YASUS AFARI GETS READY FOR THE 2021 VIRTUAL PRESENTATION OF “POETRY IN MOTION” ON FEBRUARY 28!

Never one to shy from coining catchphrases to get his message across, Yasus Afari is committed to keeping the spoken word movement alive in Jamaica.
On February 28, he stages the 18th Poetry in Motion festival in Mandeville, central Jamaica.

This year’s event is being held virtually due to the Coronavirus. Its performers include Britain’s Benjamin Zephaniah, Stephen Wise, a musician who has worked with Stevie Wonder, Garveyite Rupert Lewis, a professor at the University of the West Indies and Yasus Afari, himself.
“It’s the first virtual staging for Poetry in Motion so it’s quite unprecedented, historic and symbolic. Actually, Poetry in Motion was one of, if not the last public and physical mass event in (Jamaica) for 2020, right before the pandemic lockdown. So in light of this, our 2021 staging is both significant and symbolic,” he said.

First held 2004, Poetry in Motion is the Rastafarian poet’s most enduring literary venture. Others, like the ‘pomedy’ concept (a blend of poetry and comedy) played to enthusiastic audiences in Jamaica.
Like Poetry in Motion, they are aimed at exposing spoken word artists and ensuring that aspect of Jamaican culture retains relevance.
“Poetry in Motion’s biggest accomplishments are actualizing our visions and aspirations for nearly two decades, living up to our aims and aspirations of providing clean, intelligent fun for the entire family and community,” said Afari.
The Afrocentric Afari is from St. Elizabeth, a farming parish in southern Jamaica. He was part of the cultural revival in dancehall music during the 1990’s, along with Garnet Silk and Tony Rebel.
Inspired by literary giants such as folklorist Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett and Linton Kwesi Johnson, he began recording in the late 1980’s and has released a number of albums.

Last year, he released Dub Poetry — Inna Yuh Face, a compilation album featuring works by Zephaniah, Mutabaruka and Jean Binta Breeze.
Poetry in Motion will culminate with its Golden Tongue Awards, which recognizes persons whose poems accurately depict societal events in Jamaica.