CLANDESTINO FESTIVAL

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Buju Banton aka Mark Anthony Myriad (b 1973) is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed reggae and Dancehall artists in the generation that has developed during and after the millennium. In fact, he has beaten Bob Marley’s record of most sold singles during a single year. He is one of a few artists who manage to reconcile roots reggae with dancehall, uniquely balancing between the two. Since his breakthrough in the 90s full gigs at prestigious places such as Madison Square Garden in New York and Brixton Academy in London is Buju’s everyday life, a life that differs markedly from the one he shared with his mother, who supported 15 children in Salt Lane in Kingston.
As a writer, Buju Banton has primarily occupied himself with injustices rooted in colonialism, and other classical roots reggae themes: peace, love and awareness. For the album Til Shilo (1995) he was nominated for a Grammy, an accomplishment that was repeated with his next album, Inna Heights (1997), as well and with the albums Friends for Life (2003) and Too Bad (2006). Buju’s extremely productive songwriting deals with everything from gang violence (Murderer is a hit in reggae clubs around the world) and corruption within the police service, to the genocide in Darfur, which he gave attention to on Unchained Spirit (1999). He is a trustee of the traditional peace-loving Jamaican political reggae music.
Despite this, Buju Banton is primarily associated with the song Boom Bye Bye, which he wrote when he was 15, and which has been interpreted as defending violence against homosexuals (which he has always denied). This contributed to him and other artists being boycotted after a campaign by British organization Out Rage!, opposing hatemongering against homosexuals by various artists worldwide (the example should be studied and taken over by more organizations). In cooperation with, among others, Michel Jovanovic on the French booking agency Mediacom, the organization’s leader Peter Thacthell later formulated a contract, The Reggae Commission Act, which a few years ago was signed by Buju Banton and a number of other Jamaican artists (Sizzla, Beenie Man, Capleton, etc.) – fantastic news for his admirers in the gay movements of Jamaica and other places, as well as for his liberal and secular reggae fans worldwide. It consolidates once again that the pillar of reggae music – ONE LOVE – has no limitations in terms of race, gender or sexuality.
Its initiators have now lifted the boycott, which applied to these artists. Buju latest performance in Sweden was at Uppsala Reggae Festival in 2007, and it is with great excitement that we present Buju Banton at Clandestino Festival. It is probably the largest booking (with a total of 18 persons in the touring company) which we have ever managed to do. In April, the Buju also releases a new album, Rasta Got Soul (on own company Gargamel), with fifteen songs in the genre conscious ragga. We are extremely fascinated to be able to present one of Jamaica’s leading superstars at Clandestino Festival. And we guarantee a love message with no boundaries based on X, Y or Z.

One Love.