Reggae Legend Buju Banton Reveals Igbo Ancestry

Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton has disclosed that he traces his roots back to the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. In a candid conversation on the “Drink Champs” podcast, co-hosted by N.O.R.E and DJ EFN, Banton revealed that his lineage connects him to the Maroons, a group he asserts originated from the Igbo people.

Banton, known for his powerful voice in reggae music, expressed deep concerns about the current Jamaican government’s actions, which he claims are threatening the Maroons’ way of life and their sacred lands. He voiced alarm over the government’s decision to invite Chinese and other foreign nationals into the Cockpit region, a historically significant area for the Maroons.

“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, which is an Indigenous sacred region, to usurp us, the Maroons, as the warriors,” Banton stated during the interview.

Highlighting the Maroons’ legacy as fierce warriors who resisted British colonization, Banton emphasized his personal connection to this history. “Maroons are some of the Indigenous warriors on my island. We fought the British relentlessly. We are called Black Maroons. My generation originated from Nigeria. I am an Igbo man according to my bloodline,” he declared.

Banton’s revelation sheds light on the deep historical ties between the Caribbean and Africa, while also bringing attention to the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities in Jamaica.