The Rastafari and the Maroon communities as well as the creative fraternity, on Thursday, bid farewell to another departed stalwart, Adugo Ranglin-Onuora, at The Chapel of University of the West Indies, Mona.

The 55-year-old CEO of Conscious Queens Media Productions International, made her transition on Tuesday, July 5.

Adugo has left an indelible mark on the local artistic landscape. But as one who found beauty in simplicity, she mostly did her work quietly behind the scene away from the glare of the spotlight.

Her choreography and graceful movements have enhanced the stage presentations of artistes like Bunny Brissett, Judy Mowatt, Bunny Wailer, Ras Michael & the Sons & Daughters of Negus.

The professional reggae marketing consultant, lecturer, freelance journalist and motivational speaker, was also former ‘umanajah’ (manager) for husband/dub poet pioneer Oku Onuora.

The Observer caught up with the dub poet for some reflections on his late wife. “I met Adugo 1976 while I was at the Fort Augustus Prison. She had come there with a theatre group. The Playhouse theatre group with Shelia Carter and Reggie Carter — renowned theatre people. And after I left prison we kept the link, we got married in 1978.

She was very instrumental in the early stage of establishing dub poetry in Jamaica along with me,” Oku Onuora shared with the Observer.

As he continues his recollection of Adugo, Onuora reminisced. “My debut single Reflection in Red was produced by PAM (Prugesiv Aatis Muvmant) and both of us were directors of the company. We formed the company Prugesiv Aatis Muvmant. And she was a great inspirational strength in that innitial stage in really putting her stamp on dub poetry and its establishment.”

He coninued, “she has been involved with the music industry from dem time deh. Long before people were talking about going to Midem, before going to Midem was popular, Adugo was going to Midem. And most of the times when she went to Midem, she went on a wing and prayer. That mean she had nothing…But she would go to Midem and attend all the sessions long before anybody was talking about having a Jamaican night at Midem, Adugo was talking about that.”

Oku said that Adugo will be remembered for her pride and promotion of her Africaness and Maroon heritage. “I would consider her greatest legacy as someone who promoted her Afrocentricity… on her Maroon culture she was ever advocating and researching. She took pride in her Maroon heritage and the Jamaican language long before many other people, Adugo was a person who championed the Jamaican language. Even how she spelt Prugesiv Aatis Muvmant and this was way back in 1978. In fact, even when we were registering the company, the people dem at the registration office a laugh. She was steeped in her Jamaican language… down to the wire.” the dub poet