Allegations of sex trafficking and abuse have long been circulating against hip hop pioneer Africa Bambataa and the Zulu Nation. Now, the founder of the group is facing a lawsuit regarding the accusations.
Metropolis reported that “John Doe” accused Bambataa of hiring him out for sex with older men when he was 12-years-old. The lawsuit was filed on August 4, 2021– ten days before an August 14th deadline of the Child Victims Act (CVA).
His attorneys, Tanner and Ortega, weighed in on the suit, saying, “The CVA opened a historic one-year onetime window for victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the State of New York to pursue lapsed claims. Prior to the passage of the CVA, each Plaintiff’s claims were time-barred the day they turned 22 years old.”
Doe alleged he endured the abuse for four years. Bambataa, born Lance Taylor, is accused of sexually abusing him after reportedly luring the boy to his Bronx apartment in the 90s. Doe claimed that Bambataa touched his body, including his genitals. He also alleged that the abuse took place at Zulu Nation’s headquarters.
According to Metropolis, Troi Torrain broke the story. When he reported the initial accusations, a plethora of young men came forward with accusations. The claims sexual abuse and trafficking allegations began in 2016. At least four men came forward.
The Zulu Nation released a statement regarding the suit.
“Nothing has changed since 2016 when these decades ago accusations first surfaced. This is a personal matter for Afrika Bambaataa and his lawyers to deal with and has absolutely nothing to do with the 10 year [sic] long UZN-DOCA mission, programs and projects which continue in the revolutionary legacy of both The Black Panther Party & The Young Lords Party to ‘Serve The People, Body & Soul.’”
Bambataa was accused of civil battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and gross negligence.
