Buju has arrived home in Jamaica

GRAMMY award-winning Jamaican artiste Buju Banton arrived in the island last night after being released from McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia, United States, yesterday.

The deejay, who served eight years in prison on drug charges, looked well as he smiled and waved to airport staff who screamed and shouted his name as he walked through the general aviation (private) section of the airport avoiding a large crowd that had gathered at the main arrival area.

Wearing a white tam and white shirt covered by a white sweater, his beard had patches of grey.

Later in the night he was seen driving going to see his father. He seemed to be in good spirits, smiling and stopping to talk to fans.

Welcome home Buju!

Buju Banton Released From US Prison

Buju Banton has been released from prison after eight years at the McRae Correctional institution. An officer at the institution said the entertainer whose given name is Mark Myrie, was let out on earlier today.

The United States embassy in Kingston is tight-lipped about when reggae superstar Buju Banton will be returned to the country.

Buju, 45,was arrested in December 2009, months after he was met by a convicted drug trafficker on a flight from Spain who sought to set up a cocaine deal for him.

Following his conviction in February 2011, Buju was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors required two trials to convict the reggae icon, who was targeted and pursued by an undercover federal informant for more than a year.

Buju, a Grammy award-winning entertainer was convicted of drug trafficking on February 22, 2011 in Tampa, Florida, 12 days after the retrial of his case began. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

His initial release date was set as February 2019, but was later revised to December 8, 2018.
Buju recently released a statement saying that upon release he only wants to be associated with his craft.

"Having survived, I want to share the good news and strength of my music. I just want to continue making music, which I've devoted my life to. I look forward to the opportunity to say a personal thanks to my fans and everyone who supported me," Buju said.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20181207/buju-banton-released-us-prison-0

Buju Banton Moves To Circumvent ICE Detention Ahead Of Prison Release

Buju Banton is moving to circumvent any ICE detention that might come his way.

Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, has just over a month to serve before he is released from federal prison, on December 8, 2018. The reggae/dancehall legend is eager to return to his family and fans in Jamaica, so he has hired a team of high powered attorneys to oversee his release from prison and pending deportation back to Jamaica. Urban Islandz previously reported that Buju is planning to embark on an extensive tour called “Long Walk To Freedom Tour” which will comprise of shows in the wider Caribbean, Africa, and Europe.

But before he embarks on his upcoming tour, Banton will be performing in Jamaica for his first post-prison concert. The Grammy-winning singer’s publicist, Ronnie Tomlinson, confirmed that his legal team is now working to ensure that his transition from prison to Jamaica is as smooth as possible. Upon his release from the McRae Correctional Institute located in Georgia on December 8, Buju Banton will be placed in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The singer wants that time to be as little as possible.

We’re told that sometimes ICE processed inmates in a day and sometimes it could take months. Buju Banton has no interest in fighting his immigration status in the United States which will make it easier for him to be sent to Jamaica immediately after completing his sentence. This also means that he will not be able to travel and work in the United States possibly for an extended period.

“Buju has made sure that his stay with ICE will be as short as possible,” Tomlinson said. “He has opted for voluntary deportation. He should be home in very short order after his sentence ends.”
Sources told Urban Islandz that Buju Banton would likely be home in Jamaica within days of his release from prison.

Source: https://urbanislandz.com/2018/10/27/buju-banton-circumvent-ice-detention-prison/

Jamaica the first stop on Buju Banton's 'Freedom' tour

Incarcerated reggae superstar Buju Banton will reportedly be embarking on a major world tour in 2019.


The reggae legend’s team announced via social media that he would embark on a tour dubbed “Long Walk To Freedom”.


“The anticipation continues to build, looking forward to seeing you all soon. Stay Tuned!” the post read.


Donovan Germain, the artiste's close friend and former manager, said that Buju Banton's first performance will be in Jamaica.


"I cannot give any details at this time, but I can confirm that his first show will be in Jamaica," Germain told Loop Jamaica reporter Claude Mills.


