Lasana M. Sekou (born 12 January 1959) is a

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or w ...

, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and

publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

from the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean ...

island of Saint Martin.

Biography

Lasana M. Sekou has authored over 20 books and is considered one of the prolific Caribbean poets of his generation. Dr. Armando Lampe writes that "he's considered the 'Walcott' of the Dutch Caribbean" because of his prolific output, the range of subject matter and unique

literary Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to includ ...

styling, which often includes the use of Caribbean Creole languages,

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

, and

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

— sometimes in one poem. Sekou's titles, such as the critically reviewed ''The Salt Reaper – poems from the flats''Mary Hanna
" The Salt Reaper: Poems from the flats by Lasana M. Sekou"
(review), ''Caribbean Quarterly'', Vol. 55, No. 1, CARIBBEAN LITERATURE: "The Unity Is Submarine" (March, 2009), pp. 106–109. JSTOR. along with ''37 Poems'', ''Nativity'', ''Brotherhood of the Spurs'', and ''Hurricane Protocol'' have been required reading at Caribbean, South and North American, Italian, and

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

universities. The author is himself a graduate of

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...

(MA,

Mass Communication Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large segments of the population. It is usually understood for relating to various forms of media, as its technologies are used for the dissemination o ...

, 1984)"About the authors"
House of Nehesi. and

Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU), officially the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York system' ...

(BA,

Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and ...

International Relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such ...

, 1982). Awards and honors include an International Writers Workshop Visiting Fellow (Hong Kong), a

James Michener James Albert Michener ( or ; February 3, 1907 – October 16, 1997) was an American writer. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were long, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and ...

Fellow (University of Miami), a knighthood (The Netherlands), Recognition for literary excellence in the service of Caribbean unity (Dominican Republic), Culture Time Literary Artist of the Decade, the Caribbean Tourism Organization Award of Excellence, and the Sage Cultural Award 2022. Sekou's poetry and reviews of his works have appeared in ''Callaloo'', '' The Massachusetts Review'', ''Del Caribe'', ''De Gids'', ''Das Gedicht'', ''Prometeo'', ''

World Literature Today ''World Literature Today'' is an American magazine of international literature and culture, published at the University of Oklahoma. The stated goal of the magazine is to publish international essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, and book revie ...

'', ''Caribbean Quarterly'', ''Postcolonial Text'', ''Jamaica Gleaner'', ''

Caribbean Review of Books ''The Caribbean Review of Books'', or ''CRB'', is a literary magazine based in Port of Spain, Trinidad, reviewing books of Caribbean interest—by Caribbean authors or about the Caribbean—and publishing original fiction, poetry, and other liter ...

'', ''Boundary 2'', ''Harriet'', and ''Calabash''. His poems have been translated into Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Turkish, and Chinese. Sekou has presented papers and recited his poetry at cultural and literary conferences and festivals in the Caribbean, North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. His recitals usually draw large crowds. In St. Martin he is often invited by schools, cultural organizations, and NGOs to recite his poetry and appears regularly on radio and TV discussing cultural, socio-historical, literary, and political issues. The author's writings are used in high schools and in

carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival t ...

stage presentations. He is the editor of ''National Symbols of St. Martin – A Primer'' and ''The Independence Papers, Vol. 1''; and the producer of ''Fête – The first recording of Traditional St. Martin festive music'' by Tanny & The Boys. Sekou can be heard reciting his own poetry on ''The Salt Reaper – Selected poems from the flats'' (Audio CD, 2009) with music produced by award-winning digital arts designer Angelo Rombley. Sekou founded House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) in his dorm room at New York's Stony Brook University in 1980. His second book, ''For The Mighty Gods... An Offering'', with an introduction by

Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka (born Everett Leroy Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014), previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. He was the author of numerous bo ...

, was the first book published by HNP in 1982. The indie press has been publishing his work (and others) since that time. He remains active as HNP's projects director since establishing the company in Philipsburg, St. Martin in 1984. At House of Nehesi Publishers Sekou secured the publication of literary luminaries and pioneers such as

George Lamming George William Lamming OCC (8 June 19274 June 2022) was a Barbadian novelist, essayist, and poet. He first won critical acclaim for ''In the Castle of My Skin'', his 1953 debut novel. He also held academic posts, including as a distinguished v ...

Kamau Brathwaite The Honourable Edward Kamau Brathwaite, CHB (; 11 May 1930 – 4 February 2020), was a Barbadian poet and academic, widely considered one of the major voices in the Caribbean literary canon.Staff (2011)"Kamau Brathwaite." New York University, D ...

, Tishani Doshi,

Shake Keane Ellsworth McGranahan "Shake" Keane (30 May 1927 – 11 November 1997) was a Vincentian jazz musician and poet. He is best known today for his role as a jazz trumpeter, principally his work as a member of the ground-breaking Joe Harriott Quintet ...

