By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Mutabaruka
WESTERN BUREAU:
AT 6:04 P.M. there was a buzz in the studio of the Creative Productions Training Centre (CPTC). It quieted down as final preparations were made and there was an expectant hush as someone said 'tape rolling'. Then, with a countdown from five, Jamaican poetry made a giant leap.
"Hail. This is Mutabaruka. This is 'Lyrically Speaking' that will expose the word sound power in Jamaica," the evening's host said.
Taped before an enthusiastic live studio audience, several of whom were the poets themselves, the pilot flowed almost flawlessly, under the watchful eye of CPTC programmes director Judith Alberga.
The poets, who maintained a good standard throughout, were selected from auditions held at the CPTC Arnold Road studios in Kingston the previous Tuesday and sign-up forms are available there for persons who are interested in subsequent programmes.
As each poet was introduced, he or she went to the microphone and delivered a single poem, the exception being DYCR, with Mutabaruka, who proved an engaging host, often making a comment on the material.
First up was Suzanne Pyke from Discovery Bay, St. Ann, "who is going to recite another person poem, who will also be on the programme. Unno clap har no man!" Mutabaruka said to get the ball rolling.
Ms. Pyke used quiet musical accompaniment to deliver The God Within, her locks falling to shoulder height and a knee-length black dress resting easily on her slender frame.
GHETTO POET
"The next sister is a sister who is very nervous. She says she is a ghetto poet. She writes when she is nervous, so let us hope she is nervous tonight," Mutabaruka said in introducing Melissa. The young lady did The Real Me, nervousness fading as she removed the microphone from the stand and closed her eyes in delivering her poem.
The next poet was "one that we have been watching for some time. His ambition is to read poetry at the UN. Him haffi go talk to Kofi Annan," Mutabaruka said in introducing Sage, who delivered Oshun. Using musical accompaniment, Sage put his all into the poem, which opened:
There is just something about black music, the way she plays...
Roy Thomas ("Next man is a man dat don't know if him is a poet") was an older gentleman and the only person to read their material from the page that evening. When he ended with Mad we mad?/Is poor we poor/An' we naa tek no more, the general conclusion was that indeed Mr. Thomas is a poet.
"An' him look like Tupac too!" Mutabaruka said to the delight of the
audience.
A RIVETING DELIVERY
Sabriya Simon ("a young lady we love dearly") gave a riveting delivery of the already riveting Mr. Religion. "Usually when somebody gets a chance to deliver a message, they give the people what they want. I think we have reached a time when we should give the people what they need," she said, before getting into her poem about an encounter with a street preacher, who she asked:
May I interest you in 49 laxatives to ease your mental constipation?
"I hear de poem so often, but I will hear it again. It come een like suppen me woulda write," Mutabaruka commented.
And so the pilot of 'Lyrically Speaking' continued with almost nary a hitch. Bryan Claever delivered stanzas to his hero, the Man In The Canefield, Mutabaruka did one piece, DYCR did a poetic introduction of himself before complimenting Sabriya on Mr. Religion and doing his Savages, wrapping up with the extremely popular Grandma and Dave Culture performed See Dem.
Jean Wilson was excellent with the title poem from her book, No More Smalling Up of Me and Ras Jah Jah put the dub deep into 'Lyrically Speaking' with the anti-carnal abuse poem Likkle Bit a She. By the time the refrain came around the second time the audience was picking up on the refrain, which went in part:
Likkle bit a she jus' gwaan like she big
De big man dem haffi more positive!
Sister Melva used music in doing It Hard, which addresses land and housing issues, her voice strong and confident as she declared:
If yu coulda tax de air me breathe me woulda mus' dead!
She was the final poet for the pilot and Mutabaruka took the show out with a simple "We give thanks for the programme 'Lyrically Speaking'. Hope you tune in next time."
A glowing Judith Alberga took the stage briefly to thank all the participants, express her joy and seemingly speak for all involved when she said "it has really been an experience."
The editing process will take about two weeks, after which it will be pitched to the two national television stations. And, of course, CPTC's own CTV, which is broadcast on cable networks across the island, will be showing 'Lyrically Speaking'.
The taping of the next programme will be announced and sign-up forms are available at the CPTC, 37 Arnold Road, Kingston 5.
