A story worth sharing

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

The name Tayo Aluko is not on the tongues of Jamaicans. But he will stay in the hearts of those who witnessed his scintillating one-man show, titled 'Call Mr Robeson', just this month.

So, who is Aluko?

He was born in Nigeria and lives in Liverpool, England, and performs a one-man show that presents snippets of an African America.

But Aluko's story is not interesting because of the confluence of Africa and Europe in his own life. It is the journey to get there that is riveting, his reason for selecting Paul Robeson as a subject, and his sheer grit.

Standing on the steps of the Vera Moody Hall at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, he related aspects of his story.

"I used to be an architect, and I have always done my singing on the side, but then I discovered Paul Robeson's story and decided that I need to write ... the story needed to be told," explained Aluko.

THE MESSAGE OF PEACE

He explained that he was drawn to Robeson - an activist, singer, actor and athlete - because of his courage and message.

"The courage with which he keeps telling that message, that there is no need for war; people should be equal in spite of their race; that the world could be a better place then; and the extreme between wealth and poverty needs to be sustainable; and that the system needs to be corrected," Aluko said, is inspiring.

"And, in fact, that message is so pertinent today, it is incredible. His voice still resonates today."

The creation of 'Call Mr Robeson' began in 1995. And after completion, the singer said he could not "get the play off the ground". And so, he decided to do it himself.

A decision cemented by a construction business "going downhill". With no money to pay for his architectural subscription, he decided "to give architecture up and do something that I really loved".

The play was premiered in 2007 in Liverpool, England. Aluko started to perform full time. He admitted that it started off very slowly "with one performance for a year ... in fact, I was renting theatres myself to put it out". He was undaunted by the slow progress.

"I believed that in time it would start to build up; and that's what has happened now," he said.

And with the play finding its niche and him performing the role for so long, has he found a similarity between himself and his character?

"I feel that since I found Paul Robeson, he has persuaded me that I am instinctively a socialist."

A further connection to the African American is that, like Robeson, Aluko likes to sing.

"I know that through music I can touch people's hearts. That is a great similarity."

Scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York on his 50th birthday, Aluko said that one day he would like to do a story about The Congo, which would include Patrice Lumumba.

However, he is not sure how much of the story would focus on Lumumba. What is certain, though, is that the story will tell the tale of The Congo's history.

"Getting the message out there, that The Congo has been exploited by people for decades, and that's why it is in the state it is in today. I am trying to find ways of inspiring people to know about it, to see what they can do to fight that system."

Aluko's visit to Jamaica was made possible by the public affairs section of the United States Embassy in Kingston, as part of its Black History Month celebration.