The ManicaPost
continued from last week…
DO you accept VIOLENCE as a means to fight for freedom?
Muta: I say the means do have to justify the ends. Any means that is necessary to bring freedom, you use that means. We are not violent. We are not preaching a one way to freedom. There’s no specific way to freedom. We have to do it as it comes.
What do you think about Mahatma Gandhi, who liberated India without using violence?
Muta: Well, them killed him! They killed Martin Luther King and he was not violent and they killed Malcom X, because he was violent! So, what it is all about?! Any which way freedom must come!” You also write poems about Native Americans like “Big Mountain”.
What do you think about their situation?
Muta: Anywhere Europeans go they give people a rough deal. They are going to Africa, they are going to America, they are going to India, China,- and the Native Americans have got one of the worst deals, with the land taken from them and now they’re in reservations. We feel a kind of closeness to them. We have been amongst them and we experienced what they experienced. The suicide rate amongst Native Americans is large!
I don’t overstand, why they put up with that. Do you know why they don’t do anything to change the situation?
Muta: Well, we ask YOU, too! Why don’t you do something against it!? White supremacy is not only oppressing black people, it’s oppressing white people, too. White supremacy is what controls the world! But why do they not fight to get their land back? Muta: They are doing things. Yeah, they are doin’ tings! We’ve been there. Maybe it’s not publicized as much. Every day people are struggeling for freedom! They say: Push a dog aroun’ for so long, but one day that dog will turn and bite you!
Can you explain the DIFFERENCES between your music and the music of other reggae musicians?
Muta: The difference between my music and others is that I’m a poet just saying the poetry. The others are making the poems become songs. And I am concerned with African centred ideas and thinking and beliefs. We keep in context with Africa. What we talk is coming out of the ancient African philosophy.
What is more important for you – the lyrics or the music?
Muta: I’m a poet. I’m a poet first. The word is why reggae music is big. It’s not the music itself. The music is good but it’s because of what it is said in the music. Over the years people recognize Bob Marley lyrics as a liberatin’ music, as a upliftin’ music. So it’s really what he was saying, – what he is saying. That’s why I don’t try to sing. I can’t sing but I can speak. And when we speak the poetry we hope that people listen.
What can Blacks learn from the White man and what can Whites learn from Blacks?
Muta: We have learned enough now! (excited)We want to learn from ourselves now! The education of Rome, the philosophy, the Roman philosophy has caused enough problems right now that we need to come out of it,- both White and Black! Because that’s the destructive element right now on the earth!”
What can we learn from the black people?
Muta: Life! Life is existing in a world, when we can eliminate White supremacy. Because, it’s because of White supremacy why we have all of these elements of destruction that is taking place. The implements of destruction that is made – the atmosphere pollution, the wars, the First World War, the Second World War…! When white people fight against white people they say it’s WORLD war! I didn’t involve in the war! I was in the Caribbean drinking coconut water and reggae music and you hear them say it’s a WORLD war! But,- you see: When the Africans kill the Africans you hear it’s a TRIBAL war!
What is wrong with Europeans?
Muta: Europeans is going into other people’s space and manipulating that space. White supremacy affects all of us in every aspect of life. White supremacy is in entertainment, is in politics, is in religion, it’s in sex, it’s in industry, it’s in all of them. Africa without European’s domination. That would be nice. But Europeans have also embedded neocolonialism inside of Africa now. The black leaders are so European. A lot of them want to go to Paris to marry a white woman. They don’t have Africa at the forefront. So my vision is Africa with just Africans controlling it,- just like Europe is controlled by Europeans.
How long have you been a vegetarian?
Muta: About 30 years. I was on raw food for about 7 years, and I went back for 3 years, but I think I going to come back again and continue.?
What made you transition into raw foods?
Muta: Raw food is the way to go. Cooking kill the food. Everybody knows that. Live food for live people. Sometimes you find it very difficult to keep up with it. It’s somewhat of a mindset, it’s a mind thing.
Is there a community of folks in Kingston doing raw foods?
Muta: No, there’s not a community. You have one and two people that are doing raw food, but most Rastafarians are vegetarians. The raw foods are the next level. Actually we did kind of try the fruitarian thing for a while, but we came off of that?
How was that?
Muta: It was nice. It was nice?
You have it all here…?
MUTA: Yes, the fruits. Sometimes it’s very expensive though. It was nice, though, to experience the different levels, the different stages of understanding how your body function. Anytime you become like that you start to know what you want, how your body function. A lot of people don’t know how their body function. When I first become vegetarian, and really moved into the step of raw food, I learned more about my body. It’s like you are the one who is building your temple. You are like the contractor who is constructing your body so you know exactly what is what. If something hurt you, you know why it’s hurting. ?
What are some of the traditional foods that folks are eating who are not necessarily raw but are vegetarian?
Muta: Well, it’s a normal vegetarian food. Rice and peas, stew peas, green vegetables, brown rice, whole wheat flour. Tofu is a staple…and gluten (seitan). — sparksofdissent
to be continued next week…
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