is no doubt that dancehall reggae has a very homophobic, misogynous and violent element within it. These lyrics not only promotes violence against homosexuals, but also the “massacre-ing” of rivals and overly aggressive sexual intercourse called “daggering”.
Growing up in Jamaica, I was aware of the strong anti-gay sentiments held by the society at large. Being labeled a “sodomite”, “batty bwoy”, “mawma-man” or “chi-chi man” in school, would get you bullied unmercifully, while it would most likely lead to death (no joke) if you were an adult. It is still pretty much the same today and the U.S. based Human Rights Watch has referred to Jamaica as “The Most Homophobic Place on Earth”. It certainly doesn’t help that the current Prime Minister has stated that he himself, nor his government, nor Jamaicans on a whole, would accept homosexuality within their society, nor bow to international pressure to recognize gay rights anytime soon.
In addition to the efforts of gay rights activists in targeting anti-homosexual reggae artists, there is also a growing call within the international human rights community to boycott buying products or spending tourist dollars in places that are refered to as “homophobic countries”. I believe these types of boycott are harsh and the wrong approach, as it’s the poor who will be primarily affected and punished by these actions. It would be unfair to claim that every Jamaican supports violence against homosexuals, so they should all be punished for the opinions, songs and actions of a few (a large minority nonetheless).
I must say that I love all forms of reggae music, including dancehall. I am however very discriminating to what I listen to. There are many positive and “conscious” artists, even in dancehall, so I don’t listen to, buy, go to concerts nor support in any way artists nor music that advocates or encourages any form of violence against anyone. Now I do respect everyone’s right to free speech, just as I accept that there are consequences to speaking freely. One of the consequences is censorship. Although I do listen to Buju’s more positive songs, I would support the boycott and/or cancellation of his shows, if he is using the stage to promote and/or incite violence against homosexuals.
Asa, I disagree with the boycott of Buju. How long should he have to deal with reprocussions from a song that was recoreded in 1992? No less released in 1988. I have seen Mr. Myrie on several occasions since the recording of this song and at least three times here in Atlanta in the last 8 years and not once has he sang Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head. In fact, Voice of Jamaica that was released in 1992 does not even contain that song. At any rate, as you acknowledge he has gone on to do so much more conscious music to upilft the minds and spirits of Black people and humanity in general that the one song pales in comparison.
The only people keeping this song alive are the homosexuals themselves. We, Black people, Reggae/Dancehall fans in general, should not be on a bandwagon with people that want to continue to strangle hold someone this long. These are some of the same minds that want to punish Michael Vick forever. Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B have all contributed great work and music & to have them continued to be hounded by songs for decades ago is truly a waste of energy.
LOL I know if any body was coming on this post you knew it would be me…LOL…Good post, though we may not agree on boycotting Buju, we certainly agree on good Reggae/Dancehall!!
“Asa, I disagree with the boycott of Buju. How long should he have to deal with reprocussions from a song that was recoreded in 1992? No less released in 1988. I have seen Mr. Myrie on several occasions since the recording of this song and at least three times here in Atlanta in the last 8 years and not once has he sang Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head.”
Bruh EnSayn, I don’t think we disagree much as you think. As I stated above:
“Although I do listen to Buju’s more positive songs, I would support the boycott and/or cancellation of his shows, if he is using the stage to promote and/or incite violence against homosexuals.”
I have never seen Buju perform, so if he is no longer performing that song, then I agree with you that he shouldn’t still be targeted and have to deal with reprecussions for a song he wrote when he was 15/16 years old in 1988.
Asa, Agreed. I have not see him do that song. I am so very happy you posted this. This is good information, it presents how a clash of cultures within cultures exists on so many levels.
Ensayn,
But buju can’t run from his past, and try to deny it.
BoomByeBye has preached its message of murder/hate/genocide millions and millions of times. Should we just ignore that? Pretend that it hasn’t actually let to gay-bashings (as gay people deep down feel it has)? Make it seem that you can preach gay genocide, and then move on to become an international superstar?
I have to disagree with you about homosexuals keeping that song alive. We hate it. We hear our own death in it. You know that it is an iconic international song. It’s not going anywhere.
What should we be doing about it, if not protesting?
And what have YOU done to minimize the death and damage caused by that song?
Thanks, asabagna, for this interesting and well-thought-out piece. Before I go on, I should add that my African descent probably takes a long time to get to, so feel free to delete my comment if it’s inappropriate for your blog, and no offense intended.
Doesn’t the support for Banton look like a double-standard? I’ve heard black people say that black-on-white racism is not the same as white-on-black, because of the power differential. I can accept that, though I obviously wish all discrimination against people based on skin color would just disappear.
But here’s a situation where it’s the gays who are comparatively without power — as you say, the three gay folks in the club had to leave in fear of their lives after the Banton song came on.
Banton does continue to sing the song, at least as recently as late 2007 in Guyana. Isn’t it reasonable for a group of people to protest someone who continues to sing a song urging their murder, whether or not he happens to sing the song at one particular concert? If we don’t, what message does that send?
You have a very good selection of videos. In the “Elephant Man Buju Banton Shabba Ranks Boom Bye Bye” video Buju Banton refers to the church’s position on homosexuality and then asks: “What have I done wrong when I say that homosexuality is wrong?” (An answer is that while a very few churches preach that LGBT people should be executed, as in Leviticus, very, very few churches call openly and publicly for killing gay people.)
