Mar 25, 2023, The Hip Hop Stand With Survivors Group publicly announced that the Universal Hip Hop Museum would be under protest because of purported connections to Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation.
Universal Hip Hop Museum: The Issue
The Hip Hop Stands with Survivors group alleges Afrika Bambaataa has exerted undue influence on the director of UHHM. As a measure of support for their claims, the group submitted a 30-page report detailing their allegations. As a result of inaction, the collective has announced that they are no longer standing on the sidelines. They plan to kick things up a notch.
What Are The Demands?
In addition to demanding the release of the UHHM’s director, they also request the organization no longer receive taxpayer donations. As a source notes,
“Hip Hop Stands With Survivors is demanding the UHHM executive director Rocky Bucano resign and the termination of taxpayer funding for UHMM, which has received almost $30 million in public funding.”
What Are The Claims?
Hip Hop Stands with Survivors base their argument on allegations that Afrika Bambaataa has engaged in pedophilia. A lawsuit was filed against Afrika Bambaataa in 2021 for alleged sexual assault and trafficking with a minor that took place in the 1990s, according to the filer. According to a September 2021 article in Rolling Stone, the filing read,
“from 1991, when the Plaintiff was merely 12 years old, to 1995, the Plaintiff was repeatedly sexually abused and sex trafficked at the hands of,” Bambaataa, referred to in the lawsuit by his birth name Lance Taylor.”
And interestingly, Afrika Bambaataa was only one entity mentioned in the filings. RollingStone noted that Zulu Nation, Universal Zulu Nation, and XYZ Corp were also listed.
Zulu Nation Claims: Not A Party To This
However, according to earlier reports, the other entities cut ties with Afrika Bambaataa in 2016 because of similar allegations. Also, in 2021, The Source ran an article that included a formal statement by the Zulu nation, indicating the dissolution of their ties with Bambaataa. However, as of now, it is still unclear whether the charges and allegations against Baambataa have been resolved. Thus, the case is ongoing.
Pressing Forward
Given the strength of the allegations against Bambaataa, the collective Hip hop Stands with Survivors asserts that any ties with Afrika Bambaataa or the Zulu nation send the wrong message. And according to a source,
“Critics argue that this decision puts children at risk and perpetuates a culture of silence.”
Universal Hip Hop Museum: Current Statement
According to a source, The UHMM explained,
“The Universal Hip Hop Museum has no corporate or organizational relationships with organizations with ‘Universal’ in their names.”
But Hip Hop Stands with Survivors contends no response has been given concerning the submitted report. Because of the current stasis and lack of progress, the collective plans to boycott the museum on Mar 27, 2023.
Universal Hip Hop Museum: History Of Chaos
The Universal Hip Hop Museum is the first of its kind, standing as a monument to the birth, development, and growth of Hip-Hop. Since the mere mention of the museum’s construction, there has been a significant amount of controversy. This is despite its significance as a one-of-a-kind monument to the culture. In 2006, BBC covered dissenting opinions regarding the UHMM’s proposed content offering. BBC reported,
” defining what kind of hip-hop the museum would represent was already a political issue. Leaders in the Bronx desired to distance themselves from modern-day hip-hop culture, which they say has become tarnished by turf wars and lyrics promoting misogyny and violence.”
And in 2010, KRS-One went on record regarding their decision to protest the erection of the museum. However, the museum became a reality. Now it is 2023, and there’s yet another protest.
Conclusion
There is a lot to resolve. And hopefully, the resolution will be swift and earnest. Unfortunately, even the purest resources can be tainted when the human element plays a role. The fact that the culture stands to lose makes this even more of a travesty. Fingers crossed that all turns out well.
Written by Renae Richardson
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