Yasus Afari/ Dub Poet

                                   

When you talk about suceess and deep conviction you have to talk
about a dub poet by the name of Yasus Afari.Born John Sinclair in a small
village in the parish of St.Elizabeth, life was hard and every day survival
was a struggle.His moms was his only inspiration after his bigger brother
left home to join the Police Force.He always mentioned how is mother used to
pray and encouraged him to work hard so that they could lead a better
life.He passed his common Entrance exam and went off to ST.Elizabeth
Technical high school.He did excell and was a major influence on his peer
group.See Photographs

After high School he went on to work with the Jamaica Telephone company as a
repair Technician but soon find out that there was more to life than
climbing telephone poles.He won a scholarship to the College of Arts Science
and Technology where a whole new world open up. At college he major in
telecommunications and was a revolutionist againts how the system was
administered.He participated in all aspect of student life and was a role
model for all the students in that era.He was elected Vice president of the
Student council but was denied to serve because of his positive and anti
comformative values.This was a major awakening for him and he did some soul
searching and that is when he knew he had the calling to do good for the
massive.He vowed that he will fight the injustices of the society and bring
about conciousness to all the people that would listen to what he have to
say.

The social and political climate during this time was rough.Maurice Bishop
got killed in Genada,Bob had just died, and so much was happening in the
political arena that most youths we looking for a concious vibes.Yasus began
doing concerts at the local students union,The University of the West Indies
at Mona,The nursing school and a few teachers college.The response was like
a shock wave and everyone was taking about Toni Taam as he was fondly called
then.He did a several shows with then up coming stars as well as established
Artistes.After graduating from college things went down on a spiral. His
first song was realeased in 1986 during this time Yasus went into a period
of meditation and isolation while writing consistently.

 As time goes on Yasus began to emerge and by joining partnership
with other up coming artist he began to see a light at the tunnel.He met up
with Garnet Silk who was also is childhood friend and they began to work on
a few songs togeather.On one of his birthday he was hanging with Garnet and
he wrote the first line of "I can see clearly".Garnet went on to finish the
song and also wrote "I saw zion........."All this led to a tighter
relationship with Silk that gave him the inspiration to write "Nothing can
divide............"To this extent Yasus and Garnet still have unproduced
songs still laid out on tracks.Will be published when the time is right.

 Things started to look up and Yasus teamed up with Maxi Priest to
write "work" which appeared on his Dance Hall Baptism(Senya-Cum/Ras
Records),Mental Assasin was done on Tappa Zuki label.He has since then
recorded with a whole host of musicians Which includes Everton Blender,Black
Uhuru,General Degree,Tony Rebel and a more who he has also produced.The
achievements go far and wide and was awarded Dub Poet of the year in 1993 in
a controversial decision .At this award ceremony the award was given to the
well known Mutabaruka.Muta refuse to accept this award and made it explictly
clear that this should be given to Yasus.He went on to win more awards and
was also honored in Chiago by Martin International for Dub Poeb of the year
in 1994.Yasus was honored many times by the Jamaican Music Federation . The
list of recognition goes on and Yasus always says it is a great honor to
recognized for all his work.

He is still creating a cultural revolution on a world -wide basis and
has toured with Black Uruhu on a 26 states tour in the US and the Paciffic
Islands.He also did a tour of Brazil where the fans open heartedly responed
to his message.A man can only be king in his home land but it seems as if
Africa is his own land.Comming off a tour in Africa He was literally crown
King in Ethiopia,Ghana and West Africa.He is invited as the guest of honour
for the Ghana independence celebration next year and he is looking towards
that with great aspirations.One of his latest cuts Honour Crown HIM is the
number one single in Zimbabwae.Listen for "TEETH" which is bombing up the
place in jamaica.Also listen for the Hip-hop mix of dub poetry on the Big
ship label name 'Lets Party" So much to say about Yasus afari but for more
information and concerts and tour info send us some mail. Forward to
Christian Souljahs Rasta guide and protect.

                                  

                       Email: carribbean@earthlink.net