# Brother Resistance

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{{Short description|Trinidad and Tobago poet and musician (1954–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Brother Resistance
| image            = 
| image_size       = 
| landscape        = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt              = 
| caption          = 
| birth_name       = Roy Lewis
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| alias            = Lutalo Makossa Masimba<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2021/07/14/brother-resistance-dies/|title=Brother Resistance dies|first=Yvonne|last=Webb|newspaper=[Trinidad and Tobago Newsday](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago_Newsday)|date=14 July 2021|access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref>
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1954|10|24|df=y}}
| birth_place      = 
| origin           = [Trinidad and Tobago](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago)
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=yes|2021|7|13|1954|10|24}}
| death_place      = [Port of Spain](/source/Port_of_Spain)
| genre            = [Rapso](/source/Rapso), rhythm poetry
| occupation       = Musician, Rhythm Poet, Performer
| years_active     = 1970s–2021
| label            = 
| past_member_of  = Network Riddim Band
| website          = {{URL|www.brotherresistance.com}}
}}

'''Lutalo Masimba''' (24 October 1954 – 13 July 2021),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/features/local/the-final-farewell/article_4b59b6be-69c0-11ec-9455-d31a6fc47bd0.html|title= The final farewell|work=Daily Express|first=Michael|last=Mondezie|date=2021-12-30|access-date=2022-01-11}}</ref> born '''Roy Lewis'''<ref name="Harris">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3226/biography|title=Biography: Brother Resistance & the Network Riddum Band|last=Harris|first=Craig|publisher=[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)|access-date=22 April 2012}}</ref> and known professionally as '''Brother Resistance''', was a rhythm poet and musician from [Trinidad and Tobago](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago). He died on 13 July 2021, after being diagnosed with cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brother Resistance's family clears the air on false rumours|url=https://izzso.com/brother-resistances-family-clears-the-air-on-false-rumours/|access-date=19 July 2021|website=www.izzso.com|date=19 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Background and career==
Born in 1954 as Roy Lewis in [East Dry River](/source/East_Dry_River), [Laventille](/source/Laventille), Trinidad and Tobago, he began writing poetry in primary school, and went on to study at [Queen's Royal College](/source/Queen's_Royal_College). He was influenced by Trinidad's 1970 [Black Power movement](/source/Black_Power_movement) to become conscious of his African identity,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/features/local/brother-resistance-s-black-power-awakening/article_c8b6cce0-55dc-11ea-be26-eba861e72bd6.html|title=Brother Resistance's Black Power awakening|first=Michael|last=Mondezie|newspaper=Sunday Express|publisher=Trinidad Express Newspapers|date=22 February 2020|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> and he would eventually change his name to Lutalo Masimba in 1982, in order to better reflect his heritage.<ref name=TheCaribbeanCamera>{{cite web|url=https://thecaribbeancamera.com/tt-cultural-and-rapso-artist-brother-resistance-has-died/|title=T&T cultural and Rapso artist Brother Resistance, has died|website=The Caribbean Camera|date=23 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="A humble man who conquered the world">{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2021/07/27/final-rites-for-bro-resistance-a-humble-man-who-conquered-the-world/|title=Final rites for Bro Resistance – 'A humble man who conquered the world'|first=Melissa|last=Doughty|newspaper=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|date= 27 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> He assumed the soubriquet "Brother Resistance" when he began performing and chanting his poetry at school.<ref name="A humble man who conquered the world" /> He went on to further studies at the [University of the West Indies, St. Augustine](/source/University_of_the_West_Indies%2C_St._Augustine), graduating with a B.Sc. degree in Social Sciences with History in 1980.<ref name=UWI>{{cite web|url=https://sta.uwi.edu/news/releases/release.asp?id=22281|title=UWI bids farewell to Distinguished Alum and Rapso King Brother Resistance|work=Campus News|publisher=University of the West Indies|date=14 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

Brother Resistance became, together with [Brother Shortman](/source/Brother_Shortman), the lead singer of the Network Riddim Band, a Trinidadian ensemble, in 1979.<ref name="Thompson">Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, pp. 42–43.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brother Resistance dies|url=http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/brother-resistance-dies-6.2.1355810.dc8dd53cf1|first=Rhondor|last=Dowlat-Rostant|date=14 July 2021|access-date=14 July 2021|website=www.guardian.co.tt|language=en}}</ref> They developed a hybrid of [soca](/source/soca_music) and [rap](/source/Rap_music) that they called "[rapso](/source/rapso)", a genre for which they credited [Lancelot Layne](/source/Lancelot_Layne) as originator.<ref name="Thompson" /><ref name="Oumano">Oumano, Elena (1999), [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fw0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22brother+resistance%22&pg=PA18 "Resistance Exports Rapso to US, Europe"], ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'', 9 January 1999, p. 18. Retrieved 29 September 2013.</ref>

