In a well-known voice of the British Cypriot culture PAUL LAMBIS finds a musician who also doubles as an academic
Nearly three decades after their initial release, Haji Mike’s Vragaman and Stavroulla remain popular among Greek Cypriots in the diaspora. Their funny and catchy lyrics about arranged marriages and Cypriot life in London became an instant hit through word-of-mouth long before music relied on social media to go viral.
Through his music, Mike Hajimichael aka Haji Mike sought to enlighten foreigners about Cypriot culture and the British Cypriot experience. His songs were soon broadcast on radio stations all over the world, and Haji Mike returned to Cyprus, fast becoming a media personality, radio presenter, writer and television show host.
“Like Cat Stevens says, I never wanted to be a star,” Haji Mike said. “It wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to emphasise that we exist, not just as British Cypriots, but as Cypriots, through a musical sense.”
However, behind the portrait of a talented musician lurks an academic persona, as he is also Associate Professor and Head of The Department of Communications at the University of Nicosia.
“I earned a degree in Government Sociology and later a PhD in Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, which defined many aspects of my academic, cultural, and political perspectives,” he said.
He worked as a DJ at the university radio station on campus for the first five years of his degree. “I’ve always been a fan of radio. This was my first foray into music, which led me to study music journalism as well.”
But it was a visit to a West End theatre production that served as inspiration for the style of music that would eventually define Haji Mike’s career as a successful performance poet, recording artist, and writer. “The Doner and Kebab Show was a satirical play with some amazing singing that was vocally completely different from what I was doing at the time,” he said.
“Eve Polycarpou and Martha D. Lewis – with whom I later shared a few gigs back in the day – were singing about that British Cypriot experience, and so I got inspired by them and thought it would be good to use reggae influences as part of my music, which launched my career as Haji Mike in the early 1990s.”
According to Haji Mike, it was a challenge to complete his PhD as his music gained popularity, prompting him to embark on a world tour, visiting South Africa, Japan, Greece, Ireland, France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Cyprus.
“I became something of a specialist in writing reggae music, which I am still very passionate about.”
Lyrically, Haji Mike has appeared on the works of many artists, including dub, hip hop, acid funk, dance, and world music. His dub poetry has appeared on the creations of many underground artists, and he keeps busy with performances at various bars, cafés, and clubs around the island.
Haji Mike was born in Marathovouno, a village in the occupied area of Famagusta, and moved to London with his family in the 1960s.
“I’ve always felt compelled to put Cyprus on the musical map,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “The 1980s and 1990s were a turning point in Cyprus’ history, especially because many Greek Cypriots from the diaspora decided to return to their homeland, bringing their experiences abroad with them and ultimately reshaping the island’s cultural scene.”
He even attributes Ayia Napa’s dance music scene to Nick Power, a British Cypriot who owned a record shop in Harringay before moving to Cyprus and establishing the Kool Club in Ayia Napa.
Haji Mike himself had written a lot of poetry in English, and he wanted to put his verses to music as dub poetry. “My first encounter with dub poetry was with its ‘godfather’ Linton Kwesi Johnson. When I was a student, he came and performed with John Cooper Clarke, and their solo performances, without any music, was a major source of inspiration for my work.”
His new book, Bob Marley and Media: Representation and Audiences, which will be launched on March 23, examines how the media, radio, television and print represented Bob Marley, including his popularity after his death. “Last month, I was invited to give a lecture at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica for the 26th Annual Bob Marley Lecture and to present my new book, which was an incredible honour.
“In the book, I build an extensive catalogue of Bob Marley’s media engagements, connecting Marley to media through forms of political discourse and ideologies relevant to social change in various contexts around the world, such as civil rights, anti-racism, Rastafari, and liberation movements,” he explained.
He is also a co-founder of Blind Dog Media, a Nicosia-based recording studio, radio station, video production space and music label. “It’s a creative environment where all of the music and radio work is done live.
“I’ve always believed in the importance of expression and have never let anyone hold me back. It is important to dream big, and just do it.”
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Mail
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Mail
Source
