Veteran reggae and dancehall artist Buju Banton is set to make his highly anticipated return to Canada with a live performance on Sunday, October 13, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer, Banton announced that his Canadian visa has been reinstated, allowing him the opportunity to showcase Jamaican culture once again.
“This means I have a chance to present the culture and Buju Banton to Canadians once more. Performing for the masses is always a joy, but Canada is a special place for us Maroons,” Banton explained.
The show is part of a North American arena tour, and comes after his first U.S. shows in 13 years, including two sold-out dates at New York’s UBS Arena.
It’s a comeback years in the making, bringing the reggae star — who rose to fame in the ’90s with albums like Mr. Mention, Voice of Jamaica, and the Reggae Albums chart topper Inna Heights — back to North American stages, following his incarceration from 2011 to 2018.
Buju Banton’s last performance in Canada was at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver back in 2009, and he has enjoyed significant popularity in the country, touring multiple times over the years. Last year, his hit single “Champion,” originally released by Island Records in 1995, was certified gold in Canada by Music Canada after surpassing 40,000 units sold. “Champion” is also featured on Banton’s RIAA-certified gold-selling album, Til Shiloh.
Banton’s Overcomer Tour, produced by Live Nation, includes Haitian American singer and songwriter Friday as the opening act.
