Big Drum Nation’s Grenada Bibliography (1787 – 2015)

Reading Time 57 mins  Grenada Books local or overseas, by author, title, and year of publication Adkin, Mark. Urgent Fury: The Battle for Grenada: The Truth Behind the Largest U.S. Military Operation Since Vietnam © 1989 Anstis, Shirley. They Call Me … A look at nicknames on the Caribbean island of Grenada Artesian water supply of Carrriacou – Report by E. Lehner with notes on the general geology of the island, Government Printing Office (1933) Badejo, Fabian Adekunle. Revolution As Poetic Inspiration: Grenada in ‘Maroon Lives’  Bain, Francis. A child of the carnival © 1978 Bain, Francis. Beyond the Ballot Box © 1980 Beck, Robert J. The Grenada Invasion:… Read More »Big Drum Nation’s Grenada Bibliography (1787 – 2015)

CONNIE WILLIAMS: Restaurateur, Social Worker, Storyteller, and Author

Reading Time 1 minsCaldwell Taylor March 9, 2015 Trinidadian Connie Williams opened the “Calypso Restaurant” on Mc Dougal Street [in New York City] in 1943. She served up a West Indian cuisine, West Indian laughter and hot calypso: Connie`s place sizzled, and it sat a host of stars. CLR James [1901-1989] and many other intellectual luminaries came to Connie’s to nyam, to jam to West Indian music and of course to talk radical politics. In those days James was the most learned of the Trotskyites: The so-called “Trots” were followers of Leon Trotsky [1879-1941], Russian revolutionary and Marxist theoretician who… Read More »CONNIE WILLIAMS: Restaurateur, Social Worker, Storyteller, and Author

BRING MORE POWER TO THE SISTAHS!

Reading Time 1 minsMarch 8, 2015 Today is International Women’s Day (IWD). Speaking at the February 27 and 28 conference under the title “Women in Power and decision-making: Building a Different World,” Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, told IPS: “Women tend, when they’re in parliament, for example, to promote women’s rights legislation. When women are in sufficient numbers in parliaments they also promote children’s rights and they tend to speak up more for the interests of communities, local communities, because of their close involvement in community life”. The February 27-28 conclave (held in the Chilean capital, Santiago) began with… Read More »BRING MORE POWER TO THE SISTAHS!

Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson, a Great Grenadian

Reading Time 1 mins  March 7, 2015 It wouldn’t have been the roaring twenties in the United States without a Gouyaveman. Born March 7, 1900, Grenadian Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson was one of the biggest cabaret stars in the world during the 1920 – 30s. Better known as “Hutch”, he was one of the voices that made the 1920s become known as the ‘roaring 20s’. Hutchinson took piano lessons as a child in Grenada before moving to New York City as a teenager. He later abandoned his interest in studying medicine and began playing the piano and singing in bars. Hutch joined… Read More »Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson, a Great Grenadian

HAVE YOU “MET” THESE WOMEN? (please add to the list)

Reading Time 1 mins  International Women’s Day [IWD] gives an opportunity to confront Misogyny – a woman- devouring monster. Misogyny stands for the banishment of women from the pages of history; and also from the social life of the community. “Women belong in the kitchen”, says one sage. Another says, “Women need to be behind their veils; for that is their God-appointed station”. And who is that women –hating God? Meet these women: (not an exhaustive list, please add)       May Fortune Doris Alexander Gert Protain Pansy Rowley Jacqueline Creft Eva Sylvester Una Marson Elma Francois Phyllis Shand Allfrey Jean Rhys… Read More »HAVE YOU “MET” THESE WOMEN? (please add to the list)

March 6, 1957:  Lord Kitchener and the Making of an African Nation

Reading Time 1 minsCaldwell Taylor March 2015 A Nation is the site/sight of struggle, a thing calypsonian Black Wizard notes: “If you want to get rid of Babylon and build a just Nation You’ve got to struggle on and on”. Preceding the Black Wizard by more than twenty years Lord Kitchener [1922-2000] heralded the Birth of Ghana. Kitch sang: The day will never be forgotten The sixth of March 1957 When the Gold Coast successfully Get the Independence officially And speaking at one of several Independence Dinners Prime Minister Nkrumah  said: “Even today in the West Indies. it is possible to hear words and… Read More »March 6, 1957:  Lord Kitchener and the Making of an African Nation

M.Z. Mark, a Grenadian icon – Anthony Wendell DeRiggs

Reading Time 6 minsFebruary 2015 Michael Zephyrine Mark, popularly known as M.Z. (the Z is pronounced zed) Mark was born in Mamma Cannes, Saint Andrew’s, Grenada on December 9th 1905. This Brilliant Grenadian was a philosopher, educator, motivational speaker dedicated husband, public lecturer and more. He had such a positive influence on people in Grenada and elsewhere that is our duty to remember him and lift his name high so the world would know about his accomplishments. Once I asked a well- known Grenadian politician if he was familiar with the name M.Z. Mark. He looked puzzled and then told… Read More »M.Z. Mark, a Grenadian icon – Anthony Wendell DeRiggs

Etching our Consciousness With Music: DJ Gus Pays Independence Tribute to our Artists and Musicians

Reading Time 1 mins  February 2015 As a testimony to the patriotic pride of Grenada’s songwriters, entertainers and performers, Grenada is certainly a leader among the Caribbean Islands when it comes to anthemic odes. Lord Cassimere Pitt’s “Grenada May God Bless You” is most certainly an inspirational piece that has kept the contributions coming at a steady pace. I can’t imagine what an independence celebration would be like without it. Classics anthems from Rhythm Riders, Levy John, Original Inspector, Black Wizard, Ajamu, Val Adams, Randy Isaacs, Inspector, Carriacou’s Country Boys, just to name a few, give true meaning to our… Read More »Etching our Consciousness With Music: DJ Gus Pays Independence Tribute to our Artists and Musicians

The Literary Elements of Carriacou Carnival

Reading Time 4 minsBig Drum Nation interviews Nicholas Cox February 2015 Big Drum Nation (BDN): This year the Carriacouan Carnival comes under this scintillating theme, “Celebrating the Legacy of Shakespeare: Embracing the Splendor of our Traditional Mas”, what is the Shakespeare Mas? Nick Cox (NC): As I know it Shakespeare Mas stems from the use of speeches adapted from the writings of William Shakespeare in a duel of words between masqueraders. The theme appears to be battling European armies who attempt to outwit each other using speeches from Shakespeare’s plays, most commonly “Julius Caesar.” The costumes are colorful and mask the entire… Read More »The Literary Elements of Carriacou Carnival