I have been a fan of Reggae group, Israel Vibration for a long time especially their story and struggles growing up poor, disabled and being institutionalize at an early age to break out to be homeless then start to sing but all through that up to today the members of Israel Vibration kept a tight hold on the culture and activism of Rastafarian.

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to interview Jamaican singer Latifa Brown aka Tafi. Now in my fourth year of my ph.d. study, I had a chance to read Walter Rodney who in the nearly ten months in 1968, while a professor at UWI, Jamaica, Walter Rodney not only taught but also spoke to groups in the depressed areas of Kingston and rural areas.

Professor Robin Kelley told me that in Rodney’s writings while he was in Jamaica he mentioned people with disabilities although using today’s language they can be ableist but we must give Rodney a pass knowing his 1969 book, The Groundings with my Brothers was published before the disability rights movement. In chapter, Black Power, A Basic Understanding goes something like this:

I admire Yoruba paganism first and foremost for its tolerance. It is a religion which provides satisfaction for many different kinds of human temperament. Everyone can worship the divine forces in his own fashion, and there is no rivalry or prejudice between different cults. But there is more than religious tolerance, there is human tolerance. Here the cripples, albinos and other deformed persons have a special god to look after them. They occupy a special position at his shrine, and thus, people who elsewhere are laughed at, are here needed and respected.

With the above from Israel Vibration to Tafi through Rastafarian Culture and the radical Black writings of Walter Rodney, I would like to put all of this under Krip-Hop Nation’s theory, politics, terminology and cultural expression of today but before getting there I must go deeper in Rastafarian Culture because all the people I mentioned, the music group, Israel Vibration, today’s Jamaican DJ, rapper and reggae dancehall artist, Latifa Brown aka Tafi have mentioned, Rastafarian. I must start with the members who made up the group Israel Vibration, Albert Criag, Cecil Spence, and Lacelle Bulgin.

I turn to a reporter who have covered this group for a long-time music journalist, Jason Levy in the Dread online library, his article entitled, RASTAMAN VIBRATION:

Israel Vibration explains the group exposure and dedication to Rastafarianism and their struggles as poor disabled Jamaican men as follows:

“While in the Mona Rehabilitation center the men met a Rasta elder named Baba Douse. He taught them about Rastafari and of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia along with Jah and the Rasta’s culture. Living life with Polio is a day-to-day challenge and I feel that Rastafari gave needed hope and praise to Apple, Skelly, and Wiss. Selassie’s teachings make the struggle that the three have lived seem overshadowed when they are focusing on spreading his message all over this world. The three men have all had their own problems and struggles to overcome them. They have all questioned God’s reasoning for giving them Polio, and why people have treated them differently their entire lives. Being cursed at and called a cripple has hurt each band member beyond the physical pain of the disease. All three men have taken this pain and transformed it into a spiritual and emotional charisma emanating from each of their souls. When seeing the three perform that vibe is passed on to an audience. “It takes a lot from me outta life, but at the same time it gives me much more in life” (Apple: Riverfront Times Interview 1996).

One excerpt of Emperor Selassie teaching that I feel is relevant to Israel Vibration celebrating Rastafarianism is pertaining to living one’s life is “Wise men have always known the deep and pervading truth that it is better to give than to receive, for even as it conflicts with selfish and ambitious desires, it moderates and controls them. Giving always demands sacrifice. To overcome the temptation to enjoy mere daily comfort, to press resolutely and patiently forward on the scheduled way, are true tests of the high degree of determination that should bind you together.

Memories of past injustices should not divert us from the more pressing business at hand.” The three men began what would become a lifelong dedication to Rastafarianism. They each grew their hair into the traditional natty dread locks in accordance with their Rastafarian beliefs. The staff at the Polio rehabilitation center did not accept the dread and kicked Apple, Skelly, and Wiss out of the institution. The three were shifted around to other centers until 1969 when they were finally and permanently expelled from the institutions. The three took to life in the bush and did everything they could to survive. They began composing and singing songs that express their spiritual beliefs in Jah-Rastafari. With nothing more to do they would hang out, smoke ganga and develop three-part harmonies that would later distinguish Israel Vibration’s unique style.”

(source: https://www.uvm.edu/~debate/dreadlibrary/levy.ht)

From Annicia Gayle’s and Derrick Palmer’s 2005 essay, The Activism of Persons With Disabilities In Jamaica: An Evaluation of the Impact they put the members of Israel Vibration at the beginning of the activism of the disabled in their own liberation in Jamaica that had its genesis in the 1970s which significantly influenced the disability movement in the Caribbean.

