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| Iyunda |
Music is an art and there are many ways to express it, some popular and others quite unpopular but all music attract it’s own audience. Common similarities between music and poetry are rhythm, expression and emotion. Rhythm is what makes music and poetry and both flows just the same. Dub chanting and/or dub poetry is a combination of both music and poetry and is mostly appreciated among educators and college/university students. But over the years stalwarts such as Mutabaruka and Yasus Afari, Oko Onoura and more recently No Maddz among others have bridged the gap between dub poetry/chanting in Jamaica which has led to the acceptance of the art among reggae/dancehall fans.
This trait is inspiring and has kept Dub Chanter Courtney ‘Iyunda‘ Robinson focused for years, “I know I have inspirational messages for the people,” he said, “life is the highest and this is what I write about, this is the message I’m spreading” he told NIPnews. With dub poetry/chanting still not totally appreciated across Jamaica as compared to reggae and Dancehall, Iyunda is holding on to every bit of hope that the audience to which the genre appeals, will continue to support not only his but his colleague’s creative ability as well. He is the founding member of the poetry group Tuff Tuff Triangle formulated with an aim to “chant down negativity.” He has performed across Jamaica the Caribbean, Europe, the United States of America, Central America and Canada.
2013 has brought renewed hope for Iyunda with the release of a new track entitled, ‘Yaad Man Skank’ which features his partner and friend Dexta Malawi, graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performings Arts. The track was created with an attempt to bring back the Jamaican skanking style of dancing and was recorded and mixed by recording engineer Kimani who is a nephew of the late legendary producer Sir Coxsone Dodd. The feedback was encouraging and subsequently lead to the timely release of another track entitled ‘Sell Out” recorded on the popular Angola riddim that has been in heavy rotation across Jamaica.
Iyunda is employed to the Downsound Record label in Kingston as the company’s ‘street man’ with responsibility to assist the street management team in monitoring the artistes and promoting their music in the streets. “Me record fi Downsound to enuh, and do just about anything dem call upon me fi do fi strengthen the movement.” he said. However, Iyunda is managed by Norman Little of Discount Reggae Tune label and the team is fully engaged at this time in running with the current air play wave been given to his “Sell Out” track usually played after Jah Bouk’s track with the title of the same name of the riddim, ‘Angola.’ ‘Sell Out’ is dub chanting and it compliments the riddim’s title track, check it out and keep following ‘Iyunda’ on his musical journey.
By: Sophia McKay
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