The Butterfly Hotel is a collection of poetry by Trinidadian-British writer and activist Roger Robinson. The collection contains three sections, each about a different aspect of Robinson's life.
Raised in Trinidad, Robinson spent most of his adult life in London, and he now divides his time between the two places. His poetry reflects his observations of street life in the Brixton neighborhood of London, with particular emphasis on the Caribbean immigrant experience. He has taught many poetry workshops and has also toured extensively with the British Council. Decibel named him one of 50 writers who has influenced the black-British writing canon over the past 50 years. His works have been commissioned by various galleries and theaters.
Robinson is among the most respected and renowned "dub poets." Dub poetry is a type of West Indian performance poetry that integrates spoken word with reggae rhythms and is often used to promote social consciousness and change. The Butterfly Hotel, in particular, was written in the aftermath of the 2011 riots and mass protests in Brixton against police brutality targeting the black British community. As Robinson indicates on his website, he writes "songs about common people and their plight."
In addition to writing and performing poetry, Robinson is the lead vocalist and one of the founding members of the reggae group King Midas Sounds. In 2015, he released an album on the dub/reggae label Jahtari.
