Dub poetry
Encyclopedia
Dub poetry is a form of performance poetry of West Indian origin, which evolved out of dub music
consisting of spoken word over reggae rhythms in Jamaica
in the 1970s.
Unlike Dee Jaying (also known as Toasting), which also features the use of the spoken word, the Dub Poet's performance is normally prepared, rather than the extemporized chat of the Dancehall
Dee Jay. In musical settings; the Dub Poet usually appears on stage with a band performing music specifically written to accompany each poem, rather than simply perform over the top of dub plates, or riddim
s, in the Dancehall fashion. Musicality is built into Dub poems, yet, Dub Poets generally perform without backing music, delivering chanted speech with pronounced rhythmic accentuation and dramatic stylization of gesture. Sometimes dub music effects, e.g. echo, reverb, are dubbed spontaneously by a poet into live versions of a poem. Many Dub Poets also employ call and response devices to engage audiences.
Dub poetry is mostly of an overtly political and social nature, with none of the braggadocio often associated with the dancehall. The odd love-song or elegy
appears, but dub poetry is predominantly concerned with politics and social justice, commonly voiced through a commentary on current events (thus sharing these elements with Dancehall and "Conscious" or "Roots" reggae
music).
Linton Kwesi Johnson
(LKJ)'s album Dread Beat an' Blood
first appeared in 1978 then Oku Onuora's Reflection In Red in 1979 followed by Benjamin Zephaniah
's Rasta, and many others in the early 1980s onwards. Although the genre was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s, many dub poets are still active today; dubstep
musician Kode9
works almost exclusively with MC The Spaceape, who MCs in a dread poet style over most tracks on the Memories of the future album.
Toronto, Canada, has the second highest concentration of Dub Poets preceded by Jamaica and followed by England . Poets like Lillian Allen
, Afua Cooper
, and Ahdri Zhina Mandiela are among the founding mothers of the Canadian Dub Poetry legacy.
LKJ still runs LKJ records in the UK, a label which publishes both his own books and music, and also that of other musicians and poets.
Zephaniah continues to publish in the UK. He has written novels as well as poetry. He was put forward for the post of Oxford Professor of Poetry
in 1989 and UK Poet Laureate
in 1999, and was also offered an OBE
in 2003, which he declined.
Many of the dub poets have published their work as volumes of written poetry as well as albums of poetry with music.
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
consisting of spoken word over reggae rhythms in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in the 1970s.
Unlike Dee Jaying (also known as Toasting), which also features the use of the spoken word, the Dub Poet's performance is normally prepared, rather than the extemporized chat of the Dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
Dee Jay. In musical settings; the Dub Poet usually appears on stage with a band performing music specifically written to accompany each poem, rather than simply perform over the top of dub plates, or riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
s, in the Dancehall fashion. Musicality is built into Dub poems, yet, Dub Poets generally perform without backing music, delivering chanted speech with pronounced rhythmic accentuation and dramatic stylization of gesture. Sometimes dub music effects, e.g. echo, reverb, are dubbed spontaneously by a poet into live versions of a poem. Many Dub Poets also employ call and response devices to engage audiences.
Dub poetry is mostly of an overtly political and social nature, with none of the braggadocio often associated with the dancehall. The odd love-song or elegy
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
appears, but dub poetry is predominantly concerned with politics and social justice, commonly voiced through a commentary on current events (thus sharing these elements with Dancehall and "Conscious" or "Roots" reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
music).
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...
(LKJ)'s album Dread Beat an' Blood
Dread Beat an' Blood
Dread Beat an' Blood is an album by Poet And The Roots released in 1978 on the Frontline label. It was produced by Vivian Weathers and Linton Kwesi Johnson. The Poet is dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and The Roots are Dennis Bovell, Jah Bunny, Desmond Craig, Winston Curniffe, Everald Forrest, Floyd...
first appeared in 1978 then Oku Onuora's Reflection In Red in 1979 followed by Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is an English writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008....
's Rasta, and many others in the early 1980s onwards. Although the genre was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s, many dub poets are still active today; dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
musician Kode9
Kode9
Kode9 is a London-based electronic music artist, DJ, and owner of the Hyperdub record label. An MC, The Spaceape, is a frequent collaborator...
works almost exclusively with MC The Spaceape, who MCs in a dread poet style over most tracks on the Memories of the future album.
Toronto, Canada, has the second highest concentration of Dub Poets preceded by Jamaica and followed by England . Poets like Lillian Allen
Lillian Allen
Lillian Allen is a Canadian dub poet, reggae musician, writer and Juno award winner.-Biography:Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1951, she left that country in 1969, first moving to New York City, where she studied English at the City University of New York...
