Malachi Smith
Malachi is a fellow of the University of Miami’s Mitchner Caribbean Writer’s Institute where he studied poetry under Lorna Goodison and playwriting under Fred D’Aguiar. An alumnus of Florida International University, Miami-Dade College and Jamaica School of Drama, Malachi was one of the founding members of Poets In Unity, a critically acclaimed ensemble that brought dub-poetry to the forefront of reggae music in the late 70s and carried it forward for a decade. Malachi has also performed as an actor and poet, and is an accomplished writer, publishing and performing his own plays and poetry. He has also become known for his performances in other theatrical productions and on radio, television, and live theatre.
Malachi won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission most outstanding writer in the poetry category for 2009. He headlined the International Dub-Poetry Festival in Toronto and he performed at the Love-In Festival in Miami with Richie Heavens and other greats in Miami. He also made three appearances in New York, and he toured St. Kitts and Nevis in the summer of 2000 to rave reviews. 2012 Malachi tour Colombia for a week representing Jamaica at the International Poetry Festival of Medellin. Malachi represent Jamaica at the International Poetry Festival of Granada, Nicaragua, from February 16 to 23, 2014.
The Last Dance for Me
…lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There is nobody there, it’s just you and me
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I’ll never forget the way you look tonight
Chris De Burgh
Lady in green
you are red tonight
a thousand sparkling lights
you flip me like a coin
both sides firmly in your embrace
i follow your every move
the curvature of your grooves
discovers jazz dripping into salsa
I must have sugar tonight
i must not hide any longer
i move center stage
you feel me
smiled pressed closer
happy fees joins the chatter
a hear flutters a kind hand reaches out
holds it in balance
The enemy is beaten
he heads for the door
another Tonya I screamed
she pressed harder for more
she got it for sure.
Malachi’s latest CD collection “SCREAM” was released in 2014.
Malachi has a MSCJ from Florida International University (FIU).
2014 JCDC Gold Medal Creative Writing: Jamaica’s Best Adult Poet
2013 JCDC Gold Medal Creative Writing
2012 JCDC Silver Medal Creative Writing
2011 JCDC Gold Medal Creative Writing
2009 JCDC most outstanding writer.
2006 winner dub poet of the year, Joe Higgs Music Awards.
2006 nominee dub poet of the year Reggaesoca Awards.
2006 nominee poet of the year Martin’s International Music Awards
2006 won four awards Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Annual Literary Awards for poetry and playwriting.
2007 world premier of documentary film: DUB POETRY: the life & work of malachi smith
For more on Malachi:
www.malachismith.com
www.reggaeconcepts.com dub poetry
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/malachi2
- Served the JCF from 1974 to 1978. Left at Rank of Det. Corporal. Served:
St. James Division (General Office, Special Squad & Lilliput)
St. Andrew Central (Half-Way-Tree & Papine)
CIB HQ (Criminal Intelligence)
St. Catherine (Spanish Town CIB & Sub-officer i/c Crime Guys Hill)
Kingston Western Division (Denham Town CIB)
CIB HQ (Flying Squad & Homicide).
Presently: Sergeant with Miami-Dade Police Department, Northside Station.
President of JEPA: 2003-2005 & 2010-2012
PR Director. Board Member