bigdrumnation

Reading Time 4 minsThe Mighty Swallow, Sir Rupert Philo, has certainly made his musical mark on me as I followed his music starting in my teenage years of the 1970s.  Thanks to radiostations like Radio Guardian in Trinidad, CBC Radio in Barbados and Radio Antilies in Montserrat, youths like myself, in rural Carriacou, Grenada, who had no access to purchasing records, got the opportunity to listen, learn, sing and dance to this Antiguan calypsonian’s music. The 1970s was truly a time of an awakening of Caribbean awareness through the music and the AM radio stations. Swallow was among the many,… Read More »Memories of the Mighty Swallow–James N. Cox

Reading Time 3 minsMarch 1, 2021 Although February 2nd is recognized as World Wetland Day, the increasing importance of this issue globally may well support arguments to extend this recognition to the entire month. The Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in the Iranian city for which it is named, on February 2, 1971. Over the past five decades, the majority of Caribbean countries eventually became signatories to the Ramsar Convention, with many having designated Ramsar Sites. These include marshes, swamps, and bogs. There are several such sites with specific concerns to… Read More »World Wetlands Day 2021 — Martin P. Felix

Reading Time 10 minsMay 25, 2020 “Mussolini you too brass face and bold/ Ah mean to claim our land that’s filled with gold…. We are going to fight until we get you in the grave.” “Advantage Mussolini”, – Roaring Lion, (1936) “The national flag is a lovely scene/ With beautiful colors red, gold and green/And a black star in the center/ Representing the freedom of Africa.” – “The Birth of Ghana,” Lord Kitchner (1957) “The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous. But to neglect the racial… Read More »Kelvin ‘Mighty Duke’ Pope: Calypso In The Service Of African Liberation–Winthrop R. Holder

Reading Time 1 minsFebruary 28, 2021 ODE TO THE MANGROVE BY ALDWIN ALBINO It borders the land and borders the sea, Living organisms among it feel free. The Magnificent mangrove or “Mang” as we call it, Forever enhancing all that surrounds it. When a dark cloud releases its content quite heavily, Moistening the earth and filling the mang’s pools thoroughly, Tadpoles, Cascadura, Guabins, and other small fish, are happy, that they live in a place that abounds with plenty. Many more creatures seek out this place, All seem to go there willingly, and always in haste. Why do they treasure… Read More »ODE TO THE MANGROVE — ALDWIN ALBINO [Reprint]

Reading Time 4 minsTuesday, February 23, 2021 Open Letter To The Biden/Harris Administration Reset the US’s Latin American/Caribbean Policy Now! The Vice President And President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 February 23, 2021 Dear Mr. President Biden and Madam Vice President, As a group concerned about preserving sovereignty and ensuring that Latin America and the Caribbean remain a Zone of Peace, we write calling on you to revoke all of your predecessor’s damaging policies toward the region. We commend you and your Administration on the first slew of executive orders such as the partial moratorium on deportations,… Read More »Reset US’s Latin American/Caribbean Policy Now!

Reading Time 3 minsTuesday February 23, 2021 So much of this letter, (“Reset USA’s Latin America/Caribbean Policy Now!”), speaks truth to power and needs to be included in the new role for the US to follow in our evolving world. Many of the structures in place that Trump decimated were already antiquated, having been built when the US was the singular dominant nation in the world: manufacturing and industrial supplier of the world, military giant with a near monopoly of nuclear power, stable and functioning democratic government, creative institutions of medicine, education and culture, etc. The US is no longer the… Read More »America: Adjusting A Faulty Foreign Policy? — Ken Murray

Reading Time 1 minsTuesday February 23, 2021 “You will not be able to stay home, brother You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out You will not be able to lose yourself on skag And skip out for beer during commercials, because The revolution will not be televised.” “ The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” –Gil Scott-Heron The Biden Reset will not be televised There will be no NEW role for the US in our evolving world Our post World War II dominance was not built on exceptionalism but because we profited from war and… Read More »The Reset Is A Lie! — Gerard Thomas

Reading Time 1 minsHappy Carnival Tuesday (Aruba/Carriacou/Dominica/Haiti/T&T… Style)!!! The videos are stunning especially in this time of Covid-19. One highlights masqueraders welcoming Jouvert in Miami. Another captures a parade of moko-jumbie-mobilized poui trees moving like ants through the streets of, what looks like, Woodbrock, T&T. And, there are others of revellers immersing self in the Carnival Trinity of Pan, Kaiso, and Mas, in villages and cities where Caribbean massives reside. Expressing amazement at revelers’ ingenuity and audacity in celebrating in the face of Carnival’s absence, the sender thundered, perhaps more as question than assertion: ”Trinis can’t do without mas!” Only the “Eh”… Read More »BDN Introduction — Covid-No-Carnival Tabanca Issue*

Reading Time 7 minsMy J’ouvert Vibes/STEVE CLARKE Upon realizing that I would be unable to travel to T&T for the expressed purposes of ‘Carnivalia’ 2021 due to the COVID-19 lock-down, I chose to reflect on the salve of a memorable carnival encounter of years gone by, in an effort to soothe the pain of my gut-wrenching cultural tabanca. Have you ever heard a tune and you took to it from its first note of music? And, as its lyrics progressed, they seemed to be telling your story, word-for-word? Well folks, that 2012 Farmer Nappy [FN] groovy soca masterpiece “Chippin”, succinctly captured one of my… Read More »A Carnival Occurrence (Part II of IV)-Steve Clarke

Reading Time 4 minsFebruary 16, 2021 In the thought-provoking chapbook, “Corona Poems,” Mervyn Taylor ponders the emotional conditions of Covid-19 in Trinidad; New York; Louisiana; Arizona; Cape Town, South Africa; and even Napoli, Italy, where impromptu celebrations of health care workers took flight.  The collection addresses the adversities faced by all during the ever-changing effects of Covid-19. Even though the collection’s tone is somewhat melancholic, the poet, in the end, opts for hope and resilience amid overwhelming grief and sadness. Within the last twelve months, we dealt with; a war scare, a global pandemic, a stock market crash, racial injustice, and an attack on the… Read More »A Meditation During These Unprecedented Times-Malik Brizan-Reed