Dates will be announced in the coming weeks and there will be special guests performing with the singer. Loop News understands that the first show in Jamaica is tentatively scheduled for March 23, 2019.


The “Long Walk To Freedom” tour will be Buju Banton’s first major trek after his release from prison on December 8. He has a show already booked for Trinidad and Tobago in the spring of next year. There is also a show set for March 30th at the Nassau National Stadium in the Bahamas.


Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for drug trafficking. He will return to Jamaica after his release.


He is a major reggae star, winning a Grammy award in 2011 for his album 'Before the Dawn'. He was previously nominated in the Best Reggae Album category in 2004, and 2010 for his albums Friends for Life and Rasta Got Soul.



Source: http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/jamaica-first-stop-buju-bantons-freedom-tour

Buju’s children look forward to his homecoming

Jodian & Mark Myrie

Ten years is a long time for a father to be separated from his children.

Hence, Buju Banton's offspring are already counting down the months to their father's release and return to Jamaica.

Buju is expected to be released in December 2018, having one year removed from his 10-year sentence.

The eldest of Buju's children, Jodian Myrie, is anticipating an emotional roller coaster on the day her father lands.

She shared that Buju had asked all his children to promise not to visit during his incarceration. She kept that promise unlike her brothers Markus and Jahazeil, who decided that was not an option.

"When I was 16, we surprised him. I just really wanted to see him because it had been long time," said Jahazeil, now 20. "He is ready to come home and I know in his spirit that he wants to perform. No one wants to be away from their family or work for so long under those conditions."

As an emerging member of the recording fraternity, Jahazeil believes that a homecoming event should be planned, although nothing has been discussed among the siblings.

"To be quite honest, we don't have anything prepared. It is not something that we know how to deal with, a person coming off serving time. Closer to the release, the family will know what to do. One thing I am sure of is he will want some nice food cooked," Jodian said, adding that they would not necessarily be forcing anything on him.


STRONG BOND


Jahazeil said he cried on a few occasions when he visited his father.

"Sometimes it rough, sometimes it smooth. No one can imagine the joy it gave me to know him coming out early, it lifted my spirits. He taught us how to be strong and militant, but all I want to see is him reconnect and build a strong bond for the years he missed out on," Jahazeil said.

Jodian said the family has grown, noting Buju even has grandchildren.

"I had made certain to send recorded media of my daughter to him, so I know when they finally meet I will melt into a puddle," she said.

The children have recognised that as a legendary recording artiste, Buju will desire to reconnect with his fans both old and new.

However, Mark Myrie the man, according to Jodian, "will need some time to regroup." Jahazeil believes people will be glad for his father to perform.

However, Jodian said she was unsure how involved the Government would want to be, and said discrimination will come from various persons.

The family seems to have agreed to keep Buju's return date a secret when all arrangements for his return to Jamaica are made.

This is to avoid unnecessary press and potential security concerns.


Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20171114/buju%E2%80%99s-children-look-forward-his-homecoming

Buju Banton to launch clothing line on his birthday July 15, 2017

Incarcerated reggae artiste, Buju Banton, is set to launch his own clothing line. The entertainer's team recently made the announcement via his official Instagram account.

The brand titled 'Everything BB' will feature T-shirts displaying Buju Banton's photo as well as lyrics from his songs like Hills And Valleys, Love Sponge, Walk Like a Champion and Driver. Items will be available for purchase on the line's official website, www.everythingbb.net.

Persons interested in finding out the details of the line as they are made available, are encouraged to follow the line's Instagram page everythingbbofficial.

Buju Banton is slated to be released on December 8, 2018.

Which Song Will Buju Start His Next Jamaican Performance With? (Pt 1)

Photo: Riina Asamoa

Early last month The STAR, referring to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) website, reported that Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie now has a release date of December 8, 2018. It is anyone's guess when and where his first post-release performance in Jamaica will be. However, as the universe has aligned it, Rebel Salute 2019 will be held a little over a month after Buju's current release date and it will be a significant landmark at that - its 25th anniversary.His 2005 Rebel Salute showing, when he came on after Jimmy Cliff, was memorable.

