One of the most influential figures in all of hip hop & Zulu Nation founder, Afrika Bambaataa has recently passed away due to his battle with cancer. A pioneer that was instrumental in hip hop’s growing years, Bambaataa has passed away at 67 years old, leaving behind a legacy that will not fade. May he rest in peace.
Often known as the Godfather of Hip Hop, Bambaataa was instrumental in channelising the power of hip hop music and camaraderie for good. According to Hip Hop Alliance, Bambaataa started a “global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun” — from early years as part of the Black Spades gang to nurturing peaceful coexistence as part of the Universal Zulu Nation.
While Bambaataa boasts such a celebrated legacy, it must also be noted that in 2016, he had to step down as the leader of Zulu nation after allegations pertaining to sexual abuse surfaced. While Bambaataa maintained that these were baseless and geared to undermine his legacy, he did end up losing the civil case around trafficking and child abuse on account of not showing up to court.
