Buju Banton Will Not Perform ‘Boom Bye Bye’ At Concert In Kingston

Buju Banton will not be performing ‘Boom Bye Bye’ at his Long Walk To Freedom Concert set for the National Stadium in St Andrew on Saturday.

According to Jamrock Sound principal Hugh ‘Redman’ James, Banton has excluded the song from his scheduled 90-minute set.

“I am a part of his entourage so I go to all the rehearsals and he don’t do that song, he don’t rehearse that song,” James told The Star. “That is the song that kinda shoot him a bit, so him bury up that.”

Boom Bye Bye has been causing controversy since it was released in 1992. Recorded by a then teenage Banton in 1988, the track denounces homosexuals and delineates violence towards them.

The backlash Banton received from the track was almost enough to silence his career as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights groups lobbied for his ban at several concerts.

Last year, LGBT community in Barbados reportedly called on Buju Banton to publicly denounce the single ahead of his performance in the country.

Saturday’s concert is a kick off for the Buju Banton’s first concert series since he was released from a United States prison in December where he served time on drug trafficking charges. In addition to Buju, the entertainment package will feature Chronixx, Etana, Coco Tea, Delly Ranx, Romain Virgo, Ghost, Agent Sasco, LUST and Buju’s son Jahzeil.

The organisers of the event are encouraging patrons to come out early and make use of the park and ride shuttle service, which will be provided for patrons.