Lasana M. Sekou

{{Short description|Saint Martin writer and publisher (born 1959)}}

{{Infobox person

| name =

| image = Lasana M Sekou.jpg

| caption = Sekou at CTO awards ceremony, New York, 2007

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1959|1|12}}

| birth_place = Saint Martin

| alma_mater = Howard University; Stony Brook University

| occupation = Poet, short-story writer, essayist, journalist and publisher

| years_active =

| known_for = Founder of House of Nehisi Publishers (HNP)

}}

Lasana M. Sekou (born 12 January 1959) is a poet, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and publisher from the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.

Biography

Lasana M. Sekou has authored more than 20 books and is considered one of the prolific and multi-layered Caribbean poets of his generation. Dr. Armando Lampe writes that "he's considered the 'Walcott' of the Dutch Caribbean"Lampe, Armando. "Examen de libros por la aparición de Double Play", RMC, 10 (2000), 233–240. because of his prolific output, the range of subject matter and unique literary styling, which often includes the use of Caribbean Creole languages, Spanish, French, and Dutch — sometimes in one poem.

Sekou's titles, such as the critically reviewed The Salt Reaper – poems from the flatsMary Hanna, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40655248?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents " 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.{{cite web|url=http://postcolonial.org/index.php/pct/article/viewFile/470/316 |title=The Salt Reaper : Poems from the Flats |publisher=Postcolonial.org |access-date=2013-11-05}}{{Cite web | author=Cooke, Mel | title=Salt of the earth finds voice| website=Jamaica Gleaner | url=http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060317/ent/ent4.html}} 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 universities.[http://www.bajanreporter.com/2010/10/british-university-teaching-st-martin-poets-literature-at-birmingham-in-anthology-with-2-bajan-writers/ "British University Teaching St Martin Poet's Literature At Birmingham; Venezuelan Anthology With 3 Bajan Writers"], Bajan Reporter, 22 October 2010.[http://www.todaysxm.com/2011/12/12/lasana-sekou’s-nativity-in-caribbean-civilization-class-at-uwi-trinidad/ Unknown]{{Dead link | date=January 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}[http://www.sxminfo.fr/88608/2014/07/07/literature-second-university-in-italy-teaches-new-love-songs-by-lasana-sekou/ "Literature. Second university in Italy teaches new Love Songs by Lasana Sekou"], SXMinfo, 7 July 2014. The author is himself a graduate of Howard University (MA, Mass Communication, 1984){{Cite web | author=Lasana M. Sekou. | title=Welcome to House of Nehesi Publishers | url=http://houseofnehesipublish.com/sxm/about-the-authors/}} and Stony Brook University (BA, Political Science/International Relations, 1982).

Awards and honours include an International Writers Workshop Visiting Fellow (Hong Kong),{{Cite web | author=Lasana SEKOU | title=St. Martin of Caribbean Sea. Fall Visiting Writers 2004 | publisher=The International Writers’ Workshop (IWW)| website=iww.hkbu.edu.hk | url=http://iww.hkbu.edu.hk/?popevent=visiting-writers-2004-writers-from-post-colonial-english-speaking-countries}} a James Michener Fellow (University of Miami), a knighthood (The Netherlands),{{Cite web | title=Welcome to House of Nehesi Publishers | url=http://houseofnehesipublish.com/sxm/2004/05/01/publisher-hopes-sekous-knighthood-encourages-more-to-write-deeply-and-creatively-about-st-martin/}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/btn2007061312312821 |title=CTO ready to honour key players | News |publisher=Breaking Travel News |date= |access-date=16 January 2012}} and the Sage Cultural Award 2022.{{Cite web | title=Sage Cultural Awards to honour island icons | website=thedailyherald.sx | url=https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/sage-cultural-awards-to-honour-island-icons}}

