The Afrika Bambaataa molestation accusations continue as Zulu Nation apologizes to the alleged victims of the hip-hop pioneer, the very organization founded by Bambaataa to represent art and unity in the hip-hop community. This past Tuesday (May 31) the organization issued a surprise apology to the reported victims of Bambaataa after it had questioned their credibility in earlier statements.
“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,” the statement released to Daily News reads. The formal apology was reportedly signed by three dozen members of Zulu Nation, stretching as far as New Zealand.
The statement further expressed that Zulu Nation is working towards sexual abuse education as well as giving the alleged victims their dues.
According to Zulu King EL One, real name Robert Rodriguez, who coordinates the group for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the earlier statements defending Bambaataa were released by older leaders of the organization and close friends of his. The younger leaders of Zulu Nation, as well as most of the members, believe the allegations to be credible.
Rodriguez further said, “Most of the membership would like to hear what the victims have to say.”
In earlier statements Zulu Nation had vehemently refuted the allegations and claimed that the original accuser Ronald Savage was “mentally challenged.”
Bambaataa himself has denied the allegations in a new interview with The Ed Lover Show, saying, “A lot of lies. It could be me today and you tomorrow. I completely deny all accusations that's being put against your brother, Afrika Bambaataa.”
He further claimed that original accuser Savage was merely trying to use “sensationalism just to gain publicity” to promote his novel Impulses, Urges and Fantasies, released in 2014. The novel reportedly details the sexual assault.
