Lasana M. Sekou on LinkedIn: Van Dorp Sint Maarten - Lasana Sekou’s new poetry collection, Hurricane… (2024)

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OES_News | Pics&Bytes__Literature scholars Thomas Rothe and Malik Noël-Ferdinand have pulled off what is thought to be one of the largest editions of ESLA, the Chilean-based journal of Cultural and Literary Criticism. "It's exciting to see the work of St. Martin poet Lasana Sekou selected by editors Rothe and Noël-Ferdinand in the current ESLA Issue 27 for 2024," said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). In the introduction note, "Resounding Caribbean Literatures: Voice, Music, and Text," the editors wrote that "Lasana M. Sekou presents a pan-Caribbean verse composition based on the names of the region's heroes. "The names' musicality resonates with the piece's appealing title, 'We Continue,' or, in the Spanish version, 'Continuamos.' This pan-Caribbean perspective is consistent with Sekou’s large body of writing ..."ESLA's Issue 27, with nonfiction and poetry in Kréyòl, Spanish, and French with the English translation for each language, includes work by noted author Ana Lydia Vega (Puerto Rico), internationally acclaimed poet Nancy Morejón (Cuba), Kréyòl author/musician TiMalo (Guadeloupe), and musicologist, Cuban reguetón specialist Lalau Yllarramendiz Alfonso. "Noël-Ferdinand’s essay on Bob Marley’s 'Buffalo Soldier' and Derek Walcott's Omeros, and James Staig's piece on the performative value of 'Puerto Rican Obituary' by the legendary Pedro Pietri, are also inspiring for my part," said Sekou.ESLA is the acronym for English Studies in Latin America: A Journal of Cultural and Literary Criticism. The journal is hosted by the Literature Department, Faculty of Letters at the prestigious Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)."Prof. Rothe's continuing research into literatures of Caribbean language zones, and his attention to books published at HNP help to extend the work of Caribbean canon authors and, importantly, new voices and works of upcoming writers and creatives," said Sample. In 2021, Dr. Rothe taught Sekou's HURRICANE PROTOCOL poetry book in his "Afro-Caribbean Literature and Music" class at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, said Sample ( rb.gy/1p6g4q ).ESLA's binannual peer review issues "provide a platform for scholarly voices that are speaking about literature written in English. As a journal from Latin America, we seek original work that reflects the diverse worlds that exist in this language. "We prioritize original contributions from the following critical approaches: comparative and intersectional studies, postcolonial studies, cultural and gender studies, bilingualism and translation studies," stated ESLA. The journal's editorial team is headed by literature and cultural studies scholar Dr. Allison Ramay. Download the current ESLA digital edition at https://lnkd.in/eaYDT-nv Photos: L-R, St. Martin writer Lasana M. Sekou (Tackling Photography), and ESLA cover (Issue 27, 2024).

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Many thanks to teachers, schools, students for inviting guests from the community to the classroom to read children's lit for Literacy Month in St Martin @ September 2024. Encourged to see writers from House of Nehesi Publishers [HNP] in the mix, L-R, Rhoda Arrindell @ MAC's Gumbs Campus, Nzinga Lake @ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School, Faizah Tabasamu @ Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School. The writers read from their own books or from storybooks by other authors from St. Martin and around the world. Books from the indie press selected by the classroom teacher or shared by the guest reader included LIZZY LIZARD, DISASTER MATTERS, and TANGLE.HNP books are available @ ARNIA Bookstore, Van Dorp Sint Maarten, libroslatinos.com , The Best of Books Bookstore, UWI Bookshop Cave Hill Campus , Bookishplaza.com | Ask at your favorite bookstore."At HNP, our books bring good stories to life." #publishinthecaribbean | houseofnehesipublish.com

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Palestinian poet published in the Caribbean @ HNP | BOOK OF SINS by Nidaa Khoury | @ Arnia's bookstore | libroslatinos.com | houseofnehesipublish.com

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HNP books and guest readers for Literacy Month in St. Martin, Caribbean "'Our children’s books, like TI KOKO [AND KUSH KUSH], are for the joy of reading at home. And they are ‘cross-curricular resource’ titles, with richly illustrated stories ... perfect for our classrooms,' said HNP president Sample."Talking about storybooks and literary texts for improving literacy and supporting the curriculum, HNP books have been busy here in September for Literacy Month."Several St. Martin writers, government officials, and other guests have read at primary schools on the island. HNP authors have been in the mix, with performative readings to school children. "Our indie press writers have read from their own books and from books by other St. Martin authors and writers from around the world."'It was exciting to see social media posts of Faizah Tabasamu read from her poetry book TANGLE to a packed assembly of attentive little ones at Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School,' said Sample.“'At MAC primary, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell read kids-accessible hurricane poems from the literary/earth science textbook DISASTER MATTERS. "She then performed selections fromLIZZY LIZARD's storybook journey around the Great Salt Pond, for Teacher Elisia Lake’s class at Martin Luther King, Jr. Primary school,' said Sample. LIZZY LIZARD by Robin Boasman was also a selected book for guest reader Hon. Anna Richardson at Teacher Amanda James-Nicholas’ Grade 2 class at the MAC, said Sample."'The writing quality, ... book design and production of these books make for a competitive fit for classrooms anywhere that are seeking original St. Martin stories and fascinating Caribbean experiences,.' said Sample."See full story @ Soualiga Newsday https://rb.gy/o2n9ul #publishinthecaribbean HNP houseofnehesipublish.com

Anniversary collections, classic SHAKE KEANE, first reissue in over 70 years—watch for it! “The two poetry sequences ... have in common the poetic representation of upheaval and turbulence of different types ….” — Philip Nanton, UWI – Cave Hill | #publishinthecaribbean HNP houseofnehesipublish.com

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againthe punished victor walks before us&barefooted...scattered by/ accounting centennials.coupled in malevolence and the jeers of the unforgivingscathed by them all before our very own eyewhole sightssooted by the sooth&surety that to the victor, who has vanquished great evil,belongs the earn of futures untoldandthe punished victorwalks before us. alone.our poor old father&son of god in spirit. ...&it is we who will see what more march&marvel is to be&become of this.againthe punished victorwalks before us. is stalked....excerpt from the poem "HAÏTI 200" in the book THE SALT REAPER (HNP, 2004)art: one of history's great battles, "Battle of Vertières II," 1803, Haiti. painting by Ulrick Jean-Pierre.

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