The band was considered subversive by the authorities, and their rehearsal space and offices were destroyed by the police in June 1983.<ref name="Thompson" /> 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.<ref name="Thompson" /> 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 Students](/source/World_Festival_of_Youth_and_Students) in [Korea](/source/Korea).<ref name="Thompson" /> His best known song was 1987's "Ring de bell", in which he advocates symbolically ringing the bell for justice and freedom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalvoices.org/2021/07/14/ring-de-bell-brother-resistance-who-mainstreamed-trinidad-tobagos-rapso-music-has-died/|title='Ring de bell': Brother Resistance, who mainstreamed Trinidad & Tobago's rapso music, has died|first=Janine|last=Mendes-Franco|website=Global Voices|date=14 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10403773-Brother-Resistance-Ring-The-Bell|title=Brother Resistance – Ring The Bell|website=[Discogs](/source/Discogs)|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/features/local/birdsong-rings-de-bell-for-brother-resistance/article_dee6a2b8-e764-11eb-b144-d38c6b27913a.html|title=Birdsong rings de bell for Brother Resistance!|website=Sunday Express|publisher=Trin idad Express Newspapers|date=17 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

In 1992, Brother Resistance was honoured with a national award, the [Hummingbird Medal](/source/Hummingbird_Medal).<ref name="A humble man who conquered the world" />

He appeared at New York's New Music Festival in 1992 and in 1993 at the International Dub Poetry Festival in [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto), Canada.<ref name="Thompson" />

In 2002 he was nominated for a Cacique Award for his performance as Aldrick in [Earl Lovelace](/source/Earl_Lovelace)'s dramatization of ''[The Dragon Can't Dance](/source/The_Dragon_Can't_Dance)''.<ref name="A humble man who conquered the world" />

In 2017, Brother Resistance was inducted into the Queen's Royal College Hall of Honour for his contributions to art and culture in Trinidad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tt.loopnews.com/content/brother-resistance-inducted-qrc-hall-honour|title=Brother Resistance inducted into QRC Hall of Honour|website=The Loop|date=10 September 2017|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=UWI />

He was president of the [Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation](/source/Trinbago_Unified_Calypsonians_Organisation) (TUCO).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2021/07/16/uwi-cott-birdsong-pay-tribute-to-bro-resistance/|title=UWI, COTT, Birdsong pay tribute to Bro Resistance|first=Melissa|last=Doughty|date=16 July 2021|newspaper=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://roytec.edu/updates/latest-news/205-remembering-lutalo-masimba-bro-resistance|title=UWI-ROYTEC remembers the life and work of Lutalo Masimba, 'Bro Resistance'|website=ROYTEC|publisher=UWI School of Business and Applied Studies Limited (UWI-ROYTEC)|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

He died aged 66 on 13 July 2021, at the West Shore Medical Private Hospital, [Western Main Road](/source/Western_Main_Road), Cocorite, Trinidad and Tobago.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brother Resistance has died|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/brother-resistance-has-died/article_4c72632c-e467-11eb-a23a-5f76d1e58238.html|access-date=14 July 2021|newspaper=Saturday Express|publisher=Trinidad Express Newspapers|first=Wayne|last=Bowman|date=14 July 2021|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2021/07/15/tributes-flow-in-for-brother-resistance/|title=Tributes flow in for Brother Resistance
|first=Melissa|last=Doughty|newspaper=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|date=15 July 2021|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

==Solo discography==
===Albums===
*''Touch De Earth with Rapso'' (1991)
*''Heart of the Rapso Nation'' (1992)
*''De Power of Resistance'' (1996), Rituals
*''Let Us Rejoice'' (2001)
*''When De Riddum Explode'' (2001)

===Singles===
*"Tonite Is De Nite" (1987), Riddum Distribution Network
*"Jah Never Fail Me" (2001), Blue Flame

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.brotherresistance.com}}
*[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3226/biography|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry]
* {{Discogs artist|Brother Resistance}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1566116}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brother Resistance}}
Category:1954 births
Category:2021 deaths
Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers
Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers
Category:Alumni of Queen's Royal College, Trinidad
Category:Musicians from Port of Spain
Category:Rapso
Category:Recipients of the Hummingbird Medal
Category:Trinidad and Tobago poets
Category:University of the West Indies alumni

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Brother Resistance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Resistance) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Resistance?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.