Just saying.

So I wonder what Buju's first song on a stage in Jamaica after his release will be. Which tune from his catalogue could he open up with before the hordes of people who are sure to turn up to see and hear the Gargamel? The possibilities are juicy; and what they say about his attitude towards incarceration and current state of mind intriguing. Here are a few.

1. 'Til Shiloh'

The brief title track of his 1995 album, performing this first would reaffirm Buju's Rastafarian steadfast faith through his trial (literally) and travail of incarceration. Naturally, it would run into another song and the sound system selectors tend to follow up with, Hills and Valleys, which, with the lines "only Rasta can liberate the people and why try to make I unhappy/Really I don't know/If it was up to them my friend/We would never see the sun or the snow", would suit the occasion well.

2. 'Our Father In Zion'

Another short one, this is from the 1997 Inna Heights album, which followed Til Shiloh. Its content would say almost the same thing as, Til Shiloh, but would strike a stronger note with those grounded in the Christian faith. There is something which moves in the soul when a mass of people sing "hallowed be they name" and I can almost hear it now.

3. '23rd Psalm'

A track from his 2000 Unchained Spirit album, Buju and Gramps Morgan's voices blend beautifully on this take on what is known as, The Lord's Prayer. As an opening song, it would be an extended version and have a sustained effect of beginning with, Our Father in Zion, but maybe not as intense as that "hallowed" section.

4. 'Close One Yesterday'

Another track from Inna Heights, opening with this would be a statement of having been saved by faith ("I had a close one yesterday/Jah put an angel over me") and also personal fortitude ("Be strong, hold a firm meditation/One day things must get better/Don't go down, keep your head above the water").

5. 'Destiny'

Another one from Inna Heights to close out this week's possibilities. This would be a statement that from this point onwards, no guy will have a say in what he does - Buju will not put his life under the control of anyone, law enforcement included.

Next week, we will look at a few more opening options, among them Give I Strength, Me An Ooonu, Boom Bye Bye, Ova Me, Magic City, Driver and Circumstances. 

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20170302/which-song-will-buju-start-his-next-jamaican-performance-pt-1

Buju Banton: Teenage Sensation to Convicted Warrior (Onstage TV 45min documentary)

Onstage TV is a Jamaican entertainment news and current affairs channel based in Kingston covering the spectrum of Jamaican/Caribbean happenings worldwide. Its where in-dept stories that delve into the lifestyles, successes and failures of Reggae/Dancehall celebrities are told.

Here is their story on Buju Banton. Published May 20, 2015



See also:  http://bujutrial.blogspot.fi/2012/02/buju-banton-is-innocent-full-story.html

Buju to serve full sentence - pressured into an agreement

Rosemary Duncan, coordinator of the three-member Buju Banton Defense Support Committee, says the incarcerated reggae artiste was "pressured into an agreement" to drop any further appeals.

Buju Banton (given name Mark Myrie) is currently serving a mandatory 10-year sentence in a Georgia correctional facility on cocaine charges.

Last Thursday, the reggae singer said he would be halting any further appeals, while the US Attorney Office announced it would be dismissing firearms charge against the singer.

"The court had thrown out the gun charge twice. However, the prosecution still had the option of pursuing a new trial ... and if convicted, he would get an additional five years," the St Lucian-born, US-based Duncan told the Jamaica Observer.

Buju Banton -- who was arrested in 2009 -- was convicted in February 2011. He is scheduled to be deported to Jamaica in 2019.

The support committee coordinator said the decision to discontinue the appeals came from the artiste himself.

"It was his own decision, based on his own analysis. He realised that every time there is hope, the court would say something else. He said he's done 5 1/2 years and could do 3 1/2 years more. It had nothing [to do] with legal cost, as he always paid his lawyers," she explained.

