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Allan Hope CD (born 26 December 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poetry, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, The Cutting Edge and Steppin' Razor. Irie FM website. 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.
Mutabaruka was drawn into the black awareness movement of the late 1960s and early '70s. In school he read many " 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 food, and even stopped wearing shoes as he became a Rastafari.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 language, Kinyarwanda, meaning "one who is always victorious".
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 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.Cooke, Mel (2009), " 'Everytime A Ear di Sound' makes Mutabaruka heard ", Jamaica Gleaner, 12 July 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
He became known internationally after his performance at Reggae Sunsplash in 1981, the first of several performances at the festival. His 1983 release Check It was released on Chicago blues record label Alligator Records, and further increased his popularity. 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. He went on to record collaborations with both Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown, 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, 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 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. 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 2007 he taught African-American studies at Merritt College in California. He has lectured and performed at many establishments in Jamaica and the United States.Adams, Anne-Marie (2013), " Mutabaruka Comes to Hartford, Gives Lecture on Rastafarianism ", 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.
In 2008, Mutabaruka was featured as part of the Jamaica episode of the television programme .
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.Walters, Basil (2010), " Muta recognised by Senegal; song on World Cup compilation ", Jamaica Observer, 20 May 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
In September 2010, he recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube, whose music he said sought to "liberate the oppressed".Hewshe, Francis (2010), " Poet Mutabaruka pays homage to slain Dube", Sowetan, 28 September 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2014. 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."Examined as a Icon, A Visionary". The Gleaner, 27 August 2010. Article.
His outspoken statements on theology and the oppressive roles played by religious institutions have generated much controversy.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.
Although he is a non-smoker, Mutabaraka has campaigned for the decriminalization of cannabis." Jamaican poet urges Gambia to legalize cannabis ", StarAfrica, 13 May 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
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. mutabaruka among jamaican elite group of entertainers lauded with order of distinction jamaicaempire.net
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