Richie Innocent keeps Dub Poetry alive

Held at VP Records Cultural Center in Queens, New York, the show attracted an enthusiastic audience who warmed to performances by Richie Innocent and his colleagues. Initially scheduled for September 26, it was postponed due to unstable weather.

“The reception has demonstrated that the future for poetry in New York City and across North America is ready to receive the artform. These artists are ready to carry on the poetic movement in the land of the free and the home of the brave,” said the lanky poet.

Several of the poets who performed were on the previous Poetry Echoes Of Expression which took place at the same venue. They include Marcia Jackson, Marj Da Poet, Blaq Ice and Sharon Gordon who served as emcee.

Blaq Ice, an African-American from Chicago, presented Richie Innocent with an award from the People Of Extraordinary Talent (POET) organization. Pat Chin, co-founder of VP Records was similarly honoured by Poetry Echoes Of Expression’s promoters for supporting the spoken word movement.

Richie Innocent also launched ‘Eclipse’, his second book, during the event.

Known in some circles as dub poetry, spoken word reggae first emerged in the United Kingdom during the early 1970s. One of its early exponents was Linton Kwesi Johnson, who was born in Jamaica but moved to the UK in his early teens.

His albums, which include 1978’s ‘Dread Beat an’ Blood’, inspired Jamaican firebrands like Mikey Smith, Mutabaruka and Oku Onuora. Smith, best known for the album ‘Mi Cyaan Believe It’, was controversially killed in August, 1983 at age 28.

Richie Innocent started his career 31 years ago as Innocent, a deejay, in St. Elizabeth, a farming region in southern Jamaica. Like his heroes, his poems have strong social themes. They include ‘Where Are The Warriors’ and ‘Guns fi Drugs’.

He foresees great things for Poetry Echoes Of Expression.

“This is a special event that is headed to the hearts of those in the tri-state area and the general populace including the (Jamaican) diaspora,” said Richie Innocent.

(Photos contributed)