Buju Banton Called Out For Catching Barracuda Fish
A photo that Buju Banton posted of himself posing on a boat with a barracuda fish, on Tuesday, has been met with indignation by some of his vegan followers and Rastafarians, who have demanded that he desist from eating dead animals.
Buju had shared the image of himself shirtless on a fishing boat with a rod belt high above his waist, gripping the barracuda which he had seemingly just caught, with both hands and captioned it: “MY PEOPLE DON’T YOU GIVE UP. HOLD ON THIGHT”, before later adding: “Big up u dam self”.
While many of the women gushed over his physique, others raised a myriad of complaints. Some were unhappy that he had responded to supermodel Naomi Campbell who had commented on his post, and said he should not “keep company” with her due to her past association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In addition, Buju’s exposed Calvin Klein underpants was also a source of mockery, for riz_khalifa1985.
“But wait Calvin Klein nuh fish so how u a wear fish underpants 😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂,” he jeered.
However, for the main part, the African Pride artist was rebuked for apparently breaching Rastafarian doctrine, under which its members are mandated to refrain from strong drinks and all flesh foods.
“Buju Banton, u killed that fish🎣 do u eat flesh🩸& bones🦴? Empress_empress_empress demanded to know, while topdondadda_marleybleu declared: “Fiyah Rastamon nuh nyam fish and dead”.
“No bone cracking. No flesh eating. Nothing with eyes, nose, mouth and ears. No rise kill and eat.. A Kno Rasta work dat,” was the rebuke from rasinkosi.
Other followers said that Buju’s actions was destructive and amounted to paganic behaviour.
“Duppy rich funny things gwaan dat bredda; rastaman never catch and kill nonadem livin things whole world seen oneness; jah love is reall, love every creature and nuh be a cannibal. Eat only ital,” greengraph42o admonished.
“What would an Ital Rastaman bait & catch fish to begin with? I thought an unspoken creed of Rasta livity is: harm no living thing. Clearly, baiting a fish with a hook falls into this category (even if the fish is released back into the water body),” emperpr_voldemort lamented.
Others followers, while not preaching about Rastafari, posited that Buju should respect the sanctity of life and show compassion to the fish.
“Life is sacred… have Mercy my brother and mercy will come to you. Fish wants to live too, Live in Love and let live,” daruk108 said.
The Til Shiloh artist was, however, staunchly defended by terissavisa who argued that not all Rastafarians were able to be ital and they should refrain from dictating to him.
“Please stop the gatekeeping. Anuh every Rasta can eat vegetarian/ vegan. Buju has been pescatarian for YEARS along with many other Rastas. There are Rastas who raise pigs, who are you to tell them what they can do?” she said.
The argument that Buju is a pescatarian (seafood-eating vegetarian), is in contrast to the declaration by Rastafarian priest Ras T who, in October 2018, had outlined that it was an infraction for Rastafarians to eat animal flesh.
“The diet is very important: we should refrain from strong drinks and all flesh foods. Any Rasta who eats meat and drinks alcohol knows that it is wrong, it is not a part of our tenets,” he had told The Gleaner.
However, the assumption that Buju caught the barracuda in order to make a meal of it, might be unfounded, as he may just have gone fishing only as a pastime, like his colleague Capleton often does.
Capleton, who is a rawist vegan who carries his own personal chef on tours with him, often goes on fishing expeditions in his native St. Mary. He has said in the past that fishing has been a hobby of his from childhood days and was his favourite way of relaxation and that while he does not eat fish, he gives away the ones he catches away to family and friends.