Trapped in a Culture, Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, Part 7 of 44, “Number Four” 

if you've been affected by bambaataa: PLEASE FILE A POLICE REPORT BEFORE AUGUST 14TH!!!! Peace & healing!!

I understand that folks don't understand abuse especially of boys and young men but let's not judge the survivors. Imagine how difficult this was for him to talk about. Some still haven't come forward due to fear of being judged.

This is an excellent documentary! And I’m so happy for this gentleman on his Healing journey! That is so great! A Note: This man would be 57 years old now. If his stepdad was in the military, , he probably served in the Vietnam war. A marine Vietnam war vet learning that his child was being violate it? Yeah, AB would’ve been ‘DONE UP’!

Ok...I want to share my little story about bambaataa. I'm from CT. Back in @93 I was Zulu chapter 860. It was a Friday night. Me and my boys k(I'm omiiting his name) and gooba were in Hartford trying to figure out what we were getting into that night. Someone had the idea to go to the "city" (NYC). We agreed, even though we only had a couple dollars to our name, but fuck it. A quick greyhound trip later, we're in NYC; Washington square park, to be exact. We're chilling, freestyling and soaking in the creativite energy aka hip hop. It's now @4 or 5am. We're tired but still walking around. We find ourselves at port authority. There were no buses heading back to CT, yet, so we decided to take a nap on the steps. So, we sit back to back to back to get some rest. We get waken up shortly after by the police. It is now Saturday. Early am. We go to McDonald's in times square and decide, " fuck it. We're already in the City. We might as well just make another day out of it!" Hell yeah. But, we were broke AF. Now, my boy, "k" says, " yo, I'm gonna make phone call to Bam(baataa)." Gooba and I say, "ok. Fuck it." "K" gets off the phone and says it's a go! Off to Bronx river we go. We get there, go up to the apartment (I can't remember the floor, but if I had to guess it was no higher than the 6th floor; maybe 4th) in the PJ's, overlooking the community center. We knock and get greeted by 2 big security looking ahki's. Everything is cool. They offer us some homemade iced tea (delicious) and me and gooba go to the living room (to the left of the entrance. Straight ahead was the small kitchen. Fridge on the left. to the right of the entrance was a small hall way. The first door on the left was the bathroom. Straight ahead was the bedroom. I only remember one bedroom, but it could've been two. If it was two, then bambaataa was in the room on the left.) Me and gooba get comfortable on the couches. "K" goes to bam's room. We're not homosexual, so I didn't think anything of it. Gooba and I fall asleep watching " leprechaun" on the TV (it might of been a floor model... seriously). An hour or two go by and I wake up. I see "k" and he looks extremely comfortable. No shirt on. No socks on. I'm like, "damn. I didn't know you and Bam(baataa) were that cool!?" (In my head). I already was "impressed" that "k" had his number, but now it's pretty obvious that they really knew each other. "K" says, "come here". I'm groggy ASF but think that we're about to politik about what we're going to do for that day. I go. I walk into the dark bedroom, only lit by the TV light. I see Bam. The bed was directly located to the left of the door. He's laying down on his left elbow. I say peace ahki and enter the room. This is my very first encounter with him. It was extremely non-formal. I almost felt like I was intruding on his Saturday morning. Anyways, it was quiet, and there was nowhere to sit other than the floor. So I took a seat. "K" followed. Now, I'm confused by the silence. Then, the TV starts. I now realize that there's a porno playing. Girl and guy. I wasn't too surprised cause I already knew some people that would watch porn with their brothers and/or cousins. In fact, they would have sex with girls in the same room at the same time. Sometimes, they would run trains, too. But, I was alot more conservative than them AND I never did that shit with my family; but to each their own. The porno starts playing. I'm confused. I'm waiting for the conversation about what we're gonna do today to start, but it doesn't. After about 10-15 seconds go by and the awkward silence is broken by Bam's even more awkward question. "Are you a lotion, Vaseline, soap, or all-natural?" I literally had no fucking idea what he was referring to. It took several seconds to register wtf he was talking about. When it finally clicked, I said, "nah, I'm good!". I now had a feeling of what was taking place and then proceeded to get up and excuse myself back to the living room. I guess the politikin was gonna have to wait. But, I found it weird that this dude was so comfortable. Mind you, this was my very first time meeting him... smh. Also, I was only 15/16. On one hand, it was almost a compliment because you would only be that vulnerable with people you trust. But, on the other hand, this shit was one of the most disturbing things I've encountered. There is no fucking way that this was what I expected meeting Afrika bambaataa was gonna be like. I felt betrayed, somehow. Let down. Zulu was supposed to be an alternative to the gang shit that Hartford, CT was over run with. He was supposed to be a mentor. A leader. I would never do some shit like that. And he's supposed to be better than me. Hence, my confusion. We ended up hopping into his old, black, Chevy trailblazer to a little corner diner. I had no money, so I had to watch them eat... Smh. We then headed to 125th for some reason, then I headed back to CT. Gooba, "k", and I still have never talked about that day. Needless to say, I left Zulu. Good riddens. TC Izlaam was the truth, though. Rip (RESPECT). #FACTS

