Muta's revenge
Published:Tuesday | June 1, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE DAYS brought a fest of readings and ingenious conversations, while Satur-day night pit spirited dub poet Mutabaruka up against the indomitable Colin Channer at the event titled 'Muta's Revenge' during Calabash 2010.
The much-anticipated symbolic musical clash/jam session which is literally carved in stone on the yearly literary festival's calendar was again, "A great example of what Calabash is on the level of the soul. It is nothing less than a transmutation of the positive vibration of reggae's welcoming, unifying, non-materialistic spirit into a literary experience, into a festival that is earthy, inspirational, daring and diverse," artistic director and founder of Calabash, Colin Channer said in an interview with The Gleaner last month.
And so it was. 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s selections at no cover charge. There was also no VIP section, just great vibes found nowhere else in Jamaica.
As the clock struck 10 last Saturday night, unshaven, seemingly starved of sleep, Channer drew for Dennis Brown's Love And Hate, signalling his intention to create musical waves on the grounds of Jack Sprat in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth.
As friendly as this clash was, there is none without a winner emerging at the end of the day and Channer was not oblivious to the fact that Mutabaruka had 30 years of experience in the music industry. Channer was not intimidated.
"If you know seh no prime minister or 'Presi' (President) cyaah mash up Jamaica, put up unnu hand dem," Channer said, breaking the ice with the audience, which was overly aware of the recent unrest in west Kingston. With the ice melting under his selection, the man described as a fiction writer and occasional essayist, had the obedient audience following his every command, skilfully pulling mirth from as far as their bellies and rhythm from within their loins.
Singing Melody's Shower Me With Your Love, and Wayne Wonder's Still Say Yes, followed by Old Time Something Come Back Again and Admiral Bailey's Jump Up coupled with Little John's Broader Than Broadway and Super Cat's Suzie were the highlights of Channer's first half hour of musical libation which, to the audience, was like magic.
But Mutabaruka hit back, first with his own lyrics, "Wi Nuh inna di schizophrenic thing, dem a set up poor black people inna uniform fi kill off poor black", declared the dub poet, before drawing for the lyrical writings of Junior Mervin's 'Police and Thieves'.
Pulling from a compilation of message music, the words, "All the peacemakers turn war officers, fighting the nation with their guns and ammunitions", rang out loudly.
The song Serious Time followed, in advance of Tristan Palmer's Greetings and Tiger's Wanga Gut, before Shabba Ranks' Trailer Load, signalled Muta's revenge.