Sekou's poetry and reviews of his works have appeared in Callaloo,Sekou, Lasana M. “Quimbé 1.” Callaloo, vol. 21, no. 3, 1998, pp. 674–674. JSTOR, [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3299653. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023]. The Massachusetts Review,Lasana M. Sekou, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/25090557 "Liberation Theology"], The Massachusetts Review, Vol. 35, No. 3/4 (Autumn, 1994), pp. 540–543. JSTOR. De Gids,{{Cite web | author=Lasana M. Sekou | title=Twee gedichten |volume=153 | year=1990 | page=586 | magazine=De Gids | url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_gid001199001_01/_gid001199001_01_0097.php}} Das Gedicht, Prometeo,{{Cite web | author=Lasana Sekou | title=Tortured Fragments | publisher=Prometeo | url=https://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org/en/Revista/ultimas_ediciones/68_69/sekou.html}} World Literature Today,Ervin Beck, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40158896 "The Salt Reaper: Poems from the Flats by Lasana M. Sekou"] (review), World Literature Today, Vol. 80, No. 2 (March–April 2006), p. 58. JSTOR. Caribbean Quarterly, Postcolonial Text,Chika Unigwe, [http://postcolonial.org/index.php/pct/article/viewFile/470/316 "The Salt Reaper: Poems from the Flat"] (review), Postcolonial Text, Vol. 2, No. 3 (2006). Jamaica Gleaner,{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060317/ent/ent4.html |title=Jamaica Gleaner News - Salt of the earth finds voice - Friday | March 17, 2006 |publisher=Jamaica-gleaner.com |date= |access-date=2012-01-16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061105/arts/arts4.html |title=Jamaica Gleaner News - Sekou writes with 'erotic power' - Sunday | 5 November 2006 |publisher=Jamaica-gleaner.com |date=2006-11-05 |access-date=16 January 2012}} Caribbean Review of Books,Allen-Agostini, Lisa. "S’maatin poems", The Caribbean Review of Books, February 2006.

www.meppublishers.com. Boundary 2,{{cite web|author=Lasana Sekou |url=http://boundary2.dukejournals.org/cgi/content/citation/33/2/6 |title=shiphole II winternights |publisher=Boundary2.dukejournals.org |date=20 June 2006 |access-date=16 January 2012}} Harriet,Mark Nowak, [http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/07/labor-love/ "Labor Love"], Harriet, Poetry Foundation. and Calabash.{{cite web|url=http://www.nyu.edu/calabash/vol5no1/0501003.pdf |title=Lasana M. Sekou : Mariposa |publisher=Nyu.edu |access-date=5 November 2013}} 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,{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-AON1cqZ4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/8l-AON1cqZ4 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Eterno tiempo de siembra (Lasana Sekou, Saint Martin) |publisher=YouTube |date=5 June 2007 |access-date=16 January 2012}}{{cbignore}} Africa, EuropeRemi Raji, [http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/poetry-africa-2001-cultural-commitment-and-the-eruption-of-verse/ "Poetry Africa 2001: Cultural Commitment and the Eruption of Verse"], N.I.A. Nigerians In America, 24 August 2002. 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 stage presentations.{{Cite web | title=Always Listen To The PEOPLE | website=Barbados Underground | date=20 Sep 2008 | url=https://barbadosunderground.net/2008/09/30/lasana-sekou-caribbean-poetry/}} He is the editor of National Symbols of St. Martin – A Primer{{Cite web | author=Oostindie, Gert | title=Vlagvertoon op Sint Maarten | publisher=NCR | date=27 Dec 1996 | url=https://www.academia.edu/35221017}} and The Independence Papers, Volume 1;{{Cite web | author=Veenbass, Jabik | title=Poet: Lasana M. Sekou. | publisher=31st Poetry International Festival Rotterdam 2000 | url=https://www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-poems/poets/poet/102-441_Sekou}} and the producer of Fête – The first recording of Traditional St. Martin festive music by Tanny & The Boys.[http://latin-caribbean-travelblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/tanny-and-boys-living-monument-from-st.html "Tanny and the Boys: Living Monument from St. Martin"], Mike Esposito's Latin and Caribbean Travel Blog, 2 June 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/music.html |title=The Salt Reaper – selected poems from the flats by Lasana M. Sekou |publisher=Houseofnehesipublish.com |access-date=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105153044/http://www.houseofnehesipublish.com/music.html |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://repeatingislands.com |title=Repeating Islands |publisher=Repeating Islands |date= |access-date=2012-01-16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lasanamsekou |title=Lasana M. Sekou | The Salt Reaper - Selected Poems From the Flats |publisher=CD Baby |date= |access-date=2012-01-16}}

