Album: Melanin Man

Song Title

Time

Melanin Man

Beware

Garvey

Killin

Bone Lie

Miss Lou

Lamentation

Columbus Ghost

People's Court Part II

10)

Haiti

11)

Dance

Album: Melanin Man

Song Title

Time

Melanin Man

Beware

Garvey

Killin

Bone Lie

Miss Lou

Lamentation

Columbus Ghost

People's Court Part II

10)

Haiti

11)

Dance

Performer Notes

Personnel: Mutabaruka, Princess Addisa, Princess Tsobbe, Ishama Hope, Leggo, Myrtha Desulme, Muniar Zacca, Tynsi (vocals); Leebert "Gibby" Morrison, Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar); Dean Frazer (saxophone); Handel Tucker (keyboards, programming); Franklin "Bubbler" Waul, Anthony Brissett (keyboards); Christopher Meredith (bass); Desi Jones (drums); Harry Powell (percussion); Wilburn "Squiddly" Cole (drum programming); Danny Brownie, The Firehouse Crew.
Producer: Gussie Clarke, Phillip Burrell.
Engineers: Syl Gordon, Dr. Marshall David Rowe, Paul Garfield.
Mutabaruka was among the earliest "dub" poets, a firebrand who repeatedly attacked the injustices and hypocrisy he saw both in Jamaica and the Western world at large. If anything, he sounds more strident and angry on this latest set of poems. The title track, with its embrace of the controversial melanin theory, will probably dismay those who find the link between genetics, color and behavior a tenuous one at best. The other numbers continue his tradition of unrelenting, pro-Jamaican, pan-African political fare. He does take a different tack on the last work, however; "Dance" is reminiscent of The Last Poets or Gil Scott-Heron, and for just a little while shows that he can talk about something besides cultural conflict and racial oppression. ~ Ron Wynn

Professional Reviews

Option (8/94, p.115) - "...dub poet Mutabaruka has the most magestic speaking voice in this reggae genre: everything he says rings with the authority of the Voice of God..."