Mutabaruka
Mutabaruka | |
---|---|
Born | Allan Hope 26th December 1952 Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica |
Pen name | Mutabaruka |
Occupation | Poet, songwriter, musician, educator, radio talk-show host |
Period | Early 1970s–present |
Allan Hope
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
Musical career 1971–2000
Mutabaruka left Kingston in 1971, relocating to the Potosi Hills,
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
In 2007 he taught
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
In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour of
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
Year | Title | Label |
---|---|---|
1982 | Live at Reggae Sunsplash | Sunsplash |
1982 | Check It! | High Times |
1983 | Dub Poets Dub | Heartbeat |
1984 | Outcry | Shanachie |
1986 | The Mystery Unfolds | Shanachie |
1989 | Any Which Way...Freedom | Shanachie |
1990 | Mutabaruka | Rounder |
1991 | Blakk Wi Blak...K...K... | Shanachie |
1994 | Melanin Man | Shanachie |
1998 | Gathering of the Spirits | Shanachie |
1998 | Muta in Dub | Blackheart |
2002 | Life Squared | Heartbeat |
2006 | In Combination | Revolver |
2009 | Life And Lessons | Gallo Record Company |
2023 | Black Attack | Shanachie |
- Compilations
- The Ultimate Collection (1992), Greensleeves
Singles
- Featured in
- 2021: "Guns of Navarone" (Sean Paul feat. Jesse Royal, Stonebwoy & Mutabaruka)
DVD/Video
- Live at Reggae Sumfest (1993) (VHS/DVD)
- The Return to the Motherland (2011) (DVD)
Books of poetry
- Outcry (1973)
- Sun and Moon (1976) - with Faybiene
- The Book: First Poems (1980)
- The Next Poems (2005)
Filmography
- Land of Look Behind (1981) - Himself
- Sankofa(1993) - Shango
- One Love (2003) - Rasta elder
See also
References
- ^ Irie FM website.
- ^ ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 192–194.
- ISBN 978-0-415-30687-4.
- ISBN 978-9051835496, p. 25.
- Jamaica Gleaner, 15 July 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Culture Workers Bureau, CWB. "Ideas need to be explored, not ignored". "Mutabaruka". 1990, p. 4.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "youtube.com". Youtube. 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ^ Mutbaruka Lecture. mutabaruka.com. "Stanford University".
- ^ a b Stephanie Black Life and Debt Life and Debt documentary website, 2001, accessed 20 July 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cooke, Mel (2011), "'There Is No Rebel'", Jamaica Gleaner, 5 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Mutabaruka Talks Religion", Jamaica Gleaner, 16 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ 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.
- Sowetan, 28 September 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Examined as a Icon, A Visionary". The Gleaner, 27 August 2010. Article.
- ^ Cooke, Mel (2011), "Mutabaruka Questions Creation Story", Jamaica Gleaner, 27 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Cooke, Mel (2012), "Mutabaruka Dares Deity", Jamaica Gleaner, 27 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Dick, Devon (2011), "Answering Mutabaruka's God Talk", Jamaica Gleaner, 31 March 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Jamaican poet urges Gambia to legalize cannabis Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine", StarAfrica, 13 May 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ mutabaruka among jamaican elite group of entertainers lauded with order of distinction Archived 19 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine jamaicaempire.net
Further reading
- Morris, M. (1996). "Mutabaruka". Critical Quarterly 38(4): 39–49.