Allan Hope CD (born 26 December 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican

Rastafari Rastafari is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by Religious studies, scholars of religion. There is no central authori ...

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 Rae Town is a Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit (landform), sand ...

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

, 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.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 192–194. Mutabaruka was drawn into the black awareness movement of the late 1960s and early '70s. In school he read many "

progress Progress is movement towards a perceived refined, improved, or otherwise desired state. It is central to the philosophy of progressivism, which interprets progress as the set of advancements in technology, science, and social organization effic ...

ive books", including

Eldridge Cleaver Leroy Eldridge Cleaver (August 31, 1935 – May 1, 1998) was an American writer and political activist who became an early leader of the Black Panther Party. In 1968, Cleaver wrote '' Soul on Ice'', a collection of essays that, at the time of i ...

's '' Soul on Ice'' and others that were then illegal in Jamaica, such as ''

The Autobiography of Malcolm X ''The Autobiography of Malcolm X'' is an autobiography written by Muslim American minister and activist Malcolm X in collaboration with American journalist Alex Haley. It was released posthumously on October 29, 1965, nine months after his assas ...

''. Raised as a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

he began examining and immersing himself in the

Rastafari movement Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control of the movement and much ...

. He stopped combing his hair and started growing

dreadlocks Dreadlocks, also known as dreads or locs, are a Hairstyle, hairstyle made of rope-like strands of matted hair. Dreadlocks can form naturally in Hair#Texture, very curly hair, or they can be created with techniques like twisting, Backcombing, ba ...

, changed to an ital diet, and even stopped wearing shoes as he became a

.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. , . He adopted the name Mutabaruka, a term from the

Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...

n language,

Kinyarwanda Kinyarwanda, Rwandan or Rwanda, officially known as Ikinyarwanda, is a Bantu language and the national language of Rwanda. It is a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language that is also spoken in adjacent parts of the Democratic Republic of the ...

, meaning "one who is always victorious".

Musical career 1971–2000

Mutabaruka left Kingston in 1971, relocating to the Potosi Hills, 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. Early work by Mutabaruka was first presented in the magazine ''Swing'' from 1971.Boyne, Ian (2012),
Mutabaruka For Jamaica 50 Honour
, ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...

'', 15 July 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014. 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 Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as the Wailers and prior to that the Wailing Rudeboys, the Wailing Wailers and the Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Rober ...

, and in 1976 released the collection ''Sun and Moon''. In 1977 he began performing live, backed by his band, Truth. He had a hit record in Jamaica the following year with "Outcry", backed by Cedric Brooks' the Light of Saba. After being invited to perform at a

Jimmy Cliff James Chambers, Jamaican Order of Merit, OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hol ...

concert in the early 1980s, guitarist

Earl "Chinna" Smith Earl "Chinna" Smith (born 6 August 1955), a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest,Johnson, Richard (2013)The Melchizedek way, ''Jamaica Observer'', 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013 is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late ...

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. He became known internationally after his performance at

Reggae Sunsplash Reggae Sunsplash was a reggae music festival held annually in Jamaica from 1978 to 1996, with additional events in 1998 and 2006. The festival expanded to include international tours in 1985 and was revived as a virtual event in 2020 by Tryone ...

in 1981, the first of several performances at the festival. His 1983 release ''Check It'' was released on

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product. Labels are most often affixed to packaging and containers using an adhesive, or sewing when affix ...

Alligator Records Alligator Records is an American, Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971. Iglauer was also one of the founders of the '' Living Blues'' magazine in Chicago in 1970. History Iglauer started the label using ...

, and further increased his popularity. He curated the 1983 compilation album ''Word Sound 'ave Power'', released by

Heartbeat Records Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of ...

, and in 1984

Shanachie Records Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey–based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word '' seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller. It was previously distr ...

released his album ''The Mystery Unfolds''. He went on to record collaborations with both

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

and

Dennis Brown Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD (1 February 1957 – 1 July 1999) 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 l ...

, on "Hard Road to Travel" and "Great Kings of Africa" respectively. 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.Johnson, Linton Kwesi (2005)
Cutting edge of dub: Linton Kwesi Johnson on the spreading influence of Jamaica's poet of protest
, ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'', 27 August 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2014. 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 House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 115–130 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground ...