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, 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,{{Cite web | author=George Lamming | title=Welcome to House of Nehesi Publishers | url=http://houseofnehesipublish.com/sxm/about-the-authors/}} Kamau Brathwaite, Amiri Baraka, Tishani Doshi, Shake Keane,Philip Nanton, [http://caribbean-beat.com/issue-66/real-keane#axzz3dkISHOcg "Real Keane"], Caribbean Beat, Issue 66 (March/April 2004). Chiqui Vicioso,{{Cite web | title=Eva/Sión/Es, de Chiqui Vicioso, logra buena acogida internacional | trans-title=Eva/Zion/Es, by Chiqui Vicioso, achieves good international reception | language=es | publisher=Dario Libre | url=https://archive.today/20080220013245/http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=112441#selection-1223.1-1223.21}} Howard Fergus,{{Cite web | author=Cijntje-van Enckevort, Maria | title=I Believe: A man puts his 'real and spiritual estate in order,' a book review | publisher=Craig Brewin’s Blog | url=https://livinginmontserrat.wordpress.com/2018/11/06/i-believe-a-man-puts-his-real-and-spiritual-estate-in-order-a-book-review-by-dr-maria-cijntje-van-enckevort/}} Marion Bethel,[http://www.bajanreporter.com/2010/03/barbadian-poet-praises-guanahani-my-love-by-marion-bethel-for-magical-realism-as-author-continues-her-book-tour/ "Barbadian Poet Praises 'Guanahani, My Love' by Marion Bethel for Magical Realism, As Author Continues Her Book Tour"], Bajan Reporter, 16 March 2010. and the Palestinian author Nidaa Khoury,[http://contemporaryworldpoetry.com/?tag=nidaa-khoury "Book of Sins (House of Nehesi Publishers) by Palestinian/Israeli poet Nidaa Khoury"], Contemporary World Poetry Journal, Spring 2011. 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.{{cite web|url=http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com |title=Geoffrey Philp |publisher=Geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com |date= |access-date=16 January 2012}}

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 (CLF).{{cite web |url=http://www.experiencestmaarten.com/islandfacts/artscene.html |title=Experience St. Maarten/St. Martin - Arts & Culture |publisher=Experiencestmaarten.com |date=1980-04-29 |access-date=2012-01-16 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730045606/http://www.experiencestmaarten.com/islandfacts/artscene.html |archive-date=2012-07-30 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web | title=The annual St. Martin Book Fair – A book fair for the entire family ... | url=http://houseofnehesipublish.com/sxm/st-martin-book-fair/}} CLF and HNP were the organizing foundations of the St. Martin Book Fair until 2017. Thereafter, Sekou served intermittently as a consultant for the literary festival.

