Immerse, Literature, People, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago
By Shivanee Ramlochan ● Issue 159 (September/October 2019)
Dionne Brand: The reinvention of poetry | Closeup
Born in Trinidad and based in Canada, writer Dionne Brand has spent decades exploring the transgressive possibilities of poetry, says Shivanee Ramlochan — breaking through boundaries of genre in her quest to understand the shapeshifting self
Immerse, People, Sports, Trinidad and Tobago
By Sheldon Waithe ● Issue 159 (September/October 2019)
Machel Cedenio: Racing for the hit | Snapshot
When T&T’s men’s 4×400-metre team won gold at the 2019 World Relays last May, it was thanks to a “finish for the ages” by Machel Cedenio. As Sheldon Waithe reports, the young athlete grounds himself with family support and mental preparation long before he even takes to the track
Immerse, Film and Television, People, Suriname
By Shelly-Ann Inniss ● Issue 158 (July/August 2019)
Far and near — Milton Kam | Panorama
Suriname’s indigenous communities walk a line between the traditional and the contemporary, distance and proximity — documented in a new book of photographs by Milton Kam
Immerse, Music, People, Jamaica
By Nazma Muller ● Issue 158 (July/August 2019)
Koffee: Strong and sweet | Backstory
Dancehall’s latest sensation, nineteen-year-old Koffee, is captivating fans across the globe with her vibesy toasting, catchy riddims, and cheeky lyrics. Nazma Muller reports on the pint-sized Jamaican phenomenon with the relentlessly positive attitude
Immerse, People, Sports, Haiti
By Caroline Taylor ● Issue 158 (July/August 2019)
Naomi Osaka: a Haitian-Japanese star on the rise | Snapshot
For anyone who likes easy answers to questions of identity, Naomi Osaka is a conundrum: half-Haitian, half-Japanese, raised for part of her childhood in New York City, visibly hybrid. As Caroline Taylor learns, Osaka hasn’t always been comfortable with the role of mixed-race role model — but she’s learning to embrace it, on her own terms
Immerse, Arts and Architecture, People
By Andre Bagoo ● Issue 157 (May/June 2019)
Jean-Ulrick Désert: look and look again | Closeup
Born in Haiti, currently based in Berlin, Jean-Ulrick Désert may be a citizen of the world — but his ideas are shaped by his Caribbean roots. A kind of discomfort that makes you look closer is key to this artist’s work, writes Andre Bagoo
Immerse, Film and Television, People, United Kingdom, Guyana
By Caroline Taylor ● Issue 157 (May/June 2019)
Letitia Wright | Backstory
Growing up in Guyana, Letitia Wright never imagined a Hollywood career. But after a string of stage and TV roles and early recognition of her talent, her casting in the blockbuster movie Black Panther was the break every actor hopes for, says Caroline Taylor
By Shelly-Ann Inniss ● Caribbean Innovation (15 May 2020), Issue 157 (May/June 2019)
Sir Hilary Beckles: “I’m aware of how fragile the Caribbean is” | Own words
Sir Hilary Beckles, Barbadian historian, cricket enthusiast, and UWI vice chancellor, on his intellectual formation, the role of a Caribbean university, and the moral imperative of slavery reparations — as told to Shelly-Ann Inniss