When two powerful voices of Jamaican resistance meet — sparks fly. That’s exactly what happened when Mutabaruka, the fiery dub poet and radio host, sat down with Marlene Brown, the common-law wife of reggae legend Peter Tosh. What came out of the conversation was raw, emotional, and revealing — a full eye on Peter Tosh’s death like we’ve never heard before.
A Love Story Interrupted by Violence
Marlene Brown didn’t just share a house with Peter Tosh — she shared his dreams, his struggles, and his deepest fears. When Mutabaruka asked her about that fateful night of September 11, 1987, her voice carried the weight of decades of pain. She described how their quiet evening turned into chaos as armed men stormed their home.
> “They tied me up. They beat him. He kept telling them he didn’t have anything,” she recalled.
Tosh, ever the revolutionary, was defiant to the end. He refused to be silenced — and that resistance may have cost him his life.
Mutabaruka: Digging Past the Headlines
Mutabaruka didn’t hold back. He asked the questions others were afraid to:
Why wasn’t Peter’s murder fully investigated?
Why did the Jamaican government seem so silent?
Was this really just a robbery gone wrong — or was it something deeper?
Marlene didn't flinch. She voiced her belief that Peter was targeted — not because he was rich, but because he was dangerous to the system. Dangerous because he spoke truth without apology. Dangerous because he stood tall when others bowed.
> “Peter used his music to challenge the oppressors. He wasn’t afraid of Babylon. That made him a threat,” she said.
The Aftermath: Silence, Betrayal, and Questions That Still Linger
After Peter’s death, Marlene described feeling abandoned — by the industry, the government, and even some fellow musicians. She struggled to get justice, or even clarity. The man arrested and convicted, Dennis “Leppo” Lobban, had his own complex ties to Tosh, having been helped by Peter after a previous prison stint.
> “He opened his home to this man,” Marlene said. “And that’s the same man who came back and destroyed his life.”
Yet doubts about Leppo’s guilt have always floated in reggae circles. Some believe he was a pawn — a fall guy in a much deeper plot.
Mutabaruka’s Role: Keeping the Fire Burning
Throughout the interview, Mutabaruka pushed not just for truth, but for remembrance. He reminded listeners that Peter Tosh was more than just a Wailer — he was a warrior. A man who demanded equal rights and justice, even if it cost him everything.
> “Peter never compromise,” Muta said. “Him say what him believe, even if it mash up the dance.”
Why This Interview Matters
In a world where true revolutionaries are often forgotten, Mutabaruka and Marlene Brown gave Peter Tosh back his voice — at least for a moment. They stripped away the myths and brought us face-to-face with the reality of a man who lived and died for the truth.
It’s been decades since Peter Tosh was gunned down, but the wounds are still fresh — and the questions remain unanswered.
This interview is more than history. It’s a call to remember. A call to question. And most of all, a call to keep Peter’s legacy alive — not just in music, but in action.
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Have you heard this powerful interview yet? What do you believe happened to Peter Tosh?
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