Mark Myrie, popularly known as Buju Banton says he does not want patrons to put themselves in debt to attend his concert. Speaking with Irie Fm at the Carlisle Avenue studios in St. Andrew Jamaica,
“I am aware of what’s going on in Jamaica, I don’t want Jamaica to come take out a loan to come and see Buju, in the name of Jesus, you understand, I want to make the price affordable, so that Jamaicans can enjoy their culture and see their culture on display. I don’t want you to go and take out a loan and put yourself in deb for six years. Why would you pay so much money where you have to out yourself in debt, so we want to space ourselves out so my people can sort themselves out and live their lives and we celebrate,” the Destiny DJ explained.
Banton, who recently turned 50, says his jam packed “Intimate” concert with Beres Hammond which was held at Grizzlys Plantation in Priory St. Ann on New Years Day will not be held come next January, but will be pushed to 2025, so people can plan for the event.
“Not this year, 2025 it’s a bi-annual event, if the ground is conducive,” he told the Irie FM team.
The Gargamel also lamented that Jamaica is in need of proper in-door facilities for concert venues, a matter than has been sidelined by successive government adminsitrations, even though the island is known for its world class live musical artist for over 60 years.
“We are no longer a nation of 2 million people, we are teetering on 3.2 million or 3.4, what is the probability of 100,000 people wanting to hear a reggae concert or see a famous artist from America? its very high. What if the rain fall? We are not playing attention to our culture, its all about tourism so why don’t we have a facility? We are in this position where we have to play outside. The acoustic not we all and we are back up on the highway for miles. it’s something that the powers that be need to look at.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu5ynaILQFV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Buju’s comments come on the heels of WMV reports that the Chris Brown Jamaica concert scheduled for August 27, will cost patrons up to $1,550,000 for the Sky Vew Suites at the national stadium, the same venue that Banton held his “Long Walk To Freedom” concert in 2019.
Organizers of the Burna Boy Love, Damini concert had to apologize to patrons after the event was effected by technical difficulties. The stadium, built at the dawn of Jamaica’s independence more than 60 years ago has a seating capacity of 27,000 and is expected to host 48,000 patrons over two days at the BZR Weekend events August 25-27.
