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Berbician launches ‘Poems for Cuffy’s Children’
Berbician Ivelaw ‘Brooks’ James has released his second poetry book ‘Poems for Cuffy’s Children’; a collection of 35 poems that were written and inspired, according to James, from visions from the man himself, African slave Kofi Badu, popularly known as ‘Cuffy’.
The release of the book is no accident at this time since this year marks 250 years since the 1763 Berbice Slave Uprising, a revolt which Cuffy led, but which failed due to several reasons.
Ivelaw James holds up a copy of his new book
“This book is all about a vision that Cuffy had to his children—his ancestors, you know, so I passed it on and related it in writing.” The visions, he stated, are poetic. He was engaged in writing the book of poems for years. He related that he would normally get ideas from talking to persons as well, and these, in addition to the visions from Cuffy, prompt him to put pen to paper and poeticize things.
James is the founder/member of the popular Congo Nya drumming group, but due to him having suffered a stroke, he has become more confined to the home, but thankfully can still write his books.
“Every day, I wake up and there is a different vision and when you walk and talk to people, somebody gives you a hint of the vision, so I just scribble it down and when I come home, I put it together.”
His previous book, ‘Talking Blues’ which was released last year is also compiled based on visions, from the legendary Bob Marley. “Bob Marley was my icon and idol, so from the inspiration I get from him, I wrote that book.”
He is encouraging everyone to read the book, “because it carries a message and you got to read the whole thing to get the story form.”
Ras Leon Saul spoke positively about the new book. “After you’ve read and digested ‘poems for Cuffy’s Children’, you’ll not only praise and shout out Brooks, but you’ll also realize why after 250 years of the 1763 Berbice Uprising, we still need to keep the fire blazing so that our next g generation would know what we’ve come through to be here as a free nation and why we must never be enslaved again.”
African poetry, he said, has been used by many people to record important traditions, so that they can be repeated to the young. This sort of poetry, he noted, is usually spoken, “but poetry can also be read silently.”
Persons can access the book for sale at Gordon’s Book Store in New Amsterdam and will soon be available at Austin’s Book Store in the city.
Some of the poems in the book include: Cuffy Lives, 1966 Independence, Dreadness in the Ghetto, Ikanatan Birthday, Operation Labba Trap Zion and Guyana Gone International. He also presented Kaieteur News with copies of his two books.
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