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

Unchained spirit

Despite Wednesday's unsuccessful bid, Professor Charles Ogletree -- part of reggae singer Buju Banton's legal team -- is vowing to continue the fight to have his client's conviction reversed.

"We will be fighting for Buju Banton's freedom," said Olgetree, a professor at Harvard Law School, in a written response to the Jamaica Observer's queries.

On Wednesday, a United States Appeal Court dismissed the request to have the reggae artiste's conviction overturned to secure a new trial. But Ogletree, who, along with Max Stern comprise Buju Banton's legal team, is undaunted.

"We have not lost the appeal. The 11th Circuit made it clear that the entire Appellate Court should hear his case. 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.

Buju Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, is currently serving a mandatory 10-year prison sentence for a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The 41-year-old is scheduled to be released in 2019. He has filed a motion requesting an early release under new federal drug sentencing guidelines.

He was convicted in February 2011, days after winning a Grammy award for his album, Before the Dawn. His other albums include 'Til Shiloh (1995), Inna Heights (1997) and Unchained Spirit (2000).

"We are grateful to the people of Jamaica and around the world who have been steadfast in fighting for justice for Buju Banton!," Ogletree concluded.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/UNCHAINED-SPIRIT_18275350

No New Trial For Buju

Grammy award-winning Jamaican reggae artiste Buju Banton has lost his appeal to have his conviction overturned to secure a new trial.

With this ruling, that was handed down in a Florida court earlier this week, Buju Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, will continue to serve his 10-year prison sentence.

He is currently serving a mandatory sentence for his conviction on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Buju is scheduled to be released in 2019, however he filed his own motion from prison asking to be released early under a recent change in federal drug sentencing guidelines.

He was convicted in February 2011, days after he won a Grammy award for his album, “Before the Dawn.”

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/No-new-trial-for-Buju

Buju Banton on the move, being transferred to new location

Convicted reggae superstar Buju Banton has been transferred from the Florida federal prison where he has been serving a 10-year sentence. 

His final destination is still unknown, but the Grammy-winning entertainer, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is now at the Federal Transfer Centre (FTC) in Oklahoma City. 

A spokeswoman at the Federal Bureau of Prisons this morning declined to discuss the reasons for the transfer or divulge which facility he is being transferred to. 

"As a matter of policy, we don't discuss that," the spokeswoman told The Gleaner. 

According to the Bureau of Prisons' website, the FTC is an administrative facility that houses male and females holdover offenders. 

Buju was convicted on drug charges stemming from an attempted drug deal in 2009. 

A Florida judge recently dismissed his appeal for a new trial, but the entertainer has already served notice that he will continue his fight to overturn the conviction. 

Buju's 10-year sentence started December 2009, his projected release date according to the Bureau of Prisons' website is March 2019. 

Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer 

Source: http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=47618 

Buju Banton’s release date set for February 2019

Buju Banton will have to wait until the final year of this decade to become a free man once more after the United States Bureau of prisons confirmed that his official release date has been set for February 2019.

The official release date quells rumors that have swirled that Buju would originally serve 6 years; counting time already served & good behavior. However, the Bureau’s official release date set for February 2019 includes the time the prominent Reggae entertainer served in prison prior to & between his two trials within the last year.

According to Professor & highly regarded attorney-at-law, David Rowe, explained that Buju Banton will also get credit for 16% of “federal gain time,” that is time that he serves whilst not violating federal rules behind bars. Should he violate the rules, Buju’s sentence may be extended.

Buju Banton was convicted on three drug related charges this past February as a result of a December 2009 incident in which he allegedly conspired to organize a drug deal within a police controlled warehouse. Banton received a ten year sentence for the incident. However, his lawyer, David Markus plans to appeal that ruling in a Georgia courtroom in the near future.

Currently, Buju has yet to officially serve his time; remains listed in transit as he’s expected to be sent to a federal prison in Mississippi.

By Jodee Brown, Jamaican Pop Culture Examiner

 

Source: http://www.examiner.com/jamaican-pop-culture-in-national/buju-banton-s-release-date-set-for-february-2019