Revolution From de Beat

Lillian Allen's "Revolution From de Beat" examines the integral relationship between rhythm, language, dance, and revolution. Presented here as a dub poetry music video, "Revolution" hails a contemporary diasporic audience with its invocation of the talking drum rhythms of Africa, which were used to spread the message of revolt to slaves across the Atlantic.

Lillian Allen is recognized as a key originator and a leading exponent of dub poetry--a highly politicized form of poetry that is sometimes set to music and is considered a literary godmother of rap, hip-hop and spoken word poetry. Originally from Spanish Town, Jamaica, Allen has been an influential figure on the global cultural landscape for over four decades. She is credited with opening up the form of dub poetry to enlist and engage feminist content and sensibilities. Her albums Revolutionary Tea Party and Conditions Critical won Juno awards in1986 and 1988 respectively. Allen's multi-disciplinary and experimental creativity extends across many genres. In addition to being an award-winning and internationally renowned poet and writer of short stories and plays, Allen was the instigator, co-producer and host of WORDBEAT, CBC's national radio show on poetry and the spoken word; she is featured in the films Revolution from de Beat (1995); Unnatural Causes (1989); Rhythm and Hardtimes (1998); and co-produced/co-directed Blak ... Wi Blakk' (1994), a documentary film on Jamaican dub poet Mutabaruka which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. She is a professor of creative writing at Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU). www.lillianallen.ca