Date of birth: 24.08.52 Place of birth: Chapleton Jamaica 
Marital status & family: Not known 
Best known as: The father of dub poetry and 'toasting', and poem Ingland (England) Is a Bitch!
Honours & accolades: None as yet

Linton Kwesi Johnson was born in Chapleton a district of Kingston Jamaica. He says he was 'told' to come over by his parents who emigrated and settled in Brixton, South London in 1963.
Political involvement with London's young Black Panther movement -- an offshoot of the American movement -- led he says to his political and cultural awakening.
"I was a Young Panther. That's where I learned my politics, my history and my culture. I also discovered Black literature, particularly the work of DuBois, the African-American scholar. His Soul Of Black Folk inspired me to write poetry."
But Kwesi Johnson didn't stop there, his political, cultural and social awakening led to a degree in sociology at the University of London's Goldsmiths College in 1973. 
He also expressed himself in print in a unique style later to be recognised and accepted as dub poetry. Books Voices Of The Living And The Dead (1974) and Dread Beat And Blood (1975) soon followed.
Kwesi Johnson became a recognised Black voice throughout the 70s and 80s, writing for both New Music Express (NME) and Melody Maker. He also made regular television and radio appearances as an authority on the emerging reggae music.
Also employed by the now defunct Greater London Council (GLC), it is widely thought that but for Johnson political and social activism he could've been bigger name on the popular music circuit.
Additional work includes albums for both Virgin and Island Records including Dread Beat An' Blood, Forces Of Victory, Tings An' Times and More Time.
Kwesi Johnson lives in south London but says: " My mother retired and went to live back in Jamaica and I do intend to retire in Jamaica."