KWAME S.N. DAWES

CURRICULUM VITAE

ACADEMIC ADDRESS
English Department
University of South Carolina
Columbia,
SC 29208
Tel: (803) 777-2096
Fax: (803) 777-9064
dawesk@gwm.sc.edu

EDUCATION / TEACHING/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

1992- Ph.D. in English, University of New Brunswick. Thesis Topic: "Violence in the work of select Jamaican novels and plays." Supervisor, Professor Anthony Boxill. 1984- Graduate research in English, University of the West Indies. Thesis Topic: "Christianity in Kamau Brathwaite's The Arrivants." Supervisor, Dr. Victor Chang.
1983-B.A. Honors in English, University of the West Indies.

TEACHING/ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

2003- Professor of English and Distinguished Poet in Residence, University of South Carolina.
2003- Director of South Carolina Poetry Initiative, University of South Carolina
2000- Programming Director, Calabash International Literary Festival
2001-3 Director of MFA/Creative Writing program, USC
1996-2003 Associate Professor of English, University of South Carolina
1994 Guest Lecturer, University of South Carolina-Columbia, SC. Post-Colonial Studies.
1992-6 Assistant Professor in English, University of South Carolina at Sumter (SC).
1993-6 Chairman of the Division of Arts and Letters.

PROFESSIONAL EDITING

Guest Editor, Zeffen Books
Special Guest Editor, Los Angeles Review, 2005
Criticism Editor and Co-Poetry Editor, Obsidian II, Raleigh, North Carolina
Series Editor, Caribbean Play Series, Peepal Tree Books, UK
Series Editor, Sweet Sop Books, imprint of Peepal Tree Books, UK
Faculty Advisor, Yemassee Journal, University of South Carolina

RELATED PROFESSIONAL WORK

2005- Executive Director, University of South Carolina’s Arts Institute
Programmer, Calabash International Literary Festival
Director, SC Poetry Initiative, USC
Director, Minority Writers Series, USC
2002- Director of USC English Department Spring Writers Festival
Special Advisor on the Arts to the Provost, University of South Carolina
Proposer of the Arts Institute, University of South Carolina
Member, Adhoc Committee to win support for the Arts Institute

JUDGE

2003 Poetry Judge, National Book Awards
2002-4 Of Short Fiction-Freetimes, Columbia SC
2000 Of Poetry: Horizon Writing Contest-South Carolina Writers Workshop
2000 Of Poetry: London Writing Competition 2000, UK
1996-2002- English Department Writing Competitions

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Member of the National Book Critics Circle.
Board Member, South Carolina Humanities Council
Advisory Board, South Carolina Book Festival
Advisory Board, African American Writers Alliance of Columbia

AWARDS

2004 Silver Musgrave Medal for Literature, Jamaica.
2004 Louise Fry Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts, USC
2002 Midland selected by Literary Press Group of Canada for “Almost Famous Campaign”
2001 Pushcart Prize for “Inheritance” which first appeared in The Caribbean Writer.
2001 Winner, Hollis Summers Poetry Prize, Ohio University Press, judge: Eavan Boland for Midland.
2001 Winner of Poetry Business Chapbook Competition, Smith/Doorstop Press for Mapmaker.
1999 Visiting Fellow, University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire
1997 Mortar Board Award for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina
1997 Poetry Society Recommendation for Shook Foil (Poetry Book) UK.
1996 Individual Artist Award, South Carolina Arts Commission.
1996 Associate Fellow, Centre for Caribbean Studies, Warwick University, UK.
1995 Elected as USC Sumter Nominee for Governor's Professor of the Year, 1994-1995.
1995 Multicultural Grant Recipient, South Carolina Arts Commission.
1995 Multicultural Grant Recipient, South Carolina Arts Commission.
1994 Hugh T. Stoddard Sr. Award for Distinguished Service as a Faculty Member, USC Sumter.
1994 Winner of "Forward Poetry Prize" Best First Collection: Progeny of Air, Great Britain.
1994 Research and Productive Scholarship Award. University of South Carolina.
1994 "Alternative Roots Collaborative Arts Project". Grant Award.
1986 Writing Fellow, International Writing Program, University of Iowa.

PUBLICATIONS

Books

--I Saw Your Face, Dial Books 2005.
--Twenty: South Carolina Poetry Fellows, Editor, Hub City, 2005.
--Bivouac, (novel) Peepal Tree Books (Forthcoming, 2005).
--Wisteria: Twilights Songs From the Swamp Country (Poems), Red Hen Press, (Forthcoming, September 2005).
--Bruised Totems. Parallel Press, Madison, 2004.
--Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius. Sanctuary Group (November 2002).
--A Place to Hide and Other Stories. Peepal Tree (October 2002).
--New and Selected Poems 1994-2002. Peepal Tree Books (October, 2002).
--One Love (play). Methuen Books, UK 2001.
--Midland: Poems. Ohio University Press (2001).
--Midland: Poems. Goose Lane Editions, Canada (2001).
^_-Mapmaker: Poems. Smith Doorstop Books, UK (2000).
--Talk Yuh Talk: Interviews with Caribbean Poets. University of Virginia Press.(Winter 2000).
--(Ed.). Wheel and Come Again: Reggae Anthology. Peepal Tree Books (UK) and Goose Lane Editions (Canada), (Spring 1998).
-- Natural Mysticism: Towards a Reggae Aesthetic. Peepal Tree Books, Summer 1998.
--Shook Foil. Peepal Tree Books, Spring 1998.
--Requiem. Peepal Tree Books, 1996.
--Jacko Jacobus. Peepal Tree Books, 1996.
--Prophets (poems). Peepal Tree, (1995)
--Resisting the Anomie (poems). Fredericton: Gooselane, 1995.
--Progeny of Air (poems). Peepal Tree, 1994.

ARTICLES IN BOOKS AND ACADEMIC JOURNALS

--“Introduction.” South Carolina Poetry Fellows. Hub City, SC, January, 2005.
--“Introduction.” Voices Under the Window by John Hearne. Peepal Tree, 2005.
--“Introduction.” Brotherman by Roger Mais. McMillan Books, UK, 2004.
--“Interview with Ibo Cooper.” Bomb Magazine 85 (Winter 2003).
--“Interview with Judy Mowatt.” Bomb Magazine 85 (Winter 2003).
--“Introduction.” Who Blew Up America by Amiri Baraka. House of Nehesi, St. Martin, 2003.
--“Preface.” Rastafari: From Outcasts to Culture.” OUP, 2003.
-- “Latin American Short Fiction” (Chapter). Critical Survey of Short Fiction, Second Revised Edition. Ed. Charles May. Salem Press, 2001. 2936-2948.
-- “Okigbo: A Divided Sensibility.” (Chapter) Studies on Christopher Okigbo. Ed. Uzo Esonwanne. G.K. Hall, 2001.
--“English Caribbean Literature.” (Chapter). Encyclopedia of World Literature in the TwentiethCentury (Volume 2:E-K). St. James Press, 1999. 57-66.
-- “Twilight Songs from the Swamp Country.” DoubleTake Magazine (Summer 1996): 47-49.
-- “Introduction.” Postmarked India: New and Selected Poems by Sudeep Sen. Harper Collins, 1997.
-- “360 Degrees Black: A Conversation with Lillian Allen.” West Coast: North. (1997)
-- “Memoirs of an Ex-Playwright.” Front Seat, Spring 1997.
-- “Dichotomies of Reading ‘street poetry’ and ‘book poetry’.” Critical Quarterly 38:4 (3-20)
-- “Bio-critical Introduction to Sudeep Sen.” Sudeep Sen: A Bio-critical Source Book. Triad, UK, 1996.
-- “Martin Carter--Unheralded.” (Chapter). The Art of Martin Carter. Ed. Stewart Brown. Seren Books, 2000.
-- “Diary.” London Review of Books, (Feb. 1996).
-- “Clothed Against Naked Racism.” World Press Review , (April 1996).
-- “Disarming the Threat of Rasta Revolution in Mais’ Brother Man.” Commonwealth Novel in English.7.1&2.
-- “Andrew Salkey.” Encyclopedia of World Literature. Salem Press, 1997. 1760-1.
-- “Samuel Selvon.” Encyclopedia of World Literature. Salem Press, 1997. 1805-7.
-- “Yusef Komunyakaa.” Encyclopedia of World Literature. Salem Press, 1997. 1158-60.
-- “Orlando Patterson.” Encyclopedia of World Literature. Salem Press, 1997. 571-2.
-- “Reading Rice: A Local Habitation and a Name.”. African American Review 31:2 (1997): 269-279.
-- “Boyhood, Reggae and West Indian Literature.” (Chapter). Major Minorities: English Literatures in Transit. Ed. Raoul Granqvist. University of Umea, 1993. 111-131.
-- “Violence and Patriarchy: Male Domination in Roger Mais’ Brother Man.” Ariel. (July 1994): 19-49.
-- “An Act of 'Unruly' Savagery: Re-Writing Black Rebellion in the Language of the Colonizer. H.G. de Lisser's The White Witch of Rosehall.” Caribbean Quarterly 40.1 (March 1994): 1-12.
-- “The Children's novels of Andrew Salkey.” (Chapter). Writers of Multicultural Fiction for Young Adults. Ed. Daphne Kutzer. Greenwood Publishing, 1996.
-- “Children's writing of James Berry.” (Chapter). Writers of Multicultural Fiction for Young Adults. Ed. Daphne Kutzer. Greenwood Publishing, 1996.
-- “Reappropriating Cultural Appropriation.” (Chapter). Borrowed Power Essays on Cultural Appropriation. Ed. Bruce Ziff. Rutgers, 1997. 109-21.
-- “A Study in Political Pessimism: Politics and Violence in Dennis Scott's Dog.” Journal of West Indian Literature. (Fall 1994).
-- “For colored girls . . . (Ntosake Shange).” Masterplots II: Women's Literature. Pasadena: Salem, 1994. 813-17.
-- “Through the Ivory Gates (Rita Dove).” Masterplots II: Women's Literature. Pasadena: Salem, 1994. 2304-08.
-- “Morrison, Toni.” Great Lives from History: American Women. Pasadena: Salem, 1994 .-- “Jan Carew.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. London: Routledge.
-- “Pat Cumper.” Routledge Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English. London: Routledge.
--”Jan Carew”. (Chapter). Fifty Caribbean Writers. Ed. Daryl Cumber-Dance. Greenwood, 1986.

BOOK REVIEWS

--“Review of Tide Running, by Oonya Kempadoo.” Callaloo (forthcoming).
--“Review of by Derek Walcott’s Walker and The Ghost Dance: Plays.” Caribbean Writer (Forthcoming).
--”Review of Praise Song for the Land: Poems of Hope and Love and Care by Kofi Anyidoho.” World Literature Today (forthcoming).
--“Review of Words Need Love, Too, by Kamau Brathwaite.” World Literature Today, (Winter 2002).
--“Review of Turn Thanks and Guinea Woman by Lorna Goodison.” Caribbean Writer 15 (2001): 148-151.
-- “Review of Patience Agbabi’s Transformatrix and Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze’s The Arrival of Brighteye.” Poetry Review (UK), Fall 2000.
--“Review of Robert Finley’s The Accidental Indies.” Minneapolis Star Tribune (October 2000).
--“Review of Caryl Phillips’ Atlantic Sound.” Minneapolis Star Tribune (October 2000).

“Review of Regie Cabico and Todd Swift’s Poetry Nation: The North American Anthology of Fusion Poetry.” Harpweaver 7 (Summer 2000).
--“Review of Eric Jerome Dickey’s Liar’s Game.” Minneapolis Star Tribune (June 2000).
--“Review of Dread Beat and Blood by Linton Kwesi Johnson.” BBC1 On-Line, (www.bbc.co.uk/arts/books/windrush/dread.shtml <http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/books/windrush/dread.shtml>) (2000).
--“Review of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth.” Minneapolis Star Tribune (May 2000).
--“Reviews of H.D. Carberry’s It Takes a Fire and Heather Royes’ The Caribbean Raj.” The Caribbean Writer 13. 244-48.
-- “Review of Mark Doty’s Sweet Machine.” Poetry Review, UK (Spring 1999).
-- “Review of new collections by Mimi Khalvati, Beverley Braune and Lucille Clifton.” Poetry Review, UK, (Winter 1998).
-- “Review of Nurrudin Farah’s Secrets.” Emerge Magazine (Fall 1998).
-- “Review of Bernardine Evaristo’s Lara.” World Literature Today (Summer 1998).
-- “Review of Gavrielle Groves -Gidney’s The Last Assignment.” World Literature Today (1998).
-- “Review of Leonie Ross’s All the Blood is Red.” World Literature Today (1998).
-- “Review of Rosemary Marangoly George’s The Politics of Home: Postcolonial Relocations and Twentieth Century Fiction.” Critique (Fall 1997).
-- “Calypso, Carnival and Quiet Concentration: A review of Grace Nichols and Kendel Hippolyte.” Poetry London Newsletter, Fall 1997.
-- “Vagabonds, Rogues and Murders.” (Review of Soyinka’s The Open Sore of A Continent.) Book World: Washington Post, November 10, 1996.
-- “Once On This Island.” (Review of Lovelace’s Salt.) Book World: Washington Post. March 30, 1997.
-- “Review of Kwesi Brew.” World Literature Today (Winter 1997).
-- “Review of Stewart Brown’s (ed.) The Art of Kamau Brathwaite.” WLT (Winter 1997). 202-203.
-- “Review of Stewart Brown’s (Ed) The Pressure of the Text: Orality, Texts and the Telling of Tales.” African Affairs: Journal of the Royal Africa Society. (October 1997). -- “Review of Lawrence Scott's Ballad for the New World." Chimo (Summer 1995).
-- “Review of Olive Senior's Gardening in the Tropics.” Chimo 29 (Fall 1994): 29-34.
-- “Review of Alecia McKenzie's Satellite City.” Chimo 28 (Spring 1994): 42-44.
-- “Review of Mervyn Morris's Examination Centre.” Chimo 27 (Fall 1993): 26-32.

