Mutabaruka

Last updated

Mutabaruka
BornAllan Hope
26th December 1952
Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica
Pen nameMutabaruka
OccupationPoet, songwriter, musician, educator, radio talk-show host
PeriodEarly 1970s–present

Allan Hope CD (born 26th December 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, The Cutting Edge and Steppin' Razor. [1] His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". His themes include politics, culture, Black liberation, social oppression, discrimination, poverty, racism, sexism, and religion.

Contents

Early life and education

Mutabaruka was born and raised in Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica, in a household with his father, mother and two sisters. When he was eight years old his father died. Mutabaruka attended the Kingston Technical High School, where he trained in electronics for four years, going on to work for the Jamaican Telephone Company until eventually quitting in 1971. [2]

Mutabaruka was drawn into the black awareness movement of the late 1960s and early '70s. In school he read many "progressive books", including Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice and others that were then illegal in Jamaica, such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X . Raised as a Roman Catholic he began examining and immersing himself in the Rastafari movement. He stopped combing his hair and started growing dreadlocks, changed to an ital diet, and even stopped wearing shoes as he became a Rastafari. [3] He adopted the name Mutabaruka, a term from the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda, meaning "one who is always victorious". [2]

Musical career 1971–2000

Mutabaruka left Kingston in 1971, relocating to the Potosi Hills, [2] where he lived with his wife and two children in a house that he built himself. He was among the new wave of Jamaican poets that emerged in the early 1970s. [4] Early work by Mutabaruka was first presented in the magazine Swing from 1971. [2] [5] Introducing Outcry (March 1973), his first collection released as Mutabaruka, John A. L. Golding Jr. wrote: "In July 1971, Swing Magazine published for the first time a poem by Allan Mutabaruka.... Our readers were ecstatic. Since then, and almost in consecutive issues, we have derived much pleasure in further publication of this brother's works.... They tell a story common to most black people born in the ghetto.... And when Muta writes, it's loud and clear". [6] He received attention for "Wailin'" in 1974, a work referencing songs by The Wailers, and in 1976 released the collection Sun and Moon. [2]

In 1977 he began performing live, backed by his band, Truth. [2] He had a hit record in Jamaica the following year with "Outcry", backed by Cedric Brooks' the Light of Saba. [2] After being invited to perform at a Jimmy Cliff concert in the early 1980s, guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith worked on a backing track for "Every Time a Ear Di Sound", beginning a long working relationship with Smith; Released as a single, it was a hit in Jamaica. [7]

He became known internationally after his performance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1981, the first of several performances at the festival. [2] His 1983 release Check It was released on Chicago blues label Alligator Records, and further increased his popularity. [2] He curated the 1983 compilation album Word Sound 'ave Power, released by Heartbeat Records, and in 1984 Shanachie Records released his album The Mystery Unfolds. [2] He went on to record collaborations with both Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown, on "Hard Road to Travel" and "Great Kings of Africa" respectively. [2] He continued to record and perform, and in the mid-1990s began presenting a late night talk show on radio station Irie FM called The Cutting Edge, and quickly became one of Jamaica's most sought-after and controversial radio personalities. [2] [8]

In 1990, Mutabaruka's poem "Dis Poem", from his album The Mystery Unfolds (Shanachie Records, 1986) was used as the a cappella introduction of "The Poem", a song by house-music and dancehall-reggae artist and producer Bobby Konders, which brought his work to a wider audience. "The Poem" was released on Nu Groove records in 1990. [9] He performed on the side stage for parts of the 1993 Lollapalooza music festival.

He had further hits in the latter half of the 1990s, including "Wise Up" (with Sugar Minott) and "Psalm 24" (with Luciano). [2]

Speaking and narration, 2000–present

Mutabaruka gave a lecture at Stanford University in 2000 on the difference between education and indoctrination, [10] In 2001, he served as narrator for filmmaker Stephanie Black's Life and Debt , a documentary about the impact of global economic policy and the IMF on the economy and people of Jamaica. [11] The title song "Life and Debt" was released on Mutabaruka's 2002 album Life Squared. [11]

In 2007 he taught African-American studies at Merritt College in California. He has lectured and performed at many establishments in Jamaica and the United States. [12] [13] [14]

In 2008, Mutabaruka was featured as part of the Jamaica episode of the television programme Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations .

