Synopsis
Steppin(g) Razors have a long tradition in Rastafari-inspired Reggae. Mutabaruka, the Jamaican-born artist, activist, and radio presenter, is certainly one of its most fervent protagonists. With his voice of thunder, Muta – as he is called by his fans and followers – evolved into an iconic ‘Verbal Swordsman’ at the cutting edge of the struggle for African Redemption and Black Power. His influence on generations of Black people in Jamaica, Africa, and the African Diaspora can hardly be overstated. Yet his impact reaches far beyond, on a global level, as he continues to travel the world with his razor-sharp poems and social commentaries driven by Reggae.
In this book, Mutabaruka teams up with two anthropologists to reflect and summarize some of the most important perspectives aired weekly on his two live radio shows on Irie FM, Jamaica’s Reggae radio channel. Cutting Edge and Steppin Razor are controversial by intention. These talk shows owe their impact to the uncompromised stance of its anchorman, paraphrased by himself as his own (rhetorical) ‘art of war.’ Drawing on the role model famously coined by Peter Tosh’s hit song ‘Stepping Razor,’ Muta emerged not only as an institution of ethical conscience and social consciousness in Jamaica but also continues to challenge global injustice, particularly for people of African origin.
About the Authors
Born in Jamaica, Mutabaruka has established himself as an artiste, performing poet and philosopher, who is also the host of the famous interactive talk shows Cutting Edge and Steppin Razor on Jamaica's most popular radio station, Irie FM. During his weekly broadcasts, the outspoken Rastafari debates socio-political, philosophical, and Rastafari-related topics. He has contributed to Black consciousness globally transcending his own Rastafari, Reggae, and poetry community. He advocates Black Power and opposes Eurocentric and neo-colonial thinking. He unapologetically voices his notions on multifaceted matters and particularly creates space for Black freedom struggle. His poem collection Outcry (1973) and his music album Check It! (1983) are among his great achievements. Above all, he played the rebellious slave Shango in Haile Gerima's drama movie Sankofa (1993) and was the protagonist in the documentary film Mutabaruka: The Return to the Motherland (2011). Some of his formal awards are Order Of Distinction (Commander Class) from the Jamaican government in 2016, the Lifetime Achievement Award awarded at the Black Royalty African Heritage Expo in Connecticut (USA) in 2018, or Best Dub Poet from the Jamaican Music Awards (repeatedly awarded).
Sebastian Schwager works in the social sector (with people with disabilities) and is a freelance anthropologist, filmmaker, and musician. His research mainly focuses on media and visual anthropology in the context of post-colonialism, ethnohistory and ongoing globalization. He holds a master's degree in social and cultural anthropology and involves in field research in Jamaica, Greece, Australia, Bali, and Austria. His documentary film Rebels outta Vienna (2022) deals with the Viennese Reggae scene being embedded in the Rastafari movement (for more information: www.rebelsouttavienna.com). A saxophonist and producer, he regularly releases music under the pseudonym Sabolious (www.linktr.ee/sabolious). Exploring a variety of sounds and genres within his tracks, he found himself immersed in the vibes of Reggae/Dub, Chillhop/Lofi, Electronic, and Trap. Also establishing his record label Anaves Music (www.anaves-music.com), he is eager to promote various artistes worldwide. Lately he has collaborated with singers like the legendary Fred Locks or the highly talented Italian-Senegalese singer Awa Fall aka Sista Awa.
Werner Zips is professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Vienna, Austria. The trained lawyer and anthropologist is the author of numerous articles and books on Jamaican Maroons (Nanny's Asafo Warriors. The Jamaican Maroons' African Experiences, 2011; Black Rebels. African-Caribbean Freedom Fighters in Jamaica, 1999), Rastafari (Rastafari. A Universal Philosophy in the Third Millennium, 2006), and Black Nationalism. He has edited volumes on Legal Pluralism, the African Diaspora, and Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa. His recent research deals with issues of conservation in Africa, with a special focus on community-based natural resource management, indigenous rights, and climate crisis mitigation. In cooperation with Manuela Zips-Mairitsch he has edited the volume Bewildering Borders: The Economy of Conservation in Africa (2019). He has also directed and produced numerous ethnographic films and television documentaries on Southern Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, including the DVD Mutabaruka: The Return to the Motherland (2011).
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