Reggae Legend Buju Banton Reveals Igbo Ancestry and Expresses Concerns Over Displacement of Indigenous People in Jamaica

Legendary Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton has revealed that he has Igbo ancestry, tracing his roots to the Igbo tribe in Nigeria.

In a recent appearance on the "Drink Champs" podcast, co-hosted by N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, Banton shared that his clan, the Maroons, originated from the Igbo tribe.

He expressed concern over the displacement of Jamaica's Indigenous people, criticizing the current Jamaican government for allowing Chinese and other outsiders into areas sacred to the Maroons, which he believes threatens their Indigenous way of life and land.

Banton stated, “Our Indigenous way of life and our land are being threatened by the current government of Jamaica, which seeks to bring Chinese and other nationalities into the Cockpit region, an Indigenous sacred region, to usurp us, the Maroons, as the warriors.

“Maroons are some of the Indigenous warriors on my island. We fought the British relentlessly. We are called Blackmaroons. My generation originated from Nigeria. I am an Igbo man according to my bloodline.”