Please note that Buju Banton was NOT acquitted of the charges in that assault on six gay men in 2004 for which he was arrested. The charges were dropped by the judge so he was never tried on the matter and the evidence was never presented before a jury. One of the men who was assaulted lost his sight in one eye. For details, see this Time Magazine article http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html “The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?”
For information on the national “Cancel Buju Banton ‘Rasta Got Hate’ Tour 2009 see http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/
For information about Buju Banton and other anti-LGBT reggae/dancehall artistes see http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/
and http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/09/Oct/0701.htm
We discovered that Mark Myrie, aka “Buju Banton,” modified one of his non-homophobic songs “How Massa God World A Run” into an anti-gay routine. It starts with the opening line of “Boom Bye Bye” and ends with “there is no end to the war between me and faggots.” At one time there were two versions of this routine on YouTube. Now there is only one at http://tinyurl.com/y8967pa If you listen closely, you can hear a diatribe against gay marriage. Listen also for his comments about Spongebob and Beavis and Butt-Head. This video was recorded in New Jersey, USA on 10/27/2008.
In the video note the comments about “big fiyah, lighting” and the simulated lightning and thunder. This may be a “fiyah burn” call.
If you look at Myrie’s statements over the years, you will see that he has never distanced himself from the Leviticus 20:13 message of “Boom Bye Bye.”
Buju Banton is also said to “tease” an audience by singing lines from “Boom Bye Bye.” Sometimes the audience sings the song.
He is also said to make homophobic comments from stage, sometimes throughout a performance.
I think the Buju Banton is as homophobic now as he was in 1992.
As people may be aware, Mr. Myrie is currently in U.S. federal custody in Florida, awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos or more of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and aiding and abetting each other and knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of, and carrying a firearm during the course of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). He is said to be facing 20 years to life if convicted.
Trial is currently scheduled to start in Tampa, Florida, on June 21, 2010.
If you would like to see some of the evidence against Buju Banton check the “Buju Banton Affidavit” at http://tinyurl.com/ydarjgs
Well check this: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads”. lev. 20 ver. 13. If they want to fight a young boy (he was 16years old when he did the song) so is the Bible violent? does any of this pro Gay organizations ever try to find out why a young boy wrote a song like this why should anybody mess with the principles of a God fearing society like Jamaica? if a quotation of the bible is wrong then why Gay people want to marry? obliviously is not something Godly
The “Law” was put forth as a mirror of sorts–to show man that he cannot keep that law. Homosexuality is as old as dirt. It went on in the days of the Bible as it goes on now and will continue to go on.
Jesus came and “fulfilled” the law. He freed us from the power of the law, which we humans are powerless to follow. So if we think we should put homosexuals to death, then we have to put adulturers to death, fornicators (sex without marriage) liars, revelers, cheats, and all sorts of wicked sins of man.
We tend to put so much more on homosexuality, yet we excuse adulters, and fornicators. Sin is sin–there is no levels of sin when you look at “The Law” If one breaks the law in one instance, then one has broken the entire law.
What would Jesus do? Would He hunt down homosexuals to kill them?
As for Buju Banton, he’s like so many other overly aggressive types. He seeks someone that he perceives as weaker, and persecutes them to release his wrath. But that wrath is never released–it’s satanic and keeps growing, otherwise why keep on persecuting? he’s his own victim of his anger, but probably doesn’t know it.
I read the post and the comments and watched the videos, but one thing that’s clear to me is most of you seat there condemning Buju Banton for a song he wrote when he was only 15. I believe that music is a form of expression; it frees the mind and relaxes the soul. I don’t believe buju banton should be condemned for giving his honest opinion on homosexuals through his music. Growing up we’re taught right from wrong, so if the Bible say that homosexuality is wrong then what’s wrong with informing the world about it? Just because he sings about what he believe should be done to homosexuals doesn’t mean his send anyone to act on it. At the end of the day we all have a mind of our own. So pardon me for seeing nothing wrong with expressing what we’ve been taught in church through music. I am not homophobic and I’m not a Jamaican. I’m just a simple young adult who enjoys reggae and learn some of life’s lessons from it. Truth be told many of us are not singer or song writers but we do at sometime show prejudice to or against person who are of different groups of our own. Some of us have guts to speak up to a social issue we don’t agree with while the rest of us go with the flow. If any of you believe that the song should be banned the singer should be band and all that stuff. Then we need to revisit our institution, because Buju was sang/ wrote the song based on what he was taught in any institution (church). Lets stop dwelling on the past it was 20 years ago I was just about ready to come into this would get over it there is nothing we can do about a 20 year old song. Music is music as in all artists there are songs we like and songs we don’t like but the singer still gets paid still gets his message across. And the best way to make a song famous is to write some thing people will be against the go around playing his song over and over again. He who’s with out sin cast the first stone. I personally LOVE my reggae from Bob Marley to Damian Marley. Buju love
@ Anna Renee you don’t have to be aggressive to stand for something you believe is morally wrong. He didn’t write the song because he thinks he is stronger than a homosexual. He wrote it because from the time he was a child growing up he was taught that it was wrong at home in church at school etc.
20 year old Female