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Arts & Culture, Special FeaturesMay 11, 2015

In celebration of Kamau Brathwaite

 Ancestors (for Kamau), by Gary Butte

Ancestors (for Kamau), by Gary Butte

Today, one of the world’s greatest living writers turns 85. As critic, essayist, editor, orator and poet, Kamau Brathwaite’s influence on Caribbean literature is unprecedented and enduring. International recognition of his work includes the Neustadt Prize (1994), the Griffin Poetry Prize (2006), the Casa de las Americas Premio (2011) and — earlier this year — the Poetry Society of America’s Frost Medal.

Christian Campbell has described Kamau Brathwaite’s work as “a necessary oeuvre” with “percussive intelligence” in every poem. Vladimir Lucien affirms that “There is no other figure, in the history of Caribbean poetry, as massive as Kamau Brathwaite.” In the words of the Griffin Poetry Prize citation, “To read Kamau Brathwaite is to enter into an entire world of human histories and natural histories, beautiful landscapes and their destruction, children’s street songs, high lyricism, court documents, personal letters, literary criticism, sacred rites, eroticism and violence, the dead and the undead, confession and reportage.” His work is essential reading: he is a towering figure not only in Caribbean literature, but to anyone with an interest in poetry, anywhere.

The Missing Slate is honoured to be presenting — in celebration of Kamau’s 85th birthday —a selection of poems, essays, paintings and sculpture, curated by John Robert Lee (himself a poet of enormous talent and a key influence on a new generation of Caribbean writers).

CONTENTS

Kamau: A tribute from St. Lucia
Introduction by John Robert Lee

The alter/native
Essay by Vladimir Lucien

For Kamau Brathwaite at 85
Poetry by John Robert Lee

Sunday
Poetry by Kendel Hippolyte

A Poem for Kamau
Poetry by McDonald Dixon

Excuse for form
Poetry by Jane King

Brededeng
Poetry by Vladimir Lucien

from ‘Islander’
Poetry by Irvin Desir

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One last love letter...

April 24, 2021

It has taken us some time and patience to come to this decision. TMS would not have seen the success that it did without our readers and the tireless team that ran the magazine for the better part of eight years.

But… all good things must come to an end, especially when we look at the ever-expanding art and literary landscape in Pakistan, the country of the magazine’s birth.

We are amazed and proud of what the next generation of creators are working with, the themes they are featuring, and their inclusivity in the diversity of voices they are publishing. When TMS began, this was the world we envisioned…

Though the magazine has closed and our submissions shuttered, this website will remain open for the foreseeable future as an archive of the great work we published and the astounding collection of diverse voices we were privileged to feature.

If, however, someone is interested in picking up the baton, please email Maryam Piracha, the editor, at maryamp@themissingslate.com.

Farewell, fam! It’s been quite a ride.

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