A story about destiny: A reasoning with Kwasi Bonsu, Esq.
Remembering Ethiopia’s momentous Battle of Adwa victory against invading Italy in March 1896, we share this reasoning with author Kwasi Bonsu, Esq., who shows how a deep tradition of “priestly warrior kings” made Ethiopia virtually unconquerable. He also explains how learning the nation’s history and culture for himself increased his faith as a RasTafari man.
Why this woman is importing a truck to sell books in the USVI
Simfoni Nibbs is establishing a new mobile bookstore in her Caribbean homeland and has a crowdfunding campaign going on that is definitely crowd-worthy!
10 highly recommended books from BExcerpts
BEx is about to become a 10-year-old publishing company so we’re starting the celebration with a list of 10 top book recommendations by the great spirits who have been featured on this blog in the past.
we are here
For the second time, we are blessed with the striking lyricism of Rica G. The spoken word artist pulls out a poem that she evidently didn’t have in her, written during the recent spate of reports on gender-based violence against women in Jamaica.
Non-poets enjoy writing poetry, too
Why did Marcus Garvey write poetry? Why does anyone? We felt like glancing at the allure of the art form through the minds of 2 authors. Neither are poets but both published poems anyway.
Growing like a Sapling
Bookman Express evolved in unexpected ways since, and because of, COVID-19. After more than a year of upheaval, we are able to collect our thoughts and share our reflections as we approach our company’s 10th anniversary this summer.
Here’s how this Jamaican poet fell in love with poetry
Poetry lovers can remember the moment they fell in love with the art form. Something clicked, then dozens of unread books ended up on their bookshelf. One of them could even be Sweet Thorns by Tara-Elizabeth Downs, who describes here falling deeply in love with poetry in vivid, enthralling metaphors.
Get woke and stay woke: A reasoning with Maleah Rahaman-Noronha and Kenneth Mora
The daily actions that form our lifestyles can be either helpful or harmful to the planet we inhabit. Those of us who are increasingly conscious about this are starting to desire more sustainable practices in our lives. This inspiring young couple from Trinidad &...
The childhood experience will determine our future: A reasoning with Olivia Wilmot
Jamaican musician and educator, Olivia Wilmot, is the editor of ‘Ian Takes Flight,’ our first Sapling Books publication. Here she tells us why she advocates a play-based learning approach for early childhood development, plus shares a bit of her own upbringing and her creative process as Earth and The Fullness.
The genius is the child inside who never died: A reasoning with Richard Nattoo
On the verge of his debut as an author and illustrator in children’s literature, artist Richard Nattoo opens up about his own childhood and aspects of his art-making process. He also shares how a classic children’s book might have subconsciously influenced his own work, ‘Ian Takes Flight.’
Everybody could grow something:
A reasoning with Machel Emanuel
Noted academic and earth steward, Dr. Machel Emanuel takes us to school on his groundbreaking research with plants. The Dominican (from Dominica, not the Dominican Republic) is a leading cannabis advocate who is helping to establish best practices and standards for the budding industry in neighboring Jamaica.
Of spirit science, movement building and Bois Caïman: A reasoning with Ama Makeda
The legend of a secret meeting of slaves at Bois Caïman, an area in northern Haiti, has grown in recent years as research supports oral tradition. Ama Makeda helps us to uncover lesser known information about this key moment that instigated the victorious 12-year revolution in her country.
Our people are not extinct: A reasoning with Kasike ‘Kalaan’ Nibonrix Kaiman
We enter “Black August” from an Indigenous angle with Kasike ‘Kalaan’ Nibonrix Kaiman, a Taino Medicine Man and Chief in Jamaica. He reminds us of the joint African and Indigenous resistance communities of the Americas and cautions some of today’s Afrocentric groups about the dangers of adopting the colonizers’ mindset.
From “prepatriation” to repatriation:
A reasoning with Cashawn Myers
From his urban stomping ground in the West to the richer soils of West Africa, Cashawn Myers reveals his journey of resettlement through his work helping dispersed Africans to make their own move homeward.
At home in East Africa: A reasoning with Jah9
Jah9 released her Note To Self album at the dawn of a global lockdown that has kept her in Tanzania for months. She takes us into depths of self-manifestation, Rastafari and her extensive list of book recommendations.
The Hero is called twice:
A reasoning with Gladstone Taylor
We link up with author Gladstone Taylor to celebrate the 5th anniversary of his book, ‘KingSun: The Testaments of Sunlight and Water.’ The milestone gives him the chance to reflect on life before and since the book was published, his insights from music journalism and his love for fantasy fiction.
my motherland’s motherland
Poetic wordsmith Rica G. gives expression to her experience as a village-raised child of the African diaspora. This masterpiece was written and video recorded for us to see and hear the power of her words even as we read them.
How Africa claimed me as its own:
A reasoning with Tiffanie Anderson
Tiffanie Anderson is a sojourner who founded Away To Africa as a way to share the joys of seeing Africa firsthand with others. She tells us how experiencing the continent dismantles preconceived notions, plus explains why we need Africa more than it needs us.
Culture is the last stand
Culture is the sum of our expressions, our art forms, our ways of relating to our natural environment and much more. Culture is what will steady us and guide us through these precarious stages of our Information Age. Culture is the last stand.