Grammy Award winner reggae singer Buju Banton delivered a passionate address at the launch of his Intimate concert series on November 7, offering sharp insights into Jamaica’s cultural value and the state of reggae music on the international stage.
“Nobody comes to Jamaica to see our politicians,” Buju declared. “They come to Jamaica because of what Jamaica has to offer.”
The Love Me Browning singer’s remarks follow his Overcomer Tour in North America, which has been hailed as the most successful solo reggae arena tour of the 21st century by the Caribbean Music Report.
“For five months, I’ve been working not for myself only but for this entire industry internationally because I saw that our music was not being represented on the international stage like it should adequately be,” he shared. “And I plunged myself wholeheartedly, even sacrificed, to be out there because I always wondered: Why am I not seeing reggae music on these arenas? Why am I not seeing reggae music in these prestigious venues? It’s not that we don’t have the music. It’s the lack of our presentation? it’s the lack of our delivery? it’s the lack of our representation?”
Buju credited his manager and close friend Joey Budafuco for helping him navigate this journey, though he also highlighted the challenges he’s faced as a Black artist.
“With the help of Joey Budafuco, my friend and manager, we charted a course that’s very difficult for most Jamaicans to comprehend because I’m this color. Maybe if I myself were lighter hue, it would have been much more appreciated, but that’s one of the consequences of being who you are as a Black man in this country and being a reggae music devotee.”
Banton, whose catalog include the single “Love Black Woman,” canceled six dates on his Overcomer Tour in September. Addressing rumors that the tour had been canceled, he took to social media to reassure fans, stating, “The Overcomer Tour is not canceled! I can’t wait to see you all!”
The canceled dates included Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Inglewood, Chicago, and San Jose. However, since July, Buju Banton has successfully completed nine shows, with the tour set to conclude tomorrow, November 17, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center—marking his third New York performance in just five months.
The tour, promoted by AG Touring in collaboration with Gargamel Music and XO Management, is Buju’s first U.S. arena tour, with each venue accomodating up to 19,000 seated patrons. A source close to his team revealed to WMV that slower ticket sales prompted the cancelled dates by Ticketmaster.
Despite these challenges, Buju, born Mark Myrie expressed gratitude for the warm reception reggae has received internationally.
“It is important for us to realize that our music transcends borders,” he emphasized. “The international community has been quite responsive towards our culture and exceptionally responsive towards what I brought to these arenas.”
Before reflecting on the trajectory of Jamaican music, Buju pointed out that “we haven’t had a great superstar in years.”
Reggae-dancehall’s peak years on the Billboard charts happened between 1993-1995, with artists like Inner Circle, Ini Kamoze, Shabba Ranks, Patra, and Mad Cobra breaking into the Hot 100. Then again in the early 2000s with Shaggy and Sean Paul finding No. 1 hits. Buju, who has never hit the Billboard Hot 100 with a solo song, reflects on the era, noting the missed opportunities of past decades while urging today’s artists to seize their responsibility and build on the genre’s legacy.
Image by Tizzy Tokyo
“Before us, the entertainers from the ’80s didn’t see this. The entertainers from the ’70s did not see this. The entertainers from the ’90s—they had a chance, but they missed the vision. The entertainers from the 21st century, I hope they understand what we have given them to make sure that we have a music that can lift them out of poverty, educate their people, eradicate negativity, and bring our peoples together.”
Regarding Intimate—the bi-annual concert featuring Beres Hammond, Romain Virgo, and Marcia Griffiths on January 4—Buju Banton emphasizes that the goal is to create meaningful connections between the artists and their audience.
“Let us strive to bring some order out of this current chaos. Intimate is not just a concert where we come and sing, but one where we discuss, talk, bring the people close to us, touch them, feel them, and perform in a way that we don’t perform abroad. That’s why the theme is called Intimate,” Buju said.
The 51 year old reggae superstar also extended his gratitude to Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange.
“Yes, I want to say also, thanks to the honorable minister Babsy Grange. You have done tremendous work. You could do a lot more. What you have done, we appreciate it,” he said. Adding, “Intimate brings class. We strive to bring entertainment to our people that is clean, very well-produced, very well-presented, and hopefully very well-accepted.”
Watch full Buju Banton speech below:
