One of Yasus Afari's hands was full when he approached the podium at the Ashanti Oasis Restaurant, Hope Gardens, last Thursday night and so, apparently, was his heart.
He emptied one, holding up items one by one to the large audience, as he poured out another, explaining the place the books (including a Japanese-Jamaican language dictionary) and CDs he displayed had in the context of the album that was being launched, Kiss Mi Neck, Jamaican Spoken Word Poetry.
"Context defines content," Yasus Afari said.
Role of entrepreneurship
He also spoke passionately about the role of entrepreneurship in education and his belief in Jamaica, saying "me go 38 countries and counting and none of them can match Jamaica".
For the 22-track Kiss Mi Neck, Yasus Afari said "Me use the voice God give me. We demonstrating that you don't have to have $5 million to go in the studio. You don't have to have 25 musicians".
Still, there seems to be music in the set, which utilises harmony vocals and various arrangements, as Yasus Afari spoke about persons thinking that instruments other than the voice were used and some not missing the music anyway.
Guest speaker Leachim Seamaj, on a programme hosted by Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah and involving Tanhoi Afari extensively, had earlier noted the power of poetry ("it speaks to a common need in the human soul, the need to be inspired, to get meaning from life") and music. "What happens when you marry the two? You have something that is totally unstoppable, a lethal combination," Semaj said.
He said, though, that "many artistes have elected to use this powerful tool for less than productive means". Semaj congratulated Yasus Afari on having the "strength and integrity to do what he hears in his head and do what he knows is right and righteous". He emphasised that one person can make a difference and encouraged Yasus to "gwaan same way bredren!"
Director of Culture Sydney Bartley spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, while Mutabaruka noted that "we see a new form take unto itself, a new shape come them call it the spoken word". In that form, through expression and not only reading, the audience can actually see what the poet is saying. "We see more poetry concerts. We see more people start include poet on reggae concert. We see poets taking life on concert an' a get pull up too, like any artiste. We feel good," Mutabaruka said.
Expertise involvement
Yasus Afari said he used his technical expertise, having been heavily involved in producing his previous albums done with music, to come up with a set that he described in part as "magical, brilliant". The cover art, which he also conceptualised, is done as a gift package that would be received by someone at the post office, complete with Yasus Afari's picture as the stamp.
"Me nah wait fi dem put me pon stamp," Yasus said, to laughter.
He described Kiss Mi Neck as "like a world unto itself". So Hygiene is for "when people get green; that is the remedy". Komplex is "like the pliers and the knife, pull out the rotten teeth, cut out the cancer of immorality in the society". Mental Orgasm, which had been read previously by Joan Andrea Hutchinson, shows "the Afromantic side of the poet". Also included are Freedom and Patois Talking, which members of the Flava Island Unit did a part of.
Pointing out that the first poem he wrote in 1978, The Travelling Sun, as well as the title poem Blouse and Skirt, written last month, are on the album, Yasus Afari said "we cover 31 years on the album". When Dr Stanley Niaah asked him which was his favourite, he chose My Mother Who Fathered Me.
Before Yasus did Komplex, Professor Barry Chevannes said that Yasus Afari has "an inner drive to communicate a passion", Afari honouring Chevannes' "humanity, humility, brilliance and generosity".
Professor Barry Chevannes makes a point at Yasus Afari's album launch, held at Ashanti Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant, Hope Gardens, last Thursday. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer