Yasus Afari is a dub poet, reggae artiste and author, born John Sinclair in Ross Hall, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on September 4,1962.
In April 2007 he launched his best selling book ”Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica’s Gift to the World” at the University Of The West Indies In Kingston, Jamaica.
On October 5, 2013 he launched his latest album “Public Secret” at the Red Bones Cafe in Kingston.The album was produced by Senya-Cum and Mandeville Music Group and was recorded, mixed and mastered in Jamaica by Yasus Afari and Dub Vijan Band at the Shelta Recording Studio in the town of Mandeville.
Yasus believes strongly in the idea of educating people while he entertains them. It is through this concept that he often describes his work as “Edutainment”. He is among the few pioneers of Dub Poetry who has taken this art-form into mainstream entertainment.
“My music is the very epitome of ‘edutainment and my style of chanting poetry is very unique, musical, dance-able and rhythmic and can be played anywhere, even in the dance-hall and clubs. While I’m known as a Dub Poet my style, especially on Public Secret, has evolved to be so musical that some people say they think I’m singing, deejaying and chanting all at once. So some people now start to refer to it as Dub Jaying which is a new word as we continue to defy the definitions of Dub Poetry.”
Albums (include year and production company)
- Dancehall Baptism (1993) RAS
- Mental Assassin (1995)
- Honour Crown Him (1997) Sen Ya Cum
- Gift of Vijjahn (2000) House of Honour
- Revolution Chapter 1 (2007)
- Kiss Mi Neck (2009)
- Ancient Future (2012) Senya-Cum Records
- Public Secret (2013) Senya-Cum Records
Books
- Eye Pen (poetry)
- Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica’s Gift to the World (2007)