Buju Banton
The ex-husband of Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan’s socialite girlfriend, Nina Atalah, musician Buju Banton is set to be released from Prison in the US after almost ten years behind bars, MyNewsGh.com has confirmed from Jamaican official sources.
His release from prison will be marked by the opening of an official BujuBanton.com website which was launched in June 2018 when the date for his release was set for the Reggae Superstar to return home after almost a decade behind bars. His then-wife, Nina Atalah allegedly abandoned him when he was jailed in 2009 for drug possession.
While Buju Banton remains a popular world reggae figure, his popularity in Ghana has soared in recent times and many who didn’t know about him have gotten to know he exists thanks to his ex-wife Nina Atala’s relationship with Asamoah Gyan.
Mr Gyan is set to nullify his marriage with his fiancée of 11 years and wife of 5 years to marry Nina Atalah afresh.
Nina Atalah has a long list of prominently super-rich boyfriends, among them include, as alleged, Asamoah Gyan’s predecessor captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah, actor John Dumelo, Musician Captain Planet of 4×4, millionaire Ibrahim Mahama, a Nigerian Billionaire Senator Dino Melaye, Prince David Osei and popularly Buju Banton.
As Buju Banton is set to be released, his fanbase worldwide are eagerly anticipating more hits.
Buju Banton was the first recording artist to break Bob Marley’s record for the most #1 singles in Jamaican music history, at the time he was married to Nina Atalah and on top of his career.
His last full-length release, the 2010 project ‘Before the Dawn,’ won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His last live show, a sold-out performance at Miami’s Bayfront Park featuring guest appearances by Stephen and Damian Marley, Sean Paul and DJ Khaled to name a few. Buju is looking forward to returning to his family and re-connecting with his fans as well as getting back into the recording studio.
He and Nina Atalah had a son, Banton Jnr.
So far Buju’s management team has lined up a series of live performances for him right from December 8th when he is released. They have began an official hashtag of #BujuReturns to mark the days to his return.
“Demand for Buju Banton’s music remains high despite his prolonged absence from the recording studio,” a recent Billboard feature said.
Background
The Grammy-award-winning star Buju Banton ex-husband of Nina Banton, now Nina Atalah was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the US for his role in setting up a cocaine deal in 2009.
The singer, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was told at Tampa federal court that he must serve five years’ probation following prison. Previously the Dancehall artist had insisted in court that he had been merely boasting about the deal. Prosecutors conceded he had never put money into a deal or profited from it.
In February of 2010, he was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, along with a further drug trafficking offence and a gun charge. He was acquitted of a fourth charge for attempted cocaine possession. It was Banton’s second trial – his first ended in September when the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Much of the case hinged on video and audio recordings taken by an informant and by Drug Enforcement Administration personnel. The informant was paid $50,000 (£31,000) after Banton’s arrest in December 2009, along with two others.
One video shown to the jury showed Banton apparently tasting cocaine in a Florida warehouse. A co-defendant later gave the informant $135,000 (£83,705).
