Oku Onuora

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Oku Onuora (formerly Orlando Wong) is a Jamaican dub poet and performer.

Onuora the "father of Jamaican dub poetry' came to public attention in the mid-1970s, as the then known Orlando Wong. While incarcerated for robbery, his poetry, with its sharp description of lower-class urban life, echoing the voice of the people, came to the attention of Jamaican writers especially UWI Professor Mervyn Morris, who arranged for the publication of his first collection, ECHO published by Sangsters. Well-known literary and cultural personalities, and students at the University of the West Indies],through the Human Rights Council & the Prisoners Rehabilitation Committee, campaigned for his release which was achieved on September 1, 1977, when he received the equivalent of a presidential pardon, from then Attorney General Karl Rattray. Onuora married Adugo in 1978 in preparation for which he had a name change, the name chosen by his bride-to-be (who did not want to be identified as Mrs. Wong) with the help of an Afrikan Professor Umona. Their names were chosen from the Igbo language. "Reflections in Red" was his first vinyl recording released in 1979 on Bob Marley's "56 Hope Rd." label. ECHO, his first poetry collection has had several reprints with some five editions, some translated into French/patois and one edition in German. Onuora followed with his captivating first lp Pressure Drop released in France on the Blue Moon Music label and in the USA on Heartbeat Records. He toured the Usa and France with his AK7 band performing at the prestigious Angoulême Jazz Festival in France.

Ref: [www.oomgallery.net - photo of Oku Onuora in London 1980s / OOM Gallery Archive Pogus Caesar - Exhibition Muzik Kinda Sweet

In the Igbo language from the southeastern region of Nigeria. Oku means Fire / Light which burns oppression, while Onuora means voice of the people. So in completion, Oku Nagba Ozala Onuora is his complete name which translates to everlasting fire or light which burns oppression.