Kwame Dawes
Born in Ghana in 1962, Kwame Dawes spent most of his
childhood and early adult life in Jamaica. As a poet, he is profoundly
influenced by the rhythms and textures of that lush place, citing in a
recent interview his "spiritual, intellectual, and emotional engagement with
reggae music." His book Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius remains the most
authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley.
His 11th collection of verse, Wisteria: Poems From the Swamp Country, was
published in January 2006. In February, 2007 Akashic Books published his
novel, She's Gone and Peepal Tree Books published his 12th collection of
poetry, Impossible Flying, and his non-fiction work, A Far Cry From Plymouth
Rock: A Personal Narrative.
His essays have appeared in numerous journals including Bomb Magazine, The
London Review of Books, Granta, Essence, World Literature Today and Double
Take Magazine.
In October, 2007, his thirteenth book of poems, Gomer’s Song will appear on
the Black Goat imprint of Akashic Books. Dawes has seen produced some twenty
of his plays over the past twenty-five years including, most recently a
production of his musical, One Love, at the Lyric Hammersmith in London .
Kwame Dawes is Distinguished Poet in Residence, Louis Frye Scudder Professor
of Liberal Arts and Founder and executive Director of the South Carolina
Poetry Initiative. He is the director of the University of South Carolina
Arts Institute and the programming director of the Calabash International
Literary Festival, which takes place in Jamaica in May of each year. Kwame
Dawes is a regular blogger for the Poetry Foundation, his blogs can be read
at www.poetryfoundation.org
Kawme's father Neville Dawes was an accomplished author as well.
Photo Credit: Rachel Eliza Griffiths
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