Mutabaruka

Allan Hope (born 26 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. 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.

Early life and education Mutabaruka was born and raised in Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica,

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. He adopted the name Mutabaruka, a term from the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda, meaning "one who is always victorious". Early work by Mutabaruka was first presented in the magazine Swing from 1971. 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". He received attention for "Wailin'" in 1974, a work referencing songs by The Wailers, and in 1976 released the collection Sun and Moon.

He became known internationally after his performance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1981, the first of several performances at the festival.

In 1990, Mutabaruka's poem "Dis Poem", from his album The Mystery Unfolds (Shanachie Records, 1986) was used as the acappella 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. 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). 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. The title song "Life and Debt" was released on Mutabaruka's 2002 album Life Squared.

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.

In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube, whose music he said sought to "liberate the oppressed". 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.

His outspoken statements on theology and the oppressive roles played by religious institutions have generated much controversy.

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

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.

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