Sekou is an advocate for the independence of St. Martin, which is a colony of France and the Netherlands.{{Cite web | author=Veenbass, Jabik | title=Poet: Lasana M. Sekou | publisher=31st Poetry International Festival Rotterdam 2000 | url=https://www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-poems/poets/poet/102-441_Sekou}}{{cite web|url=http://www.winternachten.nl/winternachten/deelnemerpagina.php?deelnemer_id=0143&editie=0006&taal=engels |title=Lasana M. Sekou - Writers Unlimited |publisher=Winternachten.nl |date=2 March 2005 |access-date=16 January 2012}} 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

=Drama=

Nativity & Monologues For Today (1988)
The Casino Man ... monologues (2025)

=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)

Critical writing about Sekou

Fergus, Howard A., Love Labor Liberation in Lasana Sekou. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2007.
Florian, Sara, PhD, Caribbean Counterpoint: The Aesthetics of Salt in Lasana Sekou. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2019.
Kuwabong, Dannabang, Rhetoric of Resistance, Labor of Love: The Ecopoetics of Nationhood in the Poetry and Prose of Lasana M. Sekou. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2025.
Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez (editor), Pelican Heart / Corazón de Pelícano – An Anthology of Poems by Lasana M. Sekou / Antología poética de Lasana M. Sekou. Selección, introducción y notas / Selection with Introduction and Notes by Emilio Jorge Rodríguez. House of Nehesi Publishers, 2010.

References

External links

1. POESÍA CARIBEÑA. LASANA M. SEKOU. [https://www.nuevayorkpoetryreview.com/Nueva-york-Poetry-Review-2516-1-poesia-caribea-lasana-m-sekou "Poemas de Lasana M. Sekou – Traducción y nota de David Anuar"], 13 June 2020 nuevayorkpoetryreview.com.
Ashby, Glenville. [https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/08/30/book-review-icon-comes-alive-in-scholarly-work/ "Book Review… Icon comes alive in scholarly work"]. 30 August 2020 in kaieteurnewsonline.com.
De Capitani, Lucio. [https://iris.unive.it/retrieve/handle/10278/3734740/223380/art-10.14277-Tol-2499-5975-2020-01-049.pdf "Sara Florian, Caribbean Counterpoint: The Aesthetics of Salt in Lasana Sekou". Review.] Dicembre | December | December 2020 in Il Tolomeo, Vol. 22.
Florian, Sara. [https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2019/autumn/hurricane-protocol-lasana-m-sekou Hurricane Protocol by Lasana M. Sekou. Verse]. Autumn 2019 in World Literature Today.
Florian, Sara. [http://smallaxe.net/sxsalon/interviews/polyglot-pride-st-martin-interview-lasana-m-sekou "The Polyglot Pride of St. Martin": An Interview with Lasana M. Sekou]. October 2010 in sx salon.
Nowak, Mark. [http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/07/labor-love/ "Labor Love", "Harriet"], at Poetry Foundation
González, Víctor. [http://www.tribuna.cu/lectura-para-ti/2020-06-30/fraternidad-de-las-espuelas "Fraternidad de las espuelas"], 3 June 2020, in Tribuna de la Habana.
Rodríguez, Emilio Jorge. [https://www.academia.edu/30632493/EJR_Plantaci%C3%B3n_salina_y_convivencia_regional_doc "Plantación salina y convivencia regional: la poética de Lasana M. Sekou"], 2011 in www.academia.edu.
{{YouTube|JlWWBMWPs7c|Rombley, Angelo. "CasualtiesFX3". Video. Vocals "casualties" by Lasana M. Sekou. 14 February 2009}}
{{YouTube|xoUVIXiIVJg|Sekou, Lasana M. "Lectura de poemas desde la isla de San Martín". Video. Lasana M. Sekou reading at Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín 2020. Translation/Traductor: Ricardo Gómez. Revista Prometeo, Streamed live on September 25, 2020.}}
{{YouTube|klqUEMSzX_c|Sekou, Lasana M. "Nativity." Video. selection from "Nativity", Casa de las Américas, Havana, Cuba, 2014}}
{{YouTube|bwU8CKZXSWI|Sekou, Lasana M. "Poems". Video. Lasana M. Sekou reading from "Book of The Dead" and "The Salt Reaper", Incroci di civiltà, Venice, Italy, 2017}}