bigdrumnation

Reading Time 7 minsFebruary 24, 2019 “I went away, I leave, and I come back home, I come back to stay.”Andre Tanker, “Back Home’, 1974“You should never leave home if you wasn’t comin’ America to make yuhself better.” Dawad Philip, “Invocations” 1979 The epigraph that frames this review underscores the challenge that most immigrants face: How to navigate a space for self and the larger band of fellow migrants in the not-always-friendly new setting. Little wonder, then, that from very early on in his sojourn in America, Dawad Philip beganorganizing and making a difference (as featured in the NY Times… Read More »Making A Way in this World: A Review of Dawad Philip’s ‘A Mural by The Sea’ — Winthrop R. Holder

Reading Time 7 mins Happy Independence Day Grenada! Today, Grenada marks the 45th anniversary of political freedom and sovereignty from British colonialism which was won on February 7, 1974. Such milestones provide apt opportunities for reflection on the path traveled together as a people as well as on the future course. Arguably, the most important ingredient in nation building is leadership. Martin Luther King, Jr. has said that “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” How has Grenadian leadership measured up over these 45 years? A reflection on some qualities of leadership from a… Read More »Grenada at 45: Dr. Anthony Bridgeman Reflects on Grenada and Leadership.

Reading Time 5 minsJanuary 7, 2019 VOICES CARRY by Mervyn Taylor 102 pp. Shearsman Books. In this sixth collection of poems from Mervyn Taylor–a seasoned poet, whose brilliant, incisive, powerful first collection I had the pleasure of reviewing—the verse abounds with intensity, subtlety and a preoccupation with everyday matters, large and small.   Through humor and irony filtered into language that is both sublime and quotidian, the poet tackles a myriad of topics such as the disappearance of his favorite childhood spaces in Belmont, the rising violence in his native land of Trinidad, gentrification in Brooklyn, and the weight of… Read More »Giving Substance to Memory: A Review of Mervyn Taylor’s Voices Carry by Lennel George

Reading Time 7 mins By Yao Atunwa Though bearer of the name Butler, I could only imagine Uriah “Buzz” Butler (January 21, 1887 – February 20, 1977) uttering the sentiment, precisely: “We have been the butlers of our colonial masters’ house for too long, it’s about time we seek to own our place of homestead.” That place of homestead is obviously these islands on which our fore-parents were brought to toil from sunup to sundown with very little in return for their abundantly productive labor. And even when we were granted independence by Great Britain in 1974, there were still… Read More »In A World of Ironies: Taking Charge of Our Destiny – Yao Atunwa

Reading Time 2 minsAn ensemble comprised of some of New York’s best-known Caribbean American actors will come together Monday, December 10th at 7 pm to pay tribute to one of the region’s most iconic playwrights.  From Page to Stage – a Caribbean Journey will celebrate the work and the legacy of award-winning Trinidadian playwright Zeno Obi Constance. The event takes place at Theater Lab Studios in Manhattan. Merlina Rich, Artistic Director of Banana Boat Productions, is producing and directing the program. According to Ms. Rich, “Mr. Constance is the author of several scripts in the Banana Boat production repertoire, and his work has,… Read More »CARIBBEAN ACTORS UNITE FOR TRIBUTE TO TRINIDADIAN PLAYWRIGHT ZENO OBI CONSTANCE

Reading Time 3 minsI am of the deep conviction that we in Grenada, by virtue of our small population, have an opportunity (a comparative advantage, if you will) to engage in the liberation of our populace that will typically pose a bigger challenge to many other nation-states, but one that is very practical and necessary for the said effect. In the midst of our relative poverty as a nation, one whose population for generations has been taken advantage of and continues to be vulnerable to capitalist/imperialist power centers and their forces, we collectively can provide real security for each other… Read More »A Viable Plan for Grenada — Yao Atunwa

Reading Time 1 minsDr. Winston Bailey, Shadow, aka The Bassman, journeyed home to the ancestors October 30, 2018. Shadow left us on the cusp of receiving a well-deserved Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies (St Augustine campus). Born in humble beginnings in Belmont Trinidad, Shadow grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Les Coteaux, Tobago. An occasional carpenter by trade, Shadow lived in some of the poorest areas of Port of Spain. The Bassman’s intimate familiarity with marginalization is graphically depicted in “Poverty is Hell”, one of the finest of social commentaries. The Bassman, who began singing calypso at 8 years… Read More »Rest In Power, Shadow — Martin P. Felix

Reading Time 3 mins11/26/2018 When, with a moving and evocative rendition of Shadow’s “One Love”, Count Robin and a host of artists including Ajala and Dr. Witty, brought down the curtains around midnight, the audience didn’t leave. Robin’s ability to invoke Shadow’s spirit while capturing the master’s persona, not just the broad-brimmed hat and all-black attire but his distinctive moves, left attendees speechless and motionless as if possessed by Shadow’s “Jumbies”… wanting more calypso.  And, as if in a Shadowesque trance, Yvette Rennie, president of the J’ouvert International; Dr. Lawrence Waldron, facilitator of the Shadowlingo blog; Raymond Luke, Chair, Sesame Flyers Int’l.; Donna Cox, T&T NY Consulate; Roger Toussaint, leader of… Read More »Brooklyn Celebrates the Life and Works of Shadow and De Fosto – Winthrop R. Holder

Reading Time 5 minsBig Drum Nation is pleased to present the remarks of Roger Toussaint at a Tribute to Shadow, Dr. Winston Bailey, and The Original De Fosto Himself, Winston Scarborough, at  Brooklyn’s Tropical Paradise Ballroom, November 14, 2018, which was presented by Herman Hall, Shadow’s Agent/Manager (1978-2018).   An Appreciation of Dr. Winston (Shadow) Bailey By Roger Toussaint Greetings all! I flew in this afternoon to be here and am out tomorrow because it is truly an honor to be asked to help honor our beloved Dr. Winston Bailey, The Shadow. Many of you here today are probably more knowledgeable about his work and some… Read More »An Appreciation: Dr. Winston (Shadow) Bailey, Our Conscience – Roger Toussaint [November 18, 2018]

Reading Time 1 minsSwitched on, I function As any normal human should— Work/ rest Eat/shit Read/ recreate and love— Trying to use up every minute; Do some good In my heart My neighbourhood I don’t litter or act bitter Toward thoughtless neighbours Who burn plastic/styrofoam and rubber I try to backfill empty brains Scrub off blockage; feed clarity to marginalized ears; Addressing the emptiness inside leaking skulls And shrinking hearts With my fledgling little words Offering options like: ” Is it possible to recycle?” Switched on, I struggle to find The Reset Button so that we could start over —get… Read More »The Reset Button – Garvin Stewart [November 11, 2018]