Muta - the evolution of the revolution
published: Monday | February 26, 2007

Mutabaruka is famous for his African robes, elaborate head wear and bare feet.

Harriett M. Clarke, Contributor

Mutabaruka, the man 'they love to hate.' Be it truth or madness, his convincing delivery never ceases to enlighten and captivate an audience with interesting recollections of Jamaica's black history.

The stalwart Rastafarian has a long list of accomplishments, which have gained momentum over the past 35 years. These include his recently acquired position as a resident lecturer at Merritt College in Oakland, California, for a semester, beginning in April.

Mutabaruka will travel back and forth from Jamaica to California each week in order to facilitate the broadcast of his popular radio programme, the Cutting Edge.

"We a go fly to California every week. Is like a man get up fi go work downtown, jus dat him a go worka California and tek a plane instead of a bus," said Mutabaruka of his recent achievement.

He continues: "This is a college that in the '60s was central in shaping the black communities in Oakland and Berkeley, where there were the Black Power movement and the feminist movement. It was where the Black Panther party originated and there were people like Huey P. Newton, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix2. All these people in that part of America helped shape the whole black consciousness movement.

"For me to be invited as a resident lecturer to that college means a lot to me. It shows that someone can stay in the confines of their belief system and culture and still find a job, without having to do things that cause them to go outside of what they believe."

Spiritual awakening

Coming from Rae Town, Kingston, Muta's spiritual awakening as a Rastafarian was not an easy road. In his capacity as what he terms an 'off-campus lecturer', many of his talks at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, recount past incidents such as the Coral Gardens incident in Montego Bay and the abuses and hardships suffered by Rastafarians during the period.

Folk philosopher

A student from Belize greets Mutabaruka after a lecture on the University of the West Indies campus, Mona - photos by sabrina simmons

Muta was given the opportunity to lecture within a fellowship created by Professor Barry Chevannes for Folk Philosopher on Black History at the UWI, Mona. He was there for 18 months, holding the rank as the third folk philosopher. Jerry Small and the late Mortimo Planno were distinguished recipients of this fellowship.

Still maintaining a versatile relationship with the university, the Department of Sociology calls upon Mutabaruka's knowledge and recollections of the initial stages of the Rastafarian movement in Jamaica, its biblical origins, as he traces the African lineage of Haile Selassieto King Solomon of Israel.

The highlights of his presentations seem to intrigue the students of the course, Sociology of the Caribbean, who enjoy the practical wit with which he humorously delivers his cutting-edge social commentaries.

However, there is more to Mutabaruka than the poet, the controversy, or the rebel.

He has contributed significantly to the Jamaican folk culture and music, as one artist who is committed to black people and the liberation of Africa as a nation. His outstanding contribution to black communities across the globe has impressed many international cultural institutions.

His greatest accomplishment to date. the Cutting Edge, has dominated Wednesday nights' airwaves for 15 years. Muta emphasises, however, that it was his contribution as a poet, which plunged him into other forms of media such as his role as an actor in the movie, 4 Sankofa, a successful independent black movie written by Haile Gerima, where Muta played the character Shango.

His contribution to the Rastafarian movement has had an impact on the Jamaican culture in terms of global exposure. Elements of Rastafarianism are now studied as a religion in schools. Mutabaruka is mentioned as part of a movement spearheaded outside the confines of the Jamaican culture.

African Robes

Over the years, Muta's African robes and his bare feet have caught the attention of the media and the public. However, by simply maintaining his signature African look, he was chosen as one of the best-dressed men for 2006. His life partner, Jacqueline 'Amber' Cohen, contributes to his illustrious wardrobe and is the creator of the clothing line Mutamba Designs, a fusion of his name and her preferred name.

The dub poet's response to his recent selection as one of the best- dressed males in Jamaica for 2006 was: "Over the years, I find that everything that come to me is connected to my view of life. So I never did have to change my clothes to go get a job. People accept me for who me is. So when we walk in a place, a man jus know that this is Mutabaruka an don't tell mi seh mi caan't come in his office because mi not dressed properly.

"Ah want tell you seh that getting one of the best-dressed persons in Jamaica is encouraging because I am not a person who wear coat and tie. If I can maintain my cultural wears and still be accepted as part of what people would say look good, then it really saying a lot to know mi live mi life because mi maintain who mi is. Mi never have to change mi philosophy and culture and what mi believe in to go through life and this is good."

Born December 26, 1952, Muta has two daughters with his former wife Yvonne. Muta now resides with his life partner Jacqueline Cohen.

"Ah want tell you seh that getting one of the best-dressed persons in Jamaica is encouraging because I am not a person who wear coat and tie. If I can maintain my cultural wears and still be accepted as part of what people would say look good, then it is really saying a lot to how mi live mi life because mi maintain who mi is, mi never have to change mi philosophy and culture and what mi believe in to go through life and this is good."

Born December 26, 1952, Muta has two daughters with his former wife Yvonne. Muta now resides with his life partner Jacqueline Cohen.

The world-famous dub poet Mutaburuka has remained true to his roots and beliefs.