Zulu Nation Apologizes to Afrika Bambaataa’s Alleged Sexual Abuse Victims

Zulu Nation, an organization found in the 1970s by Afrika Bambaataa, has changed its stance on recent sexual abuse allegations against the hip-hop pioneer, the New York Daily News reports. In April, Ronald Savage—a Bronx activist, politician, and former music industry executive—went public with accusations that Bambaataa sexually abused him several times in 1980, when Savage was 15 years old. Bambaataa’s lawyer issued a statement calling the charges “defamatory” and “false.” Bambaataa, in a statement, said he wanted “to personally deny any and all allegations of any type of sexual molestation of anyone.” Three other men have since accused Bambaataa of sexual abuse. Bambaataa, in his first interview since the allegations, again denied them, suggesting the claims were part of an effort to damage his reputation. Zulu Nation originally denied Savage’s claims, calling him “mentally challenged” and suggesting the Daily News had “been compromised and controlled by U.S. government intelligence.” In May, though, Zulu Nation announced a change in leadership. And now the hip-hop awareness group has issued an apology to Bambaataa’s alleged sexual abuse victims. 

“We extend our deepest and most sincere apologies to the many people who have been hurt by the actions of Afrika Bambaataa and the subsequent poor response of our organization to allegations leveled against him,” Zulu Nation said on May 31 in a statement, as the Daily News reports. Zulu King EL One, the organization’s New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut coordinator, reportedly said that older leaders who were Bambaataa’s friends had given the earlier statements. “Most of the membership would like to hear what the victims have to say,” Zulu King EL One told the Daily News.

Charles Tucker Jr., an attorney for Bambaataa, declined to comment to the Daily News. ”I don’t know enough about the motivation behind this letter to make a statement,” Tucker said.

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