Mutabaruka | |
|---|---|
| Born | Allan Hope (1952-12-26)December 26, 1952 (age 72)[1] Rae Town,Kingston, Jamaica[1] |
| Pen name | Mutabaruka |
| Occupation | Poet, songwriter, musician, educator, radio talk-show host |
| Period | Early 1970s–present |
Allan HopeCD (born 26 December 1952),[1] better known asMutabaruka, is a JamaicanRastafaridub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes,The Cutting Edge andSteppin' Razor.[2] His name comes from theRwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". His themes include politics, culture, Black liberation, social oppression, discrimination, poverty, racism, sexism, and religion.
Mutabaruka was born and raised inRae Town,Kingston, Jamaica,[1] 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.[3]
Mutabaruka was drawn into the black awareness movement of the late 1960s and early '70s. In school he read many "progressive books", includingEldridge Cleaver'sSoul on Ice and others that were then illegal in Jamaica, such asThe Autobiography of Malcolm X. Raised as aRoman Catholic he began examining and immersing himself in theRastafari movement. He stopped combing his hair and started growingdreadlocks, changed to anital diet, and even stopped wearing shoes as he became aRastafari.[4] He adopted the name Mutabaruka, a term from theRwandan language,Kinyarwanda, meaning "one who is always victorious".[3]
Mutabaruka left Kingston in 1971, relocating to the Potosi Hills,[3] 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.[5] Early work by Mutabaruka was first presented in the magazineSwing from 1971.[3][6] IntroducingOutcry (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".[7] He received attention for "Wailin'" in 1974, a work referencing songs byThe Wailers, and in 1976 released the collectionSun and Moon.[3]
In 1977 he began performing live, backed by his band, Truth.[3] He had a hit record in Jamaica the following year with "Outcry", backed byCedric Brooks' the Light of Saba.[3] After being invited to perform at aJimmy Cliff concert in the early 1980s, guitaristEarl "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.[8]
He became known internationally after his performance atReggae Sunsplash in 1981, the first of several performances at the festival.[3] His 1983 releaseCheck It was released onChicagoblueslabelAlligator Records, and further increased his popularity.[3] He curated the 1983 compilation albumWord Sound 'ave Power, released byHeartbeat Records, and in 1984Shanachie Records released his albumThe Mystery Unfolds.[3] He went on to record collaborations with bothGregory Isaacs andDennis Brown, on "Hard Road to Travel" and "Great Kings of Africa" respectively.[3] He continued to record and perform, and in the mid-1990s began presenting a late night talk show on radio station Irie FM calledThe Cutting Edge, and quickly became one of Jamaica's most sought-after and controversial radio personalities.[3][9]
In 1990, Mutabaruka's poem "Dis Poem", from his albumThe Mystery Unfolds (Shanachie Records, 1986) was used as theacappella introduction of "The Poem", a song byhouse music anddancehall reggae artist and producer Bobby Konders, which brought his work to a wider audience. "The Poem" was released on Nu Groove records in 1990.[10] He performed on theside stage for parts of the 1993Lollapalooza music festival.
He had further hits in the latter half of the 1990s, including "Wise Up" (withSugar Minott) and "Psalm 24" (withLuciano).[3]
Mutabaruka gave a lecture atStanford University in 2000 on the difference between education andindoctrination,[11] In 2001, he served as narrator for filmmakerStephanie Black'sLife and Debt, a documentary about the impact ofglobaleconomic policy and theIMF on the economy and people of Jamaica.[12] The title song "Life and Debt" was released on Mutabaruka's 2002 albumLife Squared.[12]
In 2007 he taughtAfrican-American studies atMerritt College in California. He has lectured and performed at many establishments in Jamaica and the United States.[13][14][15]
In 2008, Mutabaruka was featured as part of the Jamaica episode of the television programmeAnthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
In February 2010, Mutabaruka was honoured by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and theRotaract Club of Mandeville for over 30 years of outstanding work in the field of the arts. Later on in 2010, he was recognized bySenegal with a hut built in his honour.[16]
In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour ofLucky Dube, whose music he said sought to "liberate theoppressed".[17] In August 2011 Mutabaruka spoke at the First Jamaica Poetry Festival in honour ofMarcus Garvey andLouise Bennett. On the final day of theRastafari Studies Conference, professors of the West Indies described Mutabaruka as an icon.[18]
His outspoken statements ontheology and the oppressive roles played byreligious institutions have generated muchcontroversy.[19][20][21]
Although he is a non-smoker, Mutabaraka has campaigned for the decriminalization ofcannabis.[22]
In 2016, the government of Jamaica awarded Mutabaruka theOrder of Distinction, Commander Class (one of the highest distinctions in the country), in recognition of his cultural contributions.[23]
| 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 |
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