Mutabaruka is a name from the African country of Rwanda. It means one who is always victorious in Battle and so is Muta. He is one of the few living Rasta icons that is still here in this era (Iwa) articulating the "Rastafari ideology’ in the flesh. As a spoken word artist with Rasta-centric sensibilities since from the 60’s, Muta has been the voice and conscience of the authentic Rastaman. We refer to him as the original dub poet. He eats only raw food; he walks everywhere barefoot (even in the French Alps) not for a spiritual reason. He said it is a natural outgrowth that evolves for him and seeing people's reaction has reinforced his decision. He quickly realizes it is a way to overstand human nature which helps him to get into his anthropomorphic (seeing God in the image of man/woman) being.

Muta is developing a new faculty of interpretation for the massive to grapple with. His topics are very controversial and he is not afraid to take the road less travel as reflected on his "Cutting Edge" radio program, which is even controversial to the orthodox Rastas in Jamaica. He is one of the most brilliant minds of our time and he demonstrated exactly that on February 21-22, 2004 when he was brought to Seattle for Black History Month Celebration a Cultural program, sponsored by The Ethiopian World Federation, Yekuno Amlak Local 16 Seattle Inc., POCAAN (People of Color Against Aids Network) and Sankofa /Ethnic Cultural Theatre.

As the Chaplain of the Ethiopian World Federation, Yekuno Amlak Local #16 Inc., I picked Muta up at the Airport on Saturday 21 at Noon and just as I expected Muta was trodding barefoot. He instantly reminded me of the 1929 photograph the ‘Barefoot Prophet’ by the famous Harlem Renaissance photographer, James VanDerZee. He was regally dressed in a beautiful African robe and turban. His spiritual oils were faintly apparent in the air as he swiftly moved through the crowd in baggage claim. The other passengers were curious about him and were wondering who he was as they immediately noticed he was not wearing shoes. The thought must have came to mind that this makes it easy to move through the security lines without having to take off his shoes. Muta was welcoming all of these silent inquisitions without feeling self-conscious; this is his lesson in social psychology. Once we get his bags, we start toward the vehicle for our 20-minute ride to Seattle. Muta is a man of few private words; he is always deep in thought and very focused. Silence is truly golden and you feel that shift once you get into his presence in private, but in public Muta is ready to talk. I couldn’t help but reflect that he bridles his tongue until he has to speak for an engagement then he cannot be stopped.

On our way to his hotel by the Space Needle in downtown Seattle, he comments on how beautiful and sunny the weather in Seattle was and that it reminded him of Jamaica. He loved all the mountains surrounding the city but interrupted his reverie to inquire about the health food store we needed to stop by before going to his hotel. When we finished getting his raw food we went to the hotel for him to relax. I returned to pick him up again at 6:00pm that evening to go to his engagement at POCAAN, which is in the Rainier Valley community. Rainier Avenue is like one of the old routes in Seattle, it is on the South side of town, so it is consider 'the' neighborhood. Many Black families, Asians and Hispanics fill a very ethnically diverse community. We see richness in this diversity and as a community organizer and Rastafarian; I tapped into this community with the Rastafari ideology I found in reggae music and Jamaican culture. As a matter a fact on February 5^th for Bob Marley birthday (act. Birthday is February 6) and Black History Month we had a very successful show with the Midnite Band from St. Croix performed for the first time with 350 reggae lovers all gathering in peace and harmony.

Big things a ‘gwaan’. So, Muta was following in a hot climate of acceptance for the new reggae order that Jah Breeze Reggae is doing in conjunction with Ras Untunga and Merle Davis, President of The Ethiopian World Federation, Yekuno Amlak Local 16 Inc., the foundation of the Rastafari movement since 1935 and established by Haile Sellasie during the Italian war with Mousilinni.

When Muta and I arrived at POCAAN the Sankofa film (Sankofa is an Akan word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today") was playing and the crowd was intense as Shango, Muta’s character in the film, captivated the audience with his dialect and fierceness. After the show Muta came into the audience's presence to share his view on the filming process of Sankofa. It was a very intimate dialogue with the audience. Muta explained the meaning of his name, and how noted Ethiopian-born filmmaker, Haile Gerima who wrote, directed and produced Sankofa sought him out for the role of Shango in the movie. Muta talked about his involvement with other upcoming film projects. He was critical of the World Health Organization when the question arose about the AIDS Epidemic in the Black communities throughout the world. He said the bias is in the screening process and as conscious people we need to investigate the WHO (World Health Organization) before we can understand the WHY, WHERE, and WHEN. He also talked about the current controversy with singer Janet Jackson's breast exposure at the Super Bowl half-time show. He commented that in Africa women walk around bare-breasted with no inclination or insinuation of pornography. He blamed the men who control society from the Christian right for creating the hysteria. Muta has a new faculty of interpretation for every issue and he is not afraid to be cutting edge. This is Mutabaruka's persona and you can take it or leave it, but for me he is real and the audience enjoyed his no nonsense ‘tell it like it is’ style. Muta expressed that he really likes this forum and has been coming to Seattle for 9 years but never had a sit down with the people from the community. He thanked all of the sponsors for creating this event. All praises due to the creator without who this project would have never been possible.

As soon as the event at POCAAN was over Muta was ready to go back to his hotel to chill for the next big day at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre where he would perform his poetry. Early Sunday morning he rose and took a walk down to Pike Place Market, a landmark he goes to each time he is in Seattle. I picked him up again at 5:30pm on Sunday for the event at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre. When we arrived they were showing film clip from the Maafa Experience a local production about the middle passage experience where I served as the drum director. The very talented Urban Scribes Poets from Seattle performed their contemporary poem to open the show for Mutabaruka.

At 6:30pm Muta, who is always dressed regally, appeared on stage with a beautiful red, black and green Baye Fall robe made by the Baye Fall Islamic sect of Senegal. These are Black Rastas that only wear beautiful multicolor robe and clothing. The audience sensed that something raw was about to unfold. Muta began to read his poetry like a conversation and he would sequel into a speech, it was so smooth that it was difficult at time to tell his poetry from his conversation, unless you were familiar with his poetry. He was actually creating the concept of mixing like a DJ would do on the turntables. He did it throughout the night, until the house lights went up to indicate to him that it was time to end the show. He immediately went into his last poem, which is titled "Dis Poem". By the time he was finished the crowd’s conscience was touched and they could now relate to my opening remarks as the MC, when I stated that Muta is the voice and conscience of the poor people. The sponsors were asking to bring him back on stage and the people were really moved by Muta's fulfilling performance.

After the Ethnic Cultural Theatre show I drove Muta back to his hotel and he immediately began talking about his ride to the airport the next day. Now I understand what he meant when he reads in his poem, "It’s not good to stay in a white man’s country too long", he was heading back home to Jamaica. He gave me a hug and we said our good-byes until we meet again a yard, soon come! "Me A Come…" is what Muta would say every time I call to pick him up. Big Up!