bigdrumnation

Reading Time 3 minsBDN is pleased to present the remarks of Mervyn Taylor at the launch of Dawad Philip’s “A Mural by the Sea” at Brooklyn Public Library, Linden Branch, Tuesday, October 23, 2018.                                                 Book Launch—A Mural by the Sea by Dawad Philip I first met Dawad back in the 70’s, when a mutual friend, Cora Daniels introduced us. He bore a remarkable resemblance to Bob Marley then, as he might now, if Bob had lived. He was mostly a painter at that time, in an eclectic frame of mind, his mentor being a poet/stoic named Edward English, out of… Read More »Introducing Dawad Philip’s “A Mural by the Sea” by Mervyn Taylor [November 5, 2018]

Reading Time 10 minsBig Drum Nation’s co-editor, Martin Felix’s presentation to the 2nd Annual Symposium on the Grenada Revolution, John Jay College, Department of Anthropology, Friday, October 19, 2018. Big Drum Nation (BDN) focuses on writers, artists, books – the stories of our people. So we welcome this opportunity once again to be part of this annual symposium, the proceedings of which are being published here. We want to thank Professor Rougier (aka Bro Atiba) of the Department of Anthropology at John Jay College for his commitment and consistency in pulling off this series, which is now becoming etched on… Read More »Brand New Caribbean Revolution — Martin Felix [November 3, 2018]

Reading Time 3 minsAfter my visit to Grenada earlier this year, I decided to title the 2nd Annual Symposium on the Grenadian Revolution, 1979: Freedom Hill. This idea came together because of a poem Joseph Ewart Layne shared with me called 1979. Freedom Hill is the title of another one of his poems but also the name given to a chapter in his autobiography, We Move Tonight: The Making of the Grenada Revolution. (It is also the shortest chapter in the book.) This year’s symposium featured an honoured guest (Basil “Akii” Gahagan) and four panelists (Michael D. Roberts, Laurie Lambert,… Read More »35th Anniversary of 19th October, 1983 — A.L. Rougier

Reading Time 2 mins I grew up playing games on Pearls Airport. I have spent hours flying kites up and down its tarmac. I grew up going to the garden with my grandfather to take care of his cattle, cow dung accessorizing the airstrip, fertilizing the green grass from which they came. I grew up playing in the abandoned aircrafts that are visible signs of war, the remains of political powers and great nations. I grew up attending events on the abandoned airstrip and spending Easter Sundays on the beach with friends and family. I grew up with the mysteries… Read More »Pearls Airport – A.L. Rougier

Reading Time 4 minsWe Would Be Left to Dance, Sing and Run! By Yao Atunwa August 7, 2018 Several years ago I commented on the transformation of the Grenadian personality as a people seek to be more assertive and dynamic in their interpersonal relations, and I attributed much of the impetus to come from the artistry of local artistes, particularly since the launching of Wilt Cambridge aka Talpree’s artistry to regional and international success at the turn of the century. The chief lesson learned from Talpree’s success with his first hit single, “Ole Woman Alone“, is to value your own… Read More »We Would Be Left to Dance, Sing and Run! – Yao Atunwa

Reading Time 4 mins “If You Don’t Tell Your Story, Someone Else Will” (unknown). The first week of August is celebrated as Emancipation Day in much of the Caribbean, testament to our common history of bondage and continuing common quest for liberation. In Grenada, the holiday takes the form of cultural activities and a national address. Emancipation Day celebrations are situated in the midst of the carnival festivities in Grenada. Far from a mutual distraction, it is a fitting reminder that our expressive culture, calypso, carnival, and our big drum culture, are our liberated voice. Emancipation is the most important event… Read More »Emancipate Ourselves on Emancipation Day – Martin P. Felix

Reading Time 10 minsProceedings from the 1st Annual Symposium on the Grenadian Revolution of 1979 – 1983, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, October 19, 2017 Harlem (“What happens to a dream deferred?”) What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore—
And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over—
Like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load. Or does it explode? – Langston Hughes (1951) Incidentally this poem was penned in 1951, a year of massive labor upheavals in Grenada led… Read More »Reconciling with the Past; Visualizing the Future — Martin Felix

Reading Time 9 minsProceedings from the 1st Annual Symposium on the Grenadian Revolution of 1979 – 1983, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, October 19, 2017 I come to the Grenada Revolution through stories.  First the snippets of stories, family histories really, relayed to me mainly by women—my mother, aunties, and grandmother. In these stories, which were really conversations that I was allowed to listen in on, everyone agreed both that the revolution was a progressive period in Grenada’s history, and also that the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada was necessary, that it had saved the nation from some unexplained… Read More »“Generational Ties, Revolutionary Binds: Literature, Archive, and Questions of Gender” — Laurie Lambert