Bam is sick. A lot of people need to see this.

This Thursday we will have Part 8 of 40...we go LIVE after Thursday's episode. See you then and thank you so much for watching. Like, share, subscribe and you will help get this story told and I am happy to share it with you.

Leila Wills as usual excellent journalism. I have so much respect for your work, I will be donating this week. Salute sis ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

He told numerous ppl and nobody listened. This is why victims don't tell. THIS IS SAD.

Maybe don’t crackup laughing right after someone tells you the most traumatic experience of their life

I just hit your cashapp queen. You deserve an award for this. Can't wait to see the rest.

🙋🏾‍♂️Once again, now is the time for "Surviving Bambaataa", the series.

For all of you saying why no one is pressing charges , t.c izlam was a gangster in the streets and got shot down 3 weeks after he was interviewed. Bam had and has a whole crew of muscle who is being paid and more than likely also guilty , that is why people are hesistant , they are in fear of their lives.

We appreciate you Queen!

why isn't he indicted 1 reason he did that nasty shit to other black brothers

I was born in 81, and heard from older people that Bam was the Boogie man, Integrity would be people admitting they didn’t know how to approach a powerful man in terms of addressing this or even getting authorities involved. Same thing as Mj but people especially Black always stick up for their godhead.

Shared 👀

i wonder if he ended up linking up with that therapist you interviewed ROMMELL?

Salute 4

Wow! So he tried to partially open up to his superiors and they laughed??!! Sad man

BamBootie!

Leila Wills, when you said, "type of men" what are you referring? Mental competency? Fatherless home? Maturity?

I'm here and riding till the wheels fall off 💖 #BLACKGIRLMAGIC #DAUGHTERBYCHOICE #VILLAGELIFE #ITTAKESAVILLAGE

He didn't want to tell his dad? Omg😕😔🤔

19:06 that's a fact, people just look at you like your seeking attention.

Ayo! Wtf why isn’t he in jail

That sound sick

who was monk

Leila Wills please dont laugh wen doing this interviews feel like its disrespectful to the person your interviewing me wat hong and others that been the same situations and this the second video you laughed in keep up the good work thank you

NUMBER 4..... THIS IS SHA BORN

Damn. He said that Monk was in the book.

This shit from this man sounds crazy period.

😳

This story so graphic heartfelt and terrible hopefully all the ppl bam raped get justice smh

He went to see his girl and instead ended up getting top from bambizzle!!! Whew‼

13 you know what gay is knock it off.

So my question is Africa Bam at that age that he was and his not he must be or been scare of a woman . Has he ever dated a woman🤔🤔

Seems like it might’ve been blackmail.

Keep mind not everybody in the Zulu nation was gay

SO HE REMEMBERS IT WAS HOT BUT DONT KNOW WHAT FLOOR HIS GIRLFRIEND LIVED ON ?? All 🧢 #ShoutzOutLeila

Please stop I was an elite and if you were homosexual that was you and some others not every Zulu some of us was real with Zulu until we realized it was a gang but wasn't no gay ish. Please stop.

I can’t believe that he didn’t get a erection because if you put anything in a microwave it gonna get done