Buju Banton released from prison

Buju Banton has been released from prison, and has reportedly touched down Jamaica after being released from Georgia’s McRae Correctional Facility on Friday, December 7.

Buju Banton who spent close to 8 years behind bars for drug trafficking charges, was met by crowds of fans when he landed at Norman Manley Airport in Kington, Jamaica. The reggae artist whose next move include helping the youth of his country find employment opportunities, was imprisoned after he was found guilty of intent to deal more than 5kg of cocaine.

Jamaica’s culture minister, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who reacted to report of Buju Banton being released from prison, said it “is now really about, from what we understand, employment of young people. If he can help shape and resocialise young people, that is something we should embrace.”

Raised in Salt Lane, a poor area of Kingston, the man nicknamed Buju by his mother honed his craft as a child, performing live with soundsystems under the name Gargamel aged 12 and recording by the following year, 1987. Jamaica fell for Banton in the early 90s, when he established himself as arguably the most significant dancehall artist in the country.