His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". He lives in Potosi District, St. James, with his spouse and their two children. Some of his themes include sexism, politics. discrimination, poverty, race, and especially religion.
In school he read many "progressive books" including Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice and others that were then illegal in Jamaica such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Raised as a Roman Catholic while employed by the Jamaican Telephone Company he began examining and immersing himself in the Rasta lifestyle.
He stopped wearing shoes stopped combing his hair started growing locks and altered his diet. Soon after he converted completely to the movement. He adopted the name Mutabaruka a Rwandan term meaning "one who is always victorious".
In Spring 2007, Mutabaruka had the chance to teach African American studies at Merritt College. He has lectured and performed at several establishments in Jamaica and the United States.
On 20 February 2010 he was honored by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the Rotaract Club of Mandeville for over 30 years of outstanding work in the field of the arts. Also, later on in 2010 he was recognized by Senegal with a hut built in his honour.
On 28 September 2010 he recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube whose music he said sought to "liberate the oppressed".
He spoke at the First Jamaica Poetry Festival on 17 August 2011 in honour of Marcus Garvey and Louise Bennett. On the final day of the Rastafari Studies Conference Mutabaruka was examined as an Icon by the professors of the West Indies.
In school he read many "progressive books" including Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice and others that were then illegal in Jamaica such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Raised as a Roman Catholic while employed by the Jamaican Telephone Company he began examining and immersing himself in the Rasta lifestyle.
He stopped wearing shoes stopped combing his hair started growing locks and altered his diet. Soon after he converted completely to the movement. He adopted the name Mutabaruka a Rwandan term meaning "one who is always victorious".
In Spring 2007, Mutabaruka had the chance to teach African American studies at Merritt College. He has lectured and performed at several establishments in Jamaica and the United States.
On 20 February 2010 he was honored by the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) and the Rotaract Club of Mandeville for over 30 years of outstanding work in the field of the arts. Also, later on in 2010 he was recognized by Senegal with a hut built in his honour.
On 28 September 2010 he recited a tribute poem in honour of Lucky Dube whose music he said sought to "liberate the oppressed".
He spoke at the First Jamaica Poetry Festival on 17 August 2011 in honour of Marcus Garvey and Louise Bennett. On the final day of the Rastafari Studies Conference Mutabaruka was examined as an Icon by the professors of the West Indies.
