Anti-gay Ugandan singer due to perform in Birmingham and London
A Ugandan musician, who sings about hating “batty” men, is due to perform in Birmingham and London next month.
LGBT campaigners say Bobi Wine (real name Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi) promotes and instigates homophobia through his lyrics.
The 32-year-old from Kampala, who also runs a boxing club, has described himself as a “ghetto president” and believes he is a ‘role model’ for Uganda’s underprivileged youth.
Wine has his own online “reality” show, featuring extracts of his youth community work.
But a YouTube video also shows his fondness for homophobic language.
He is seen rapping about his disgust for the “batty” and “Chi Chi man”, Jamaican slurs used to describe gay men.
Referencing same-sex sexual activity, Wine asks: “Why do you do this abomination”, adding that “if you are a girl, you must stay a girl”.
The friends around him sing: “If you are a man who dresses like a woman you can never, never be my friend.”
Defending his opposition to gay people and expressing support for Uganda’s anti-gay laws, Wine says: “We must defend our culture and family”.
The artist complains: “I cannot walk to the church with my three wives and get wedded – but I can see two men going into a church to get wedded”.
He previously wrote on Facebook: “So Obama comes to Africa with his wife and kids to promote homosexuality? ……….. Oh what a shame. Obama you can be a fagot and a hypocrite, but pliz keep off our children, our morality and our culture.”
As part of the Summer Bash tour, Wine is due to perform in Birmingham at the La Reference venue, 160 Hockley Hill, on 9 August and then in east London on 10 August at the Royal Regency, Manor Park.