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 Lollapalooza () is an annual American four-day music festival held in Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park in Chicago. It originally started as a touring event in 1991, with Chicago becoming its permanent location beginning in 2005. Music genres i ...

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

Speaking and narration, 2000–present

Mutabaruka gave a lecture at

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

in 2000 on the difference between education and

indoctrination Indoctrination is the process of inculcating (teaching by repeated instruction) a person or people into an ideology, often avoiding critical analysis. It can refer to a general process of socialization. The term often implies forms of brainwas ...

, In 2001, he served as narrator for filmmaker Stephanie Black's '' Life and Debt'', a documentary about the impact of

global Global may refer to: General *Globe, a spherical model of celestial bodies *Earth, the third planet from the Sun Entertainment * ''Global'' (Paul van Dyk album), 2003 * ''Global'' (Bunji Garlin album), 2007 * ''Global'' (Humanoid album), 198 ...

economic policy ''Economic Policy'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by Oxford University Press, Oxford Academic on behalf of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, the Center for Economic Studies (University of Munich), and the Paris Scho ...

and the

IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution funded by 191 member countries, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is regarded as the global lender of la ...

on the economy and people of Jamaica.Stephanie Blac
''Life and Debt''
Life and Debt documentary website, 2001, accessed 20 July 2018. The title song "Life and Debt" was released on Mutabaruka's 2002 album ''Life Squared''. In 2007 he taught

African-American studies Black studies or Africana studies (with nationally specific terms, such as African American studies and Black Canadian studies), is an interdisciplinary academic field that primarily focuses on the study of the history, culture, and politics of ...

Merritt College Merritt College is a Public college, public community college in Oakland, California, United States. Merritt, like the other three campuses of the Peralta Community College District, is Higher education accreditation in the United States, accr ...

in California. He has lectured and performed at many establishments in Jamaica and the United States. 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 Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

with a hut built in his honour. In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour of

Lucky Dube Lucky Philip Dube (pronounced ''duu-beh'';
luckydubemusic.com, Retrieved 19 October 2007 3 August 1964 – 18 October 2 ...

, 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 Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. (17 August 188710 June 1940) was a Jamaican political activist. He was the founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) (commonly known a ...

and

Louise Bennett Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley or Miss Lou (7 September 1919 – 26 July 2006), was a Jamaican poet, folklorist, actress, writer, and educator. Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican Patois or Creole, Bennett worked to preserve the prac ...

. On the final day of the

Studies Conference, professors of the West Indies described Mutabaruka as an icon. His outspoken statements on

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and the oppressive roles played by religious institutions have generated much

controversy Controversy (, ) is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin '' controversia'', as a composite of ''controversus'' – "turned in an op ...

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

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

. In 2016, the government of Jamaica awarded Mutabaruka the

Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction (OD) is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Ac ...

, Commander Class (one of the highest distinctions in the country), in recognition of his cultural contributions.mutabaruka among jamaican elite group of entertainers lauded with order of distinction
jamaicaempire.net

Discography

Albums

;Compilations: *''The Ultimate Collection'' (1992),

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationers' Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English F ...

Singles

;Featured in *2021: "Guns of Navarone" (

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Paul's first album, ''Stage One'', was released in 2000. He gained international fame with his second album, ''Dutty Rock'', in 2002. Its single "Get Busy ...

feat. Jesse Royal,

Stonebwoy Livingstone Etse Satekla (Born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian people, Ghanaian Afro pop music, Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician from Ashaiman, Accra. He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He w ...

& 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 (pronounced ''SAHN''-koh-fah) is a word in the Twi language of Ghana meaning “to retrieve" (literally "go back and get"; - to return; - to go; - to fetch, to seek and take) and also refers to the Bono people, Bono Adinkra symbols, Adinkra ...

'' (1993) - Shango *'' One Love'' (2003) - Rasta elder

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1952 births Living people Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican dub poets Jamaican radio presenters Jamaican male poets Jamaican music educators Jamaican Rastafarians Converts to the Rastafari movement Commanders of the Order of Distinction Former Roman Catholics Jamaican former Christians Religious controversies in radio Greensleeves Records artists