In February 2010, Mutabaruka was honoured by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the Rotaract Club of Mandeville for over 30 years of outstanding work in the field of the arts. Later on in 2010, he was recognized by Senegal with a hut built in his honour. [15]

In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube, whose music he said sought to "liberate the oppressed". [16] In August 2011 Mutabaruka spoke at the First Jamaica Poetry Festival in honour of Marcus Garvey and Louise Bennett. On the final day of the Rastafari Studies Conference, professors of the West Indies described Mutabaruka as an icon. [17]

His outspoken statements on theology and the oppressive roles played by religious institutions have generated much controversy. [18] [19] [20]

Although he is a non-smoker, Mutabaraka has campaigned for the decriminalization of cannabis. [21]

In 2016, the government of Jamaica awarded Mutabaruka the Order of Distinction, Commander Class (one of the highest distinctions in the country), in recognition of his cultural contributions. [22]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleLabel
1982Live at Reggae SunsplashSunsplash
1982Check It!High Times
1983Dub Poets Dub Heartbeat
1984Outcry Shanachie
1986The Mystery UnfoldsShanachie
1989Any Which Way...FreedomShanachie
1990Mutabaruka Rounder
1991Blakk Wi Blak...K...K...Shanachie
1994 Melanin Man Shanachie
1998Gathering of the SpiritsShanachie
1998Muta in DubBlackheart
2002Life SquaredHeartbeat
2006In CombinationRevolver
2009Life And LessonsGallo Record Company
2023Black AttackShanachie
Compilations

Singles

Featured in

DVD/Video

Books of poetry

Filmography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture (band)</span> Jamaican roots reggae band

Culture are a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples. The one constant member until his death in 2006 was Joseph Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Brown</span> Jamaican reggae singer (1957–1999)

Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a subgenre of reggae. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favourite singer, dubbing him "The Crown Prince of Reggae", and Brown would prove influential on future generations of reggae singers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Philp</span>

Geoffrey Philp is a Jamaican poet, novelist, and playwright. Philp used to reside in Jamaica, where he was born and attended Jamaica College, but he relocated in 1979 to Miami, Florida. He is the author of the novel Benjamin, My Son (2003), and six poetry collections: Exodus and Other Poems (1990), Florida Bound (1995), Hurricane Center (1998), Xango Music (2001), Twelve Poems and A Story for Christmas (2005), and Dub Wise (2010). He has also written two books of short stories, Uncle Obadiah and the Alien (1997) and Who's Your Daddy? and Other Stories (2009); a play, Ogun's Last Stand (2005), and the children's books Grandpa Sydney's Anancy Stories (2007) and Marcus and the Amazons (2011). He also has a blog where he critiques other people's literary works.

Edward Alston Cecil Baugh was a Jamaican poet and scholar, recognised as an authority on the work of Derek Walcott, whose Selected Poems (2007) Baugh edited, having in 1978 authored the first book-length study of the Nobel-winning poet's work, Derek Walcott: Memory as Vision.

Michael George Henry OD, better known as Ras Michael, is a Jamaican reggae singer and Nyabinghi specialist. He also performs under the name of Dadawah.

Nasio Fontaine, also known simply as Nasio, is a reggae artist from the Commonwealth of Dominica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl "Chinna" Smith</span> Musical artist

Earl "Chinna" Smith, a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest, is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers, among others, and has recorded with many reggae artists, appearing on more than 500 albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Simms</span> Musical artist

Noel Bartholomew Simms, better known by his nickname and artistic names Scully or Zoot, was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae percussionist and vocalist.

Amos Edwards better known by his stage name General Trees, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay who was considered one of the most popular deejays of the 1980s, best known for his hits in the latter half of the decade.

