- Mutabaruka
-
Allen Hope Born 26 December 1952
Rae Town, Kingston JamaicaPen name Mutabaruka Occupation Poet, Songwriter Nationality Jamaican Period 1952-present
Influences- Rastafarian Malcolm X Marcus Garvey Hail Selassie I
Influenced- Dub Poetry, Jamaican Culture
Mutabaruka (born Allan Hope, 26 December 1952, Rae Town, Kingston) is a dub poet. His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". He lives in Potosi District, St. James with his significant other, Yvonne, and their two childern. Mutabaruka continues to perform and write poems on every issue known to man. He's known for his expressions and lively performances more so than just the poems themselves. Some of his themes include sexism, politics, discrimination, poverty, race, and especially religion. Mutabaruka's stylistic form is in a way pathos related. He uses stories and experiences to get readers to think about issues in ways that they wouldn't normally think about them.
Contents
Biography
Mutabaruka became interested in the Rastafari movement and converted from Catholicism while still a teenager.[1] His outspoken statements on theology have generated controversy even among Rastafarians[citation needed], and he has described Rasta as "part of a universal quest which may also be pursued by other routes, such as Hinduism or Buddhism or Christianity.
Early Life
Known as Allen Hope as a child, Mutabaruka grew up in the slums of Jamaica with his mother, father and two sisters. When Mutabaruka was only 8, his father died from unknown causes. He attended primary school where he received his nickname, "Mutabaruka". Later, he attended the Kingston Technical High School where he trained in electronics for four years. Muta then began finding himself within his early to late teenage years. In the late 60's into early 70's there was an up roaring of Black Awareness in Jamaica. Muta, who was in his late teens at the time, was drawn into that movement. In school he read many "progressive books" including Eldrige Cleaver's “Soul on Ice” and some that were then illegal in Jamaica, such as The Autobiography of Malcom X. Mutabaruka envisioned himself as a young revolutionary. While still employed at the Telephone Company, stopped wearing shoes, he stopped combing his hair, started growing locks, and altered his diet. During his time at the Jamaicana Telephone Company Ltd, Muta began examining and sorrounding himself with the Rasta lifestyle. He found it meaningful and worth living for. Soon after, he converted completely to the movement.
Later Life
Life after the Telephone Company was semi difficult for Muta. He and his friend Yvonne left Kingston in 71’ to find a much more satisfying environment. They now live in Potosi District, St. James. They live in a house that Muta built himself, along with their two children. To present day, Muta performs and lectures all around the world. To Muta, Rastafarianism is part of a universal quest which may also be pursued by other routes, such as Hinduism or Buddhism or Christianity. He disapproves, however, of institutionalized religion. Muta was the first well-publicized voice in the new wave of poets since the early 70's. Among one other poet, Louise Bennett, Muta has built a living relationship and poetry with Jamaica. Early work by Muta was first presented in the magazine, Swing, a monthly that gave fullest coverage to the pop music scene. Introducing Outcry (March, 1973) 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".[2] His 1983 release "Check It" was released on Chicago blues label Alligator Records. In 2008, Mutabaruka was featured as part of the Jamaica episode of the television program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. Mutabaruka gave a lecture at Stanford University on May 18, 2000. The lecture was addressed to the Caribbean Students Association. Muta expressed his views on the difference between education and indoctrination.[3]
Discography
Year Title Label 1982 Live at Reggae Sunsplash Sunsplash 1983 Check It! Alligator 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 Accomplishments
Mutabaruka's first book launch was in the 1980s. His book, "The First Poems" took off well. Muta then made a 'sequel' to the book and launched "The Next Poems" on March 10, 2005. The 'double-barrelled' books are well known to the Jamaican community as well as other dub-poets. In the spring of 2007, Mutabaruka had the chance to teach African American studies at Merritt College. His time there further showed through in his poems. On February 20, 2010, Muta was honored 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. Also later on in 2010, Muta was recongnized by the Senegal.[4] In all of Mutabaruka's work, he never forgets to give back to the people who influence him. On September 28, 2010, Muta recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube who's music "liberated the oppressed". Recently, Muta Spoke at the First Jamaica Poetry Festival on August 17, 2011 in honour of Marcus Garvey and Louise Bennett. Leaving a mark on people who oppose you is very hard to do. Mutabaruka does this with extraordinary power, poetry. On the final day of the Rastafari Studies Confrence, Muta was examined as a Icon by the professors of the West Indies.[5]
References
- ^ 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 0415306876, ISBN 9780415306874.
- ^ Culture Workers Bureau, CWB. “Ideas need to be explored, not ignored”. “Mutabaruka”. 1990. P. 4.
- ^ Mutbaruka Lecture. mutabaruka.com. "Standford University".
- ^ Walter, Basil. staff reporter. "Recognized by Senegal". May 20, 2010. Article.
- ^ Cleaner,The "Examined as a Icon, A Visionary". August 27,2010. Article.
External links
Further reading
Morris, M. (1996). "Mutabaruka". Critical Quarterly 38(4): 39-49.
Categories:- 1952 births
- Living people
- Jamaican dub poets
- Jamaican Rastafarians
- Converts to the Rastafari movement
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