(AllHipHop News) Representatives of The Universal Zulu Nation are pushing back against child molestations accusations made against its founder, Afrika Bambaataa.
Earlier this week, a former New York politician identified as Ronald Savage recounted the charges in an emotionally charged interview with radio personality Star’s Shot97.com radio show.
Ronald Savage originally made similar allegations in his 2014 book “Impulse, Urges and Fantasy’s.” The book claims to be a “true Hip-Hop story,” and is told through the eyes of a fictional character named “Bee-Stinger” of The Zulu Nation.
Savage, who is now in his 50’s, served as a New York State Democratic Committee for six years. He claimed that Africa Bambaataa molested him between the ages of 12-14 in the late 1970’s.
“It took me this long to actually get this out and to really to be able to talk about it freely. Back when I was younger, I was a kid when this happened,” Ronald Savage said. I wanted to be down with the in-crowd, not really understanding that what Bambaataa was doing to me was actually molesting me. I didn’t understand that. I knew it was wrong. I just had this feelings that was like ‘yuck.’”
Ronald Savage said he wanted to report the crime but never came forward out of fear The Zulu Nation.
In an exclusive statement to AllHipHop.com, The Universal Zulu Nation denied the charges on behalf of the organization’s leader, Afrika Bambaataa and threatened legal action.
Check out a piece of the statement, as well as the full unedited statement below.
“Over the past few years, we at the Universal Zulu Nation have cancelled the membership of individuals within our organization due to inactivity, impropriety and violation of policies and bylaws. Unfortunately, these individuals chose to respond to their ousting with false, negative, slanderous, defaming and accusatory allegations, including referring to our wonderful and peaceful organization as “a gang,”
The Zulu Nation is not a gang. In fact, our organization is founded on four spiritual principles: Peace, Unity, Love and Having Fun. Nothing about the Zulu Nation rises to the level of gang activity, nor do we condone behavior outside of our four pillars. Artists and deejays worldwide will confirm that membership in the Zulu Nation has changed their lives and their outlook on life, as we strive to positively impact our members and their families through Hiphop Culture.
The credibility of the Zulu Nation will not be tarnished by a few who choose to join the ranks of magazines, radio shows and gossip columnists whose sole purpose is to give legs to rumors and falsehoods with salacious headlines and stories.
That said, we at the Universal Zulu Nation vehemently deny any and all current or former claims made against any of our members from former disgruntled members or otherwise. As our organization grows and nears its forty-second anniversary, and as membership rises, we understand deflectors will take any opportunity to gain notoriety or fame, while attempting to discredit the Zulu Nation.