Yasus Afari is a Jamaican dub poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Pinkney</span> Jamaican guitarist

Dwight Pinkney OD, also known as Brother Dee, is a Jamaican guitarist best known for his work as a session musician and as a member of Zap Pow and the Roots Radics, who since 1999 has recorded as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarrus Riley</span> Musical artist

Omar "Tarrus" Riley is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Stitchie</span> Musical artist

Cleveland Laing, better known as Lieutenant Stitchie, is a Jamaican deejay who originally worked in the dancehall style but switched to gospel reggae in 1997 after surviving a car crash, thereafter working under the shorter name Stitchie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunny Rugs</span> Musical artist

William Alexander Anthony "Bunny Rugs" Clarke, OD, also known as Bunny Scott, was the lead singer of Jamaican reggae band Third World as well as a solo artist. He began his career in the mid-1960s, and was also at one time a member of Inner Circle and half of the duo Bunny & Ricky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry McDonald (percussionist)</span> Musical artist

Larry McDonald is a Jamaican percussionist. He was born in Port Maria, Jamaica in 1937. McDonald played congas with Carlos Malcolm's band, Toots and the Maytals and the Count Ossie Band. He plays a wide variety of traditional percussion instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie McGregor</span> Jamaican singer, musician and record producer

Fredrick “Freddie” McGregor is a Jamaican singer, musician and record producer. His music career began when he was seven years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunny Wailer</span> Jamaican musician (1947–2021)

Neville O'Riley Livingston, known professionally as Bunny Wailer, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music. He was also known as Jah B, Bunny O'Riley, and Bunny Livingston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Tosh</span> Jamaican reggae musician (1944–1987)

Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM, professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963–1976), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.

Cherry Natural is a Jamaican dub poet, author, motivational speaker and self-defense instructor. She has published three books of poetry and in received the Mutabaruka Award for Best Spoken Word Poet at the International Reggae & World Music Awards in 2019.

References

  1. ↑ Irie FM website.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN   0-87930-655-6, pp. 192–194.
  3. ↑ Dunn, Pat, & Pamela Mordecai (2004), "Matubaruka". In Encyclopedia of Latin American and Caribbean Literature, 1900-2003. Daniel Balderston & Mike Gonzalez, eds. London: Routledge, p. 374. ISBN   0-415-30687-6, ISBN   978-0-415-30687-4.
  4. ↑ Habekost (1993), Verbal Riddim: Politics and Aesthetics of African-Caribbean Dub Poetry, Editions Bodopi BV, ISBN   978-9051835496, p. 25.
  5. ↑ Boyne, Ian (2012), "Mutabaruka For Jamaica 50 Honour", Jamaica Gleaner , 15 July 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Culture Workers Bureau, CWB. "Ideas need to be explored, not ignored". "Mutabaruka". 1990, p. 4.
  7. ↑ Cooke, Mel (2009), "'Everytime A Ear di Sound' makes Mutabaruka heard Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner, 12 July 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Linton Kwesi (2005) "Cutting edge of dub: Linton Kwesi Johnson on the spreading influence of Jamaica's poet of protest", The Observer , 27 August 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "youtube.com". Youtube. 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Mutbaruka Lecture. mutabaruka.com. "Stanford University".
  11. 1 2 Stephanie Black Life and Debt Life and Debt documentary website, 2001, accessed 20 July 2018.
  12. ↑ Adams, Anne-Marie (2013), "Mutabaruka Comes to Hartford, Gives Lecture on Rastafarianism Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine ", The Hartford Guardian , 23 July 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  13. ↑ Cooke, Mel (2011), "'There Is No Rebel'", Jamaica Gleaner, 5 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Mutabaruka Talks Religion", Jamaica Gleaner, 16 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Walters, Basil (2010), "Muta recognised by Senegal; song on World Cup compilation Archived 4 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Observer , 20 May 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Hewshe, Francis (2010), "Poet Mutabaruka pays homage to slain Dube", Sowetan , 28 September 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Examined as a Icon, A Visionary". The Gleaner, 27 August 2010. Article.
  18. ↑ Cooke, Mel (2011), "Mutabaruka Questions Creation Story", Jamaica Gleaner, 27 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Cooke, Mel (2012), "Mutabaruka Dares Deity", Jamaica Gleaner, 27 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  20. ↑ Dick, Devon (2011), "Answering Mutabaruka's God Talk", Jamaica Gleaner, 31 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "Jamaican poet urges Gambia to legalize cannabis Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine ", StarAfrica, 13 May 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  22. ↑ mutabaruka among jamaican elite group of entertainers lauded with order of distinction Archived 19 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine jamaicaempire.net

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.