In the 1970s, the disability movement in Jamaica was supported by the political ideology of the day, that is, democratic socialism. A group of young and bold physically disabled persons wanted change and improvement to their quality of life. They argued that they saw wealth moving around them, but they were not benefiting and even more significantly, they were not participating in its creation. They were no longer prepared to be silent and inactive, despite threats, punishment and repression from institutional authorities. They were not only seeking improvement in their quality of life within institutions but also improvement of their quality of life outside an institutional environment. Therefore, whilst some developed independent craftsmanship, some became involved in music leading to the formation of Israel Vibration. The group became involved in pop music while others became involved in religious music which provided a means of livelihood. However, the Progressive Blind Association (PBA) had the most impact. (Gayle & Palmer 2005)

Now let’s go deep into Tifa and her disability and connection to Rastafarian Culture. I had a chance to interview her back in the day and she emailed me her 2015 mixtape, Stay Away and she told me at that time she went by a “handicap gyal”. She has a couple songs on her 2015 mixtape that has lyrics talking about her sexuality and disability. She told me that she has learned from Rastafarian Culture she grew up in the states but returned to Jamaica. Her disability is Blount’s disease, a rare disability that affects her bones in her legs and feet. Latifa Brown aka Tifa was born in 1983 with a physical disability, In JESSE SERWER’s November 18, 2015 article entitled, Tifa Is The “Handicap Gyal” Breaking Down Dancehall’s Taboos she goes deeper about Tifa’s one song like this:

Although Tifa is from a different generation compared to the members of Israel Vibration, she told me years ago that she respects and grew up knowing about Rastafarian Culture. Let’s get into what is Rastafarian Culture. According to the book entitled, An Ethos of Blackness Rastafari Cosmology, Culture, and Consciousness by Vivaldi Jean-Marie: “Rastafari is an Afrocentric social and religious movement that emerged among Afro-Jamaican communities in the 1930s and has many adherents in the Caribbean and worldwide today..

Rastafari strives to elaborate an alternative system of norms, values, and religious beliefs to those that people of African descent in the Diaspora inherited from slavery and colonialism. An Ethos of Blackness articulates this alternative system, by means of which Rastafari delineates an Afrocentric conception of people of African descent.” (Marie 2023)

And Wikipedia defines Rastafarianism as follows: 

“Rastafarianism is a religion and a political movement that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, inspired by the teachings of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, and pan-Africanist. Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is the divine savior and the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. They also believe in “One Love,” which encourages unity, peace, and equality. In Rastafarianism, Babylon is a term that refers to the oppressive and corrupt societies and systems that are seen as being opposed to the teachings and values of Rastafarianism. Babylon often refers to the governments, institutions, and ways of life perceived as being hostile to Rastafarianism and its emphasis on peace, equality, and freedom.  Rastafarianism has significantly influenced popular culture, particularly in the music and fashion industries. Many famous musicians, such as Bob Marley, have been associated with Rastafarianism and have helped to spread its message of love and unity through their music.”

Now how can we tie all of the above to Krip-Hop Nation, especially its term Afro-Krip. What is Krip-Hop Nation? It Is an international network of Hip-Hop & other musicians with disabilities with a few chapters around the world what we call Mcees With Disabilities (MWD) in Germany, UK & Africa & more. Krip-Hop is a community as well as style of music, an artistic space where people with disabilities can speak out and speak back to the social structures that exclude people based on disability, race, sexuality, and a host of other marginalized identities. Musicians with disabilities have always been here however there has been a lack of cultural activism especially in Hip-Hop with a disability justice viewpoint to not only advocate but to continue to display the talents of musicians with disabilities & at the same time advocate & celebrate our history, intersectional cultures & to politically educate ourselves & our communities locally, nationally & internationally.

Krip-Hop Nation have developed it’s politics and terminology like Afro-Krip. Graduate school so far has given Leroy Moore space, time, additional financial support to go deeper into Black radical movements, thinkers, theories arts and music then Kripping it. This concept of kripping Black radical movements, thinkers, theories arts and music is new for Leroy knowing that other Black groups like Black woman and Black LGBTQIA+ have put their spin on Black radical movements, thinkers, theories arts and music that they have been left out or/and not been updated to today’s movements and intellectual thinking/writing locally and globally. Leroy and Tamari Kitossa wrote about the concept of Afro-Krip in the 2022 book, Appealing Because He Is Appalling: Black Masculinities, Colonialism, and Erotic Racism as follows: There is a Pan-Africanist side to Krip-Hop theory, given that Krip-Hop Nation redefines language to recognize disabled people in the African diaspora by using terms like Afro-Krip. As we know, the African diaspora refers to the communities throughout the world that have resulted from descent from the movement in historic times of peoples from Africa, predominantly to the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, among other areas around the globe. 

11/30/24