--“Review of Geoffrey Philp’s Florida Bound.” Journal of Caribbean Literatures (1997).

--“A Genuine Caribbean Text: A Review of Lawrence Scott’s Witchbroom.” Journal of Caribbean Literatures (1997).

OTHER 

--“The Other Tribe.” (Personal Essay). Essence Magazine, September 2002.
--“Introduction”: Chris Abani’s Kalakuti Republic. Saqui Books, 2000.
--“Introduction”: Sudeep Sen’s Postmarked India. HarperCollins, 2000.
--Blurb for Waiting In Vain, novel by Colin Channer. Ballentine Books, 1998.
--Blurb for The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories, edited by John Wickam and Stewart Brown. Oxford University Press, 1999.
--Blurb for Sharra McCallum’s Water Between Us, University of Pittsburg Press, 1999.
--Blurb for Wayde Compton’s 49^th Parallel Psalm, Arsenal Pulp Press, 1999.

SCHOLARLY WORK IN PROGRESS

--In Sepia and other Writings: A Retrospective on the Writing of Neville Dawes. (Edited with introduction by Kwame Dawes.) This manuscript has been accepted by Peepal Tree Books.
--A Far Cry From Plymouth: A Memoir.
--Caribbean Play Series (Series Editor) (For the next four years Peepal Tree will publish five new titles in the series.)

^{CREATIVE PUBLICATIONS}

POEMS AND OTHER CREATIVE WORK IN JOURNALS AND ANTHOLOGIES

n “Eat.” Dance the Guns to Silence: 100 Poems for Ken Saro Wiwa. Ed.

Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Kadija Sesay. London: Flipped Eye Publishing, 2006.

--“Marley’s Ghost.” Iron Balloons: New Fiction from Jamaica. Ed. Colin Channer.

Akashic Books, 2006.

n -- “Inheritance.” Pushcart Best of Thirty Years Anthology

n “Eat.” Dance the Guns to Silence: 100 Poems for Ken Saro Wiwa. Ed. Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Kadija Sesay. London: Flipped Eye Publishing, 2005.

n -- “Inheritance.” Pushcart Best of Thirty Years Anthology. (Forthcoming).

