Buju delivers at sold-out New York concert

More than 18,000 Buju Banton fans turned out for his historic, sold-out 'Long Walk To Freedom - New York' concert at the UBS Arena in Queens on Saturday, just two days shy of his 51st birthday.

Buju's last performance in New York City was in 2008 at the famed Madison Square Garden arena. A second show at the UBS Arena, which was hastily added to fulfil the growing demand of patrons, reportedly sold out as well, event MC Dahved Levy announced.

On Saturday night, Buju started the musical odyssey with his Til Shiloh band and backup singers in tow. Ironically, it was Buried Alive from his 2020 album titled Upside Down which got the musical frenzy started, which transitioned into Destiny, before he reminded patrons that it was Not an Easy Road to get back to the US, having had to climb Hills & Valley.

It was announced in May that Buju, whose given name is Mark Myrie, was in the US, having been granted a visa following deportation from that country in 2019. The news was welcomed in music circles and from fans.

Veteran booking agent and tour manager Copeland Forbes told THE STAR that "Buju creates music for the world and not music for himself".

"Dancehall has gone into a spin, and it needs a good leader out there now. And if Buju can come back and lead the pack, it will be good. Buju still can pack anywhere ... any place. If him go a Nashville, him can pack it. Just stay focused and open some doors so that some other people can go through," Forbes advised.

On Saturday, Buju's musical story continued with Born For Greatness, Movie Star, Browning, Mr Nine, Answer and a cameo with reggae songbird Nadine Sutherland.

"It was amazing to be on stage with Buju," Sutherland acknowledged.

"I am still levitated...I am still on a high from it," she confessed. "I am really proud of our culture ... of Buju's evolution as an artiste and for me being there with him. It was an incredible moment."

The curtain fell at 11:10 p.m., with Buju being joined by his friend Gramps Morgan, who blessed the presentation with their iconic collaboration, Psalm 23, and his emotional People Like You.

"We all know the struggles that Buju has endured to get to this point, so to God be the glory," Gramps told THE STAR after his rousing performance.

"I have seen many of the greats perform, including the great Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and John Legend. But to see one of the pillars of our reggae music genre put on such a quality show, with great production like this, it warms my heart. It also debunks the theory that reggae is dying," he opined.