‘Burn all the gays’ rapper axed from UK venues over homophobia
An extreme anti-gay Ugandan rapper, who called for all gay people to be burned, has been axed from a performance in Birmingham over his homophobic outbursts.
Bobi Wine has been taken out of the Drum Arts Venue listings, after management learned of his lyrics, which include the sentiment: “Burn all the batty man.”
The Drum’s chief executive Charles Small said: “Bobi Wine’s appearance and beliefs conflicts with The Drum ethical and equal opportunity policy.”
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.
Following the announcement that he was axed from the lineup, Wine added a lengthy status update to his page, claiming that he has received “threats”, based on his anti-gay views, but defended his position, describing homosexuality as a “bad habit”, and “phenomenon”, and an “act that counters societal progress.”
Defending Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, Wine claimed that Western countries had “misinterpreted” its intention, and taken advantage of Uganda’s “vulnerability as a nation.”
He claims that the legislation, which increased punishments for “aggravated homosexuality”, was implemented after “extensive research and consultation,” and that 99% of Ugandans were in support of it.
“This statement was blown out of proportion by self seeking opportunists who hope to gain a quick buck and of course political hegemony, taking advantage of our vulnerability as a nation,” he continued.
“It’s a misinterpretation to say that Uganda wants to kill homosexuals because the biggest sanction for the offenders (aggravated homosexuality with a minor where the offender is HIV positive) is life imprisonment and not death.”
He claims that 99% of Africans are against homosexuality, based on “culture, religion and constitution.”
“Homosexuality may be a phenomenal [sic] that has lived in the nooks of society and as humanity requires,I sympathise with the victim,in the confines of the word victim and most definitely sympathy should not be misinterpreted as endorsement.”
Continuing, the rapper goes on to express his personal disgust with gay people, and a confusion over why pride events, and the term “gay pride” might be used.
“How be it, I completely fail to understand the pride and why the gays are so happy about it. If my opinion makes me third world,then am happy to be,” he writes.
He concludes: “The bottom line is that we should struggle to better our selves and it’s not fair when one tries to ‘arm-twist’ society to legalise bad habits just because they have a sponsor. We just can’t compromise our Values and Dignity.”
Wine has also been axed from performing at London’s Troxy venue.
