Dr. Roi Ankhkara Kwabena (born: Fitzroy Cook Jr. 23 July 1956 – 9 January 2008) was a
Trinidadian
Trinidadians and Tobagonians, colloquially known as Trinis or Trinbagonians, are the people who are identified with the country of Trinidad and Tobago. The population of Trinidad is notably diverse, with approximately 35% Indo-Trinidadian, 34% ...
cultural
anthropologist
An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...
, who worked with all age ranges in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
,
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
,
Latin-America and the
Caribbean
The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...
for over 30 years. He died in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, where he had relocated.
Life and career
Kwabena was born in
Port of Spain
Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...
,
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...
,
["Roi Kwabena]
- Birmingham's Poet Laureate 2001 - 2002". where he was educated. At the age of 14, he published his first poem, "Why Black Power", which he also performed at a Black Power rally. His first collection, ''Lament of the Soul'', appeared three years later, and marked the beginning of a prolific body of work over the following three decades, including other poetry collections, journals, essays, children's stories and the thesis ''Marijuana'' (1981). At the same time, he founded the publishing co-operative Afroets Press, and Bembe Productions, a cultural collective whose objective was the propagation of creative expression from the Caribbean and its diaspora.
In commemoration of
UN's International Literacy Year 1990 he was "Writer In Residence" at
Trinidad's Public Library. In the mid-1990s he served as a Senator in the Parliament of
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
. He then made
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
, England, his permanent base and was appointed its sixth
Poet Laureate for 2001–02.
As a cultural ambassador he hosted numerous readings by writers and actively promoted literature development internationally as well as himself lecturing and performing at many schools, universities, cultural and social venues.
Dr Kwabena was renowned for using critical analysis to examine the historical roots of
racism
Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...
and to assess the direct relevance this has on present society. He also championed wide-ranging issues such as functional and cultural literacy, therapeutic harvesting of memories by elders and young people (including cross generational dialogue), Community Cohesion, Social Inclusion, Cultural Diversity, redefining the heritages of indigenous peoples, plus confidence building for convicted prisoners, excluded and traumatized students, refugees, etc.
In 2007, Roi Kwabena was included among activists, artists, campaigners, sport and media personalities on a wall celebrating efforts of The World's Black Achievers: Past and Present at the Liverpool-based
International Slavery Museum.
Kwabena died on 9 January 2008, one day after being diagnosed with
lung cancer
Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...
at a hospital in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
- prior to this, doctors had been treating him for
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
. His funeral took place in London on 26 January 2008 and he was cremated two days later. His ashes were flown to Trinidad.
Bibliography"Selected published works"
compiled and edited by Roi Kwabena. Temple of Ankhara.
*''Lament of the Soul'' (poetry), 1974
*''Insight'' (poetry/essay), 1975
*''Follow de Path'' (poetry), 1980
*''Marijuana'' (thesis), 1981
*''Vegetable & Fruit Juices'' (health), 1982
*''C.U.R.E. 84'' (health journal), 1983
*''C.U.R.E. 85'' (ibid), 1985
*''In other words'' (poetry) 1986
*''Black Molasses /Brown Sugar'' (journal), 1986
*''Seasons of Exile'' (poetry), 1986
*''About the Caribbean'' (socio-geography), 1986
*''Sojourn: towards victory'' (travel journal and history), 1988
*''Profile 96'' (journal of culture), 1994
*''Manifestations: selected poems 1985-95'' (poetry), 1997
*''Destiny'' (journal black history), 1997
*''Kush Reclaimed'' (poetry/ history), 1987/1997–1998
*''Nubian Saints of Christianity'' (history), 1997–1998
*''Nubian Glory: our heritage'' (anthropology/history), 1999
*''A Job for the Hangman'' (poetry), 1999
*''Never Trouble, Trouble'' (children stories), 1999
*''Ancient Inscriptions & Sacred Texts of Ethiopia'' (anthropology), 2000
*''Whether or Not'' (poetry/history; Raka Publications), 2001
*''As Long As'' (poetry), 2005
*''Muse of Maps, Muurs, Mounds & Mysteries'' (essay), 2006
*''DIALOGUE'' (journal for Cultural Literacy), 2006–2007
*''Orisha Songs for Celina'' (poetry), 2006
*''In the Moment'' (Poetry), 2006
*''Making of TA-MERI-KA: Black Women in Time'' (Anthropology), 2006
Discography
*''Y42K'' – Spoken Word CD- 2000–2006 (blueplanetsound, UK & Bembe Productions)
References
External links
*Poems and introduction
Cultural Literacy
blog by Roi Kwabena
"Roi Kwabena
- Birmingham's Poet Laureate 2001 - 2002"
National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracyWebsite dedicated to Roi Kwabena's life's work
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwabena, Roi
Trinidad and Tobago non-fiction writers
1956 births
2008 deaths
Deaths from lung cancer in England
20th-century Trinidad and Tobago male writers
21st-century male writers