, Afua Cooper
Afua Cooper
Afua Cooper is a Jamaican-born Canadian historian, author and dub poet.-Biography:Born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, Cooper grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to Toronto in 1980. She holds a Ph.D. in African-Canadian history with specialties in slavery and abolition...
, and Ahdri Zhina Mandiela are among the founding mothers of the Canadian Dub Poetry legacy.
LKJ still runs LKJ records in the UK, a label which publishes both his own books and music, and also that of other musicians and poets.
Zephaniah continues to publish in the UK. He has written novels as well as poetry. He was put forward for the post of Oxford Professor of Poetry
Oxford Professor of Poetry
The chair of Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is an unusual academic appointment, now held for a term of five years, and chosen through an election open to all members of Convocation, namely, all graduates and current academics of the university; in 2010, on-line voting was allowed....
in 1989 and UK Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
in 1999, and was also offered an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2003, which he declined.
Many of the dub poets have published their work as volumes of written poetry as well as albums of poetry with music.
Notable dub poets
- Noel "1st Noel Akajafada" Walcott III
- Lillian AllenLillian AllenLillian Allen is a Canadian dub poet, reggae musician, writer and Juno award winner.-Biography:Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1951, she left that country in 1969, first moving to New York City, where she studied English at the City University of New York...
- Jean "Binta" Breeze
- Klyde Broox
- Charlie Bobus! the Inspirator AKA Nicardo Murray
- Bad Science (poetry from Dizraeli)
- Afua CooperAfua CooperAfua Cooper is a Jamaican-born Canadian historian, author and dub poet.-Biography:Born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, Cooper grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to Toronto in 1980. She holds a Ph.D. in African-Canadian history with specialties in slavery and abolition...
- Michael St.George
- Mighty Jah-J! the Furious George AKA George Paul WielgusGeorge Paul WielgusGeorge Paul Wielgus is a performance poet, community arts worker and writer from the UK. Self-described "refugee from suburban England", since October 2007 he has been resident in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia....
- Queen Majeeda
- Desmond Faada Johnson
- Linton Kwesi JohnsonLinton Kwesi JohnsonLinton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...
- Yasus AfariYasus AfariYasus Afari is a Jamaican dub poet.-Biography:Sinclair was a childhood friend of Garnett Silk and collaborated with Silk on many of his best-selling recordings. He attended St...
- Ahdri Zhina MandielaAhdri Zhina Mandielaahdri zhina mandiela is a Toronto-based dub poet, theatre producer, and artistic director. She has gained worldwide acclaim for her books, music recordings, film, theatre and dance productions....
- Michael Bailey 'Mbala'
- MutabarukaMutabarukaMutabaruka is a dub poet. His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". He lives in Potosi District, St. James with his significant other, Yvonne, and their two childern. Mutabaruka continues to perform and write poems on every issue known to man...
- Cherry Natural
- Oku OnuoraOku OnuoraOku Nagba Ozala Onuora , known as the "father of Jamaican dub poetry" is a Jamaican dub poet and performer.-Biography:...
- Royal African Soldiers
- Mikey SmithMikey SmithMichael Smith, usually referred to as Mikey Smith , was a Jamaican dub poet. Along with Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Mutabaruka, he was one of the most well-known dub poets. In 1978, Michael Smith represented Jamaica at the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students in Cuba. His album Mi Cyaan Believe...
- Benjamin ZephaniahBenjamin ZephaniahBenjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is an English writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008....
- Haji Mike
- D'bi YoungD'bi YoungD'bi Young is a Jamaican-Canadian dub poet, monodramatist, and educator, as well as a Dora-winning actor and playwright. Raised Debbie Young in Jamaica, she moved to Canada in 1993...
- Malachi SmithMalachi Smith-Biography:Malachi Smith was born in Westmoreland, and grew up in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine, staying with various family members. The son of a preacher, Malachi began writing poetry at the age of eight, and recorded his first poem Kimbo to Kimbo in 1979...
- Solange Sheppy
- Clifton Joseph
- No-Maddz ...(Shepherd, Creary, Gordon and Peart)No-Maddz ...(Shepherd, Creary, Gordon and Peart)Nomadddz was formed as a Dub Poetry group in 2000. Composed of Sheldon Sheppard, Everaldo Creary, Chris Gordon and Oneil Peart they are the only record holders of a perfect score in the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s performance arts festival....
- Sista Marietta
- Levi TafariLevi TafariLevi Tafari was born and raised in the city of Liverpool by his Jamaican parents. He attended catering college, where he studied classical French cuisine and graduated with distinction. In the early 1980s, while working as a caterer, he started attending the Liverpool 8 Writers Workshop and decided...
- Anton Bernard (Trinidad & Tobago)