GREAT BAY/MARIGOT:--- One of three books published by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) in time for the St. Martin Book Fair is the French translation of the critical essays, Haiti and Trans-Caribbean Literary Identity.
The new French edition, Haïti et l'identité littéraire trans-caribéenne by Emilio Jorge Rodríguez, comes complete with photos of distinguished Haitian authors, said HNP president Jacqueline Sample.
The book is available for the book fair's opening ceremony at the Chamber of Commerce Building, in Spring Concordia, Marigot on May 30, 2013, at 8 PM.
"Rodríguez's collection of essays is of strategic importance because it uncovers key exchanges... and, in ways, translate works through linguistic and cultural divides, to find common ground," said award-winning novelist Myriam J.A. Chancy.
Furthermore, the translation is "a remarkable collection of essays," said Maximilien Laroche, noted scholar from the Université Laval in Canada.
Haïti et l'identité littéraire trans-caribéenne, just like its previous English/Spanish edition, "is a missing link for most in building our fuller knowledge and experiences of Caribbean literature and culture, of how we think and why we live as we do in this region," said St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou.
The 144-page book is beautifully designed with a Keith Mallet painting and it is already available at Amazon.com and Arnia's bookstore at Bush Road/Zagersgut Road.
The book fair's opening ceremony will also feature Mischu Laikah, the Netherlands-based singer from St. Martin. "The fine rising star sensation will wax poetic with her soulful voice at the literary festival," said Sekou, who is also projects director at HNP, a book fair co-organizer with Conscious Lyrics (CLF).
Laikah's connection to the festival is not just for celebrity attraction. The singer writes poetry. She is one of 25 mainly young poets and spoken word artists in the new book, Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin, said Sample.
The singer/songwriter has performed with Eros Ramazzotti, Mojo Morgan, Orange Grove, and is currently on her first music tour in the Caribbean. Mischu Laikah's debut album, Life.Music.Love, will be available at the book fair (the St. Martin leg of her concert tour happens during the book fair weekend).
According to Laikah, "My poetry appears in my music." And it's exactly that blend which "we think will thrill the book fair audience when Mischu Laikah recites one of her poems from Where I See The Sun to musical accompaniment," said Sekou. The anthology will be introduced at the festival's opening night as well.
