Afrika Bambaataa Faces Allegations of Sexual Abuse with Minor
Hip-hop co-founder Afrika Bambaataa is on the receiving end of sexual misconduct allegations that started surfacing last month. The allegations started from former New York State Democratic Committee member Ronald Savage.
According to Savage, Bambaataa sexually abused him as a teenager, adding that he met the Universal Zulu Nation member when he was 12 or 13. BET notes that Savage’s age then would have put Bambaataa at roughly 21 at the time.
During a radio interview with Shot97.com, Savage publicly discussed the alleged molestation from Bambaataa and his reasons for coming forward after all this time.
“It took me this long to actually get this out and to be able to really talk about it,” Savage said. Although he addressed his past interactions with Bambaataa in his book, Impulses, Urges and Fantasies, Savage used a different name as he went into his version of what happened between him and the legendary DJ.
“I wanted to be down with the in-crowd, not really understanding what Bambaataa was doing to me was actually molesting me,” he said.
As for why he didn’t speak out sooner, Savage mentioned a variety of reasons he stayed silent, including the notion of males not typically speaking up about sexual misconduct.
Although Savage’s claims could be proven true or admitted to by Bambaataa, chances of the hip-hop co-founder actually answering for the crime are slim, in light of the fact that the statue of limitations has expired. As a result, no criminal charges can be filed against Bambaataa.
However, since Savage made his claims public, three more men have come forward with similar allegations: A man named Hassan Campbell told the New York Daily News that Bambaataa repeatedly sexually abused him when Campbell was 12 and 13, calling the DJ a “pervert” who “likes little boys.” Two other men whose identities were not fully disclosed also say Bambaataa abused them when they were minors — a former bodyguard also claims Bambaataa abused “hundreds” of young boys since the early 1970s.
Bambaataa has denied all of the allegations.
Initially, the Universal Zulu Nation (which Bambaataa founded in the ’70s) defended their leader, calling the accusations a “government-sponsored media attack.” But in a press release issued recently, the organization now says it is significantly restructuring its leadership. Despite not mentioning Bambaataa by name, they note: “ALL accused parties and those accused of covering up the current allegations of child molestation have been removed and have stepped down from their current positions.”
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16 Comments
Jamie
May 09, 07:15Statue of limitations??? Wait, do we have those here? For child sexual abuses in the country? If yes, I really should then consider and decide whatever it is I want, now!! I’ve told my father about him, but he’s not said anything to me or anyone else about it!
A-non
May 09, 08:49@James,I was going to ask if we have same here but then even fresh sexual abuse /molestation cases are treated with levity here in Nigeria talk less of something that occurred several years ago.
Methinks our judicial system hasn’t attained that height yet.
Pink Panther
May 09, 09:19Him?
You were sexually abused? @Jamie
Jamie
May 09, 11:16Yes! You know how it is with single parenting and busy schedules…especially when it’s the man that’s in charge!! Gimme two weeks, and I’ll send it to you! I can’t ever forget it, it seems…cos I’ve tried so hard!!!
Pink Panther
May 09, 23:07I’m expecting it then,Jamie
A-non
May 09, 08:51Some very ignorant people will see this on Linda Ikeji’s blog and equate pedophilia to being gay.
Pink Panther
May 09, 09:16Lol. Oh yes they will. Forgetting that there are men like Yerima doing the exact same thing
Delle
May 09, 09:36Hmm…I guess this is the appropriate time to come out and say what was done to me by my cousin at age eight, whether or not I liked it at the time.
chuck
May 09, 10:59From secondary school students and so on. Some people get off on domination and manipulation of kids tat can’t make decisions
Dennis Macaulay
May 09, 11:00I was 14 when I first preeqed our much older house help!
Can I go public now?
Pink Panther
May 09, 23:07LOL! Dennis sef.
Django
May 09, 14:03I was barely 5 when I was sexually abused constantly by my very close relative, I’m heading to Fox news!
Pink Panther
May 09, 23:10Hahahahahahaa!!! Django!
•*•sugarrrr*•*
May 09, 18:40Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha lwkmd!!! Am the bbc and the cnn… Everybody submit your report…
posh6666
May 10, 08:31Well in this case especially that of a male child will be very hard to prove cos 1st its been long,secondly I believe no medical record whatsoever of the rape was kept so honestly no need rehashing old wounds that cant be proved…
Infact even in America they still believe men cant be raped and actually mock the male victims who come forward.Go watch American crime season 2
Francis
May 11, 09:01“Molested” and “Molester” ??????