Ronald “Bee-Stinger” Savage is combating again in opposition to accusations in opposition to Afrika Bambaataa Bambaataa sexually abused her on the age of 15.
All hip hop Noting that the 2 have been photographed collectively at a Zulu Nation occasion, Savage supplied context for the event. “By no means underestimate the facility of God, when He steps in to make issues proper,” Savage mentioned.
Savage mentioned Bambaataa sexually abused him when he was an adolescent. The 2016 announcement was a part of a collection of explosive claims in opposition to Bambaataa. In an interview with Jigsaw’s Chuck Krikmerk, Savage mentioned he didn’t imagine the legend was a pedophile.
“Bambaataa is just not a pedophile and for my part what he did was consensual with somebody he believed to be an grownup,” he mentioned. “I want I had remembered that pretend ID factor again in 2016. It did not happen to me that I had forgotten that I used to be within the midst of a deep melancholy and nonetheless coping with trauma as an grownup. I need to give my all to that one that does not know anybody Man, I simply need to apologize to a child obsessive about hip-hop, so I pretended to be older.
“This occurred 35 to 40 years in the past. This man was by no means convicted of a criminal offense. Let it go. I must set the document straight. [and get] My closure.
You’ll be able to hear the complete interview beneath and skim extra right here.
Afrika Bambaataa and his position as co-founder of the Common Hip Hop Museum sparked some controversy final 12 months, with an advocacy group calling for the not too long ago accomplished museum to be canceled amid sexual abuse allegations in opposition to the hip-hop pioneer funding.
This week, a bunch referred to as Hip Hop Stands with Survivors launched a letter calling on New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams to cease all taxpayer funds from UHHM and fireplace the group’s government director, Rocky · Bucano. The letter additionally calls on all corporations, together with Microsoft, to terminate their monetary relationships with UHHM.
The letter mentioned, “We anticipate that he’ll resign or that the board of administrators will vote to take away him from the museum’s management and for the museum to sever all ties with the Bukano, Bambaataa and Zulu nations.”
In 2019, New York State donated a $3.5 million grant to the museum. It is scheduled to open someday in 2023 or 2024 to have fun hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary.
Protests have taken to the streets, and Mayor Adams responded instantly.
“The Common Hip Hop Museum has assured the federal government that they’ve severed ties with the Common Zulu Nation and that Afrika Bambaataa has not performed any position within the Common Hip Hop Museum since 2016.” Adams mentioned in an announcement.
Government director Bukano additionally issued an announcement denying that Bambaataa had ever served on the museum’s board of administrators and had by no means been a member of the Zulu nation.
His assertion mentioned, “The Common Hip Hop Museum and Mr. Bucano condemn all acts of violence and abuse. I wish to make clear that since 2016, Afrika Bambaataa not performs a task on the Common Hip Hop Museum. Its mission is to empower, educate and uplift the group. It goes on to say, “Whereas Afrika Bambaataa was certainly one of many museum’s founding members, he was faraway from any relationship with the museum as quickly because the allegations surfaced. He has by no means served as a board member, advisory board member, or volunteer. I used to be by no means a world A member of the Zulu Nation and isn’t an agent of the group or the African Bambaataa, any declare that UHHM is a monetary entrance for members of the Common Zulu Nation, the African Bambaataa or different Common Zulu Nation is irresponsible, false and. Deceptive.
Bambaataa has been the topic of quite a few sexual abuse accusations courting again to the Nineteen Seventies, however insists he’s harmless.
His lawyer, Vivian Okay. Tozaki, issued an announcement in 2016: “Just lately, defamatory statements have been made in an try to wreck my consumer’s status, thereby reducing his standing in the neighborhood and discouraging others from associating or coping with him. These statements present a reckless disregard for the details and are knowingly false. Printed beneath circumstances and by a comparatively unknown individual in search of publicity. Beneficial cultural assets, equivalent to Afrika Bambaataa’s good title and time, ought to by no means be used to help a mediocre individual in his silly pursuit of social media. Media visibility and superficial pursuits.