The entertainer's legal team comprises Harvard professor Charles Ogletree and Max Stern.

In January, Ogletree told the Observer he would be pulling out all the stops to free his client.

"We will be fighting for Buju Banton's freedom. We will present our arguments for a reversal of his conviction to the entire court in an en banc hearing later this spring," he said.

Duncan, who said the support group was formed in 2011 to champion Buju Banton's cause, said despite the decision, he remains positive.

"I spoke with him today. He's the same person, in terms of spirit. He's writing great music for his fans," she said.

Days after his 2011 conviction, Buju Banton won a Grammy Award for his album Before Dawn. His other albums include 'Til Shiloh (1995), Inna Heights (1997) and Unchained Spirit (2000).

See also:  http://bujutrial.blogspot.fi/2012/02/buju-banton-is-innocent-full-story.html

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/-Buju-was-pressured-_18974265

Special Prosecutor Appointed to Investigate Rogue Juror in Buju Case

Ever since Buju Banton, one of Jamaica's most talented and controversial reggae singers, was convicted of cocaine trafficking and gun charges in 2011, there have been signs his trial was not on the up-and-up.

You may recall he was sentenced to ten years and lingers in federal lockup. That sentence was allowed to stand even though New Times first disclosed in 2012 that the jury forewoman, Terri Wright, had conducted outside research while the trial was ongoing. That's a violation of court procedures, so 19 months ago, a federal judge ordered the U.S. government to bring criminal contempt charges against Wright.

Virtually nothing happened. But now there's movement. A special prosecutor from outside the U.S. Department of Justice has been tasked with leading the case against the rogue juror and plans to meet with Banton's legal team, Wright, and the feds.

Though no one on the government end is talking much, the appointment of a special prosecutor in such a situation is significant. Such prosecutors are typically reserved for investigating government officials.

So is there a wider probe into potential misconduct that could move Banton a step closer to freedom?

"I hope," says defense attorney Charles Ogletree, who heads Harvard Law School's Institute for Race and Justice. He has been representing Banton (real name Mark Myrie) for the past year. "Here we have a wildcat juror, somebody who's going way beyond their authority and doing things that were completely inappropriate. This undermined the search for truth, which resulted, I think, in the conviction of [Banton]."

Wright's misdeeds extend far beyond doing internet research during the trial. She appears to have lied on several occasions, including during jury selection for Banton's trial, when she told the court she had served in only one previous trial. In reality she had served in seven.

Moreover, when the judge ordered Wright to turn over her computer for forensic analysis, Wright submitted a bogus hard drive. It was in the wake of this deception that the judge called for the contempt charges.

Lost in all of this mess is that Banton remains locked up. It has been six years since he was arrested. He has been through two trials -- the first ended in a hung jury and the second was corrupted by Wright. He has served more jail time than the men who were actually at the scene of the crime with stacks of cash and a gun trying to buy cocaine. (He was far away when the bust happened.)

The criminal informant who built the case against Buju had been deemed untrustworthy by a previous judge and had financial incentive to bend the truth in favor of the prosecution. One-third of the jurors have even admitted to New Times that they did not want to find the singer guilty on the gun charge, which carries a five-year sentence.

It's the jury forewoman's actions that most disturb Harvard's Ogletree, though. "What Terri Wright did is contrary to everything that anyone knows about jury trials," he says. "Jurors... take an oath, and they need to follow it."

Banton's case remains under review by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, where Ogletree recently presented an oral argument centering largely on all the unknowns surrounding Wright. Two weeks ago, the panel requested that all 11 judges of the court review the case. Another hearing is expected this spring.

"We have all the evidence going in our direction," Ogletree says. "We're ready."

See also: http://bujutrial.blogspot.fi/2012/02/buju-banton-is-innocent-full-story.html

Source: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2015/02/buju_banton_case_special_prosecutor_appointed_to_investigate_rogue_juror.php