n --“Peach Picking.” Georgia Review, Spring 2005.
--“The Letter,” “Sparrow,” “Shades,” “Ritual.” The Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, Winter 2004.
--“Meeting.” Essence Magazine, July 2004.
--“Time,” “The Idea of Her,” “Lesson,” “Island Memory.” Bomb Magazine, Spring 2004.
--“Soup” and “Pink Snapper.” Moving Worlds, 2004.
--“Fat Man and Little Boy.” Indiana Review 26.1(May 2004).
--“Fever/ Contagion.” Puerto del Sol 40.1 (Spring 2005).
--“At the Fair.” Shenandoah (Forthcoming).
--“Henna.” Beloit Poetry Journal 54.4 (Summer 2004).
--“Seasonal” and “Nightmare IV.” Illuminations 19 (August 2003).
-- “Deecy and Pheo.” (Story). Brown Sugar: A Collection of Erotic Black Fiction. Ed. Carol Taylor. Plume Books, 2001. 155-67.
--“The Story of the Girl and the Fish.” (story). Sitting up with the Dead. Ed. Pamela Petro. Flamingo/Harper Collins, 2000. 134-41.
--“Caricature,” “Ska Memory,” and “Memory: An Abstraction.” Spoon River Poetry Review xxv.2 (Summer/Fall 2000).
--“Sanctuary,” “Genocide,” “Reaper in Wheatfield,” and “Memory of a Garden.” Wasafiri 32 (Autumn, 2000): 23-24.
-- “Inheritance” and “Holy Dub.” Caribbean Writer (Fall 2000).
--“Excursion to Port Royal.” Step Into a World: A Global Anthology of the New Black Literature. Ed. Kevin Powell. John Wiley and Sons, 2000.
--“Cortege on Leyton High Street,” “Eating With Fingers,” “Dionysius’ Miracle in Oxford Circus,” and “Umpire at the Portrait Gallery.” Kunapipi: Journal of Post-Colonial Writing.XXI.2 (1999): 1-4.
--“Grace” and “Cocoa Pod.”Poetry London 33 (Summer 1999): 6-7.
-- “In Memoriam.” Ariel 29.2 (April 1998): 73-74.
-- “from Inheritance.” London Review of Books (January 1999).
-- “Love Oil.” Callaloo (Spring 1998).
-- “Baptism,” “Marriage,” “Parting,” “Guidance,” “Bloodletting,” “Trouble-maker,” and “Death Mask.” Black Renaissance 2.2 (Summer 1999):108-14.
-- “Midlands,” “Easter Poem,” and “Hymn.” Yamassee (Spring 1999).
-- “Hawk” and “Tornado Child.” Poetry London Newsletter, Spring 1997.
--“Five Poems.” Obsidian II (Fall 1998).
-- “Three Poems.” Point (October 1997).
-- “Two Premonitions,” “Bridge,” and “Lonely Londoners.” Ariel 27.2 (April 1996).
-- “Excerpts from Twilight Songs from the Swamp Country.” Doubletake (Summer 1997).
-- “Cruise.” Mississippi Review (Summer, 1996).
-- “Shadow Play,” “Oakland Avenue” and “Some Tentative Definitions XI.” Poems for the Beekeeper: An Anthology of Modern Poetry. Ed. Robert Gent. Five Leaves, UK, 1996.
-- “Communion.” Forward Anthology 1995. UK 1996.
-- “Progeny of Air" and "New Neighbours." Forward Anthology, UK, 1994.
-- “Psalm 36.” London Review of Books (May, 1995).
-- “Pusher.” London Review of Books (May, 1995).
-- “Progeny of Air.” Callaloo (Summer 1993).
-- “Grace.” Callaloo (Summer 1993).
-- “Acceptance Revisited.” Fiddlehead (Fall 1989).
-- “Evening Song.” Fiddlehead (Spring 1988).
-- “A Short Play.” English in the Caribbean. Ed. Faith Linton. London: Collins, 1987.

PLAYS PRODUCED AND STAGED READINGS

--“One Love.”  Dir. Carol Lawes. Edna Manley School of Performing Arts, Kingston, Jamaica, 2002.
--“Stump of the Terebinth.” Dir. Roshni Tewarie. St. Joseph’s College, Trinidad, 2001 (winner of National Drama Festival).
--“Stump of the Terebinth.” Dir. Ron Himes. St. Louis Black Repertory Theater Company, US, 2001-2002 (touring company).
--“Valley Prince.” (Staged Reading). Dir. Carol Lawes. Phillip Sherlock Creative Arts Center, University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 2002.
--“Stump of the Terebinth.” (Staged Reading). Dir. Alwyn Bully. Calabash Literary Festival, Jamaica, 2001.
--“One Love.” Dir. Yvonne Brewster. Commissioned by Talawa Theatre Company: Play opened at Bristol Old Vic, (April 2001) and moved to The Lyric Hammersmith, London, (July 2001).
-- “Charity’s Come.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Sumter Little Theater, Sumter Arts Festival 1998, October, 1998.
-- “Charity's Come.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Forest Drive Baptist Church, May, 1998.
-- “Charity’s Come.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Sumter Little Theater, October, 1998.
-- “A Celebration of Struggle.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. University of South Carolina at Sumter, 1995.
-- “Stump of the Terebinth.” Dir. Lorna Littleway. Staged-Reading, Juneteenth New Playwright Festival, Louisville, Kentucky; May, 1998.
-- “Stump of the Terebinth.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. University of South Carolina at Sumter, 1994.
-- “New World A-Comin'.” (Radio Play). Dir. Kwame Dawes. CBC Morningside, 1994.\
-- “Samaritans.” (Radio play). Dir. Paula Dankert. CBC Morningside; April, 1992, April 1993, April 1994.
-- “Salut Haiti.” (Radio Poem/Drama). Dir. Paula Dankert, CBC Atlantic Airwaves, 1993