Lutalo Masimba (24 October 1954 – 13 July 2021), born Roy Lewis
and known professionally as Brother Resistance, was a rhythm poet and musician from
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
. He died on 13 July 2021, after being diagnosed with cancer.
Background and career
Born in 1954 as Roy Lewis in
East Dry River,
Laventille
Laventille is a suburb of Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. It is administered by the San Juan–Laventille Regional Corporation.
Etymology
The name ''Laventille'' hearkens back to colonial times, especially when the French dominated the cu ...
, Trinidad and Tobago, he began writing poetry in primary school, and went on to study at
Queen's Royal College
Queen's Royal College (St Clair, Port of Spain, St.Clair, Trinidad), referred to for short as QRC, or "The College" by alumni, is a secondary school in Trinidad and Tobago. Originally a boarding school and grammar school, the Secularity, secular c ...
. He was influenced by Trinidad's 1970
Black Power movement to become conscious of his African identity, and he would eventually change his name to Lutalo Masimba in 1982, in order to better reflect his heritage.
He assumed the soubriquet "Brother Resistance" when he began performing and chanting his poetry at school.
He went on to further studies at the
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in Social Sciences with History in 1980.
Brother Resistance became, together with
Brother Shortman, the lead singer of the Network Riddim Band, a Trinidadian ensemble, in 1979.
[Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 42–43.] They developed a hybrid of
soca and
rap that they called "
rapso
Rapso is a form of Trinidadian music that grew out of the social unrest of the 1970s. Black Power and unions grew in the 1970s, and rapso grew along with them. The first recording was "Blow 'Way" by Lancelot Layne in 1970. Six years later, ...
", a genre for which they credited
Lancelot Layne
Lancelot Layne (died 28 July 1990) was a rapso artist from Trinidad and Tobago.
Biography
Lancelot Layne was born to a Ms. Ethel Strawn (''née'' Serrano) and raised in Gonzales, Trinidad, a village near Port of Spain. He had a start in many loca ...
as originator.
[Oumano, Elena (1999)]
"Resistance Exports Rapso to US, Europe"
''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'', 9 January 1999, p. 18. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
The band was considered subversive by the authorities, and their rehearsal space and offices were destroyed by the police in June 1983.
The group released their first album, ''Roots of de Rapso Rhythm'', in 1984, which was followed by ''Rapso Explosion'' and ''Rapso Takeover'' in 1985 and 1986 respectively.
International performances brought recognition from overseas, changing the attitude of the T&T government, who selected Brother Resistance as their cultural delegate to the
World Festival of Youth and Students
The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the International Union of Students after 1947. History
The festival has been held occasionally since 1947, mainl ...
in
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
.
His best known song was 1987's "Ring de bell", in which he advocates symbolically ringing the bell for justice and freedom.
In 1992, Brother Resistance was honoured with a national award, the
Hummingbird Medal
The Hummingbird Medal (abbreviated HBM or H.B.M.) is a state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago, instituted in 1969. The medal is awarded for loyal and devoted service beneficial to the state in any field, or acts of conspicuous gallantry or other o ...
.
He appeared at New York's New Music Festival in 1992 and in 1993 at the International Dub Poetry Festival in
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, Canada.
In 2002 he was nominated for a Cacique Award for his performance as Aldrick in
Earl Lovelace's dramatization of ''
The Dragon Can't Dance''.
In 2017, Brother Resistance was inducted into the Queen's Royal College Hall of Honour for his contributions to art and culture in Trinidad.
He was president of the
Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO).
He died aged 66 on 13 July 2021, at the West Shore Medical Private Hospital,
Western Main Road
The Western Main Road is the main road in Trinidad and Tobago that runs west from Green Corner in downtown Port of Spain
Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief po ...
, Cocorite, Trinidad and Tobago.
Solo discography
Albums
*''Touch De Earth with Rapso'' (1991)
*''Heart of the Rapso Nation'' (1992)
*''De Power of Resistance'' (1996), Rituals
*''Let Us Rejoice'' (2001)
*''When De Riddum Explode'' (2001)
Singles
*"Tonite Is De Nite" (1987), Riddum Distribution Network
*"Jah Never Fail Me" (2001), Blue Flame
References
External links
*
*
Allmusic entry
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the data ...
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brother Resistance
1954 births
2021 deaths
20th-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers
20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers
Alumni of Queen's Royal College, Trinidad
Musicians from Port of Spain
Rapso
Recipients of the Hummingbird Medal
Trinidad and Tobago poets
University of the West Indies alumni