, Chiqui Vicioso, Howard Fergus, Marion Bethel, and the

Palestinian Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...

author Nidaa Khoury, notable for her concept of post-monotheism. A host of first-time and previously-published authors from St. Martin and other territories and countries such as Ian Valz, Charles Borromeo Hodge, Jennie N. Wheatley, Wendy-Ann Diaz, Jay Haviser, Laurelle Yaya Richards, Patricia G. Turnbull, Sara Florian, Yvonne Weekes, and N.C. Marks have also been published by HNP. In 2003, Sekou was invited to co-found the St. Martin Book Fair by its founder Shujah Reiph, a leading cultural activist and president of the Conscious Lyrics Foundation. Sekou is an advocate for the

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...

of St. Martin, which is a colony of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

."Lasana M. Sekou"
Poetry International Rotterdam. In the 1994 and 2000 consultative constitutional status referendums that were held in the Southern or Dutch part of St. Martin, Sekou was a leading organizer and speaker for the Independence option as a member of the Independence for St. Martin Foundation, of which his brother and political scientist Joseph H. Lake, Jr., was the founding president.

Works

Fiction

* ''Love Songs Make You Cry'' (1989) * ''Brotherhood of the Spurs'' (1997, 2007) * ''Love Songs Make You Cry – Second Edition'' (2014) * ''Fraternidad de las espuelas'' (2018)

Poetry collections

* ''Moods for Isis – Picturepoems of Love & Struggle'' (1978) * ''For the Mighty Gods … An Offering'' (1982) * ''Images in the Yard'' (1983) * ''Maroon Lives … For Grenadian Freedom Fighters'' (1983) * ''Born Here'' (House of Nehesi, 1986) * ''Nativity & Monologues For Today'' (1988) * ''Mothernation – Poems from 1984 to 1987'' (1991) * ''Quimbé … The Poetics of Sound'' (1991) * ''The Salt Reaper – Poems from the flats'' (2004, 2005) * ''37 Poems'' (2005) * ''Nativity / Nativité / Natividad – Trilingual Edition'' (2010) * ''Corazón de pelícano – Antología poética de Lasana M. Sekou/Pelican Heart – An Anthology of Poems by Lasana M. Sekou Edited by Emilio Jorge Rodríguez'' (2010) * ''Musa desnuda – Selección, introducción y notas Emilio Jorge Rodríguez'' (2011) * ''Maroon Lives Tribute to Maurice Bishop & Grenadian Freedom Fighters. Revolution As Poetic Inspiration: Grenada in Maroon Lives'' (2013). Poetry collection by Lasana M. Sekou; with literary essay by Fabian Adekunle Badejo * ''Book of The Dead'' (2016) * ''Hurricane Protocol'' (2019) * ''37 Poems'' (2020) Second Edition. eBook. * ''6 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou , 6 Poèmes de Lasana M. Sekou , 6 Poemas de Lasana M. Sekou'' (2022)

Pamphlet

* ''Big Up St. Martin – Essay & Poem'' (1999)

Discography

* ''The Salt Reaper – selected poems from the flats''. Mountain Dove Records, 2009.

Producer

* Tanny & The Boys. ''Fête – The First Recording of Traditional St. Martin Festive Music''. Mountain Dove Records, 1992, 2007.

Edited publications

* ''The Independence Papers – Readings on a New Political Status for St. Maarten/St. Martin, Volume 1'' (1990), * ''Fête – Celebrating St. Martin Traditional Festive Music'' (1992, 2007), * ''National Symbols of St. Martin – A Primer'' (1996, 1997), * ''Chester York – Making of A Panman'' (1999), * ''Gassy – Champion Cyclist'' (1999), * ''St. Martin Massive! A Snapshot of Popular Artists'' (2000), * ''Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin'' (2013). * ''Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla'' (2015). * ''Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in the Virgin Islands'' (2016).

References

External links

* 1. POESÍA CARIBEÑA. LASANA M. SEKOU
''Poemas de Lasana M. Sekou – Traducción y nota de David Anuar.''
13 Jun 2020 ''nuevayorkpoetryreview.com.'' * Ashby, Glenville
''Book Review… Icon comes alive in scholarly work.''
Aug 30, 2020 in ''kaieteurnewsonline.com.'' * De Capitani, Lucio
''Sara Florian, Caribbean Counterpoint: The Aesthetics of Salt in Lasana Sekou.'' Review.
Dicembre , December , Décembre 2020 in ''Il Tolomeo, Vol. 22.'' * Florian, Sara
''Hurricane Protocol'' by Lasana M. Sekou. Verse.
Autumn 2019 in ''World Literature Today.'' * Florian, Sara
“The Polyglot Pride of St. Martin”: An Interview with Lasana M. Sekou.
October 2010 in ''sx salon.''
Nowak, Mark. "Labor Love." ''Harriet'' at Poetry Foundation
* González, Víctor
''Fraternidad de las espuelas.''
3 Junio 2020 en ''Tribuna de la Habana.'' * Rodríguez, Emilio Jorge
''Plantación salina y convivencia regional: la poética de Lasana M. Sekou.''
2011 in ''www.academia.edu.'' * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sekou, Lasana M. 1959 births Living people Caribbean writers Howard University alumni Stony Brook University alumni 20th-century poets 20th-century short story writers 20th-century essayists 21st-century poets 21st-century short story writers 21st-century essayists Saint Martin (island) people