Lutalo Masimba (24 October 1954 – 13 July 2021),[2] born Roy Lewis[3] and known professionally as Brother Resistance, was a rhythm poet and musician from Trinidad and Tobago. He died on 13 July 2021, after being diagnosed with cancer.[4]
Born in 1954 as Roy Lewis in East Dry River, Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago, he began writing poetry in primary school, and went on to study at Queen's Royal College. He was influenced by Trinidad's 1970 Black Power movement to become conscious of his African identity,[5] and he would eventually change his name to Lutalo Masimba in 1982, in order to better reflect his heritage.[6][7] He assumed the soubriquet "Brother Resistance" when he began performing and chanting his poetry at school.[7] He went on to further studies at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in Social Sciences with History in 1980.[8]
Brother Resistance became, together with Brother Shortman, the lead singer of the Network Riddim Band, a Trinidadian ensemble, in 1979.[9][10] They developed a hybrid of soca and rap that they called "rapso", a genre for which they credited Lancelot Layne as originator.[9][11]
The band was considered subversive by the authorities, and their rehearsal space and offices were destroyed by the police in June 1983.[9] The group released their first album, Roots of de Rapso Rhythm, in 1984, which was followed by Rapso Explosion and Rapso Takeover in 1985 and 1986 respectively.[9] International performances brought recognition from overseas, changing the attitude of the T&T government, who selected Brother Resistance as their cultural delegate to the World Festival of Youth and StudentsinKorea.[9] His best known song was 1987's "Ring de bell", in which he advocates symbolically ringing the bell for justice and freedom.[12][13][14]
In 1992, Brother Resistance was honoured with a national award, the Hummingbird Medal.[7]
He appeared at New York's New Music Festival in 1992 and in 1993 at the International Dub Poetry Festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[9]
