Buju Banton

The Profile

Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie, 1973) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. Rising in the late 1980s, he shifted toward roots reggae with ’Til Shiloh and earned critical acclaim. He won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for Before the Dawn.

Born 15 July 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica; active since 1987; known for a powerful baritone and socially conscious lyrics; early track “Boom Bye Bye” drew widespread criticism; won the 2011 Grammy for Best Reggae Album for “Before the Dawn.”

A vivid account of Buju Banton’s 2006 set in Otranto: sweltering heat, heavy crowd energy, and thunderous reggae. Songs drew from Friends for Life, Unchained Spirit, and “Untold Stories.” The performance is praised for Buju’s powerful voice and stage presence. The night ends abruptly amid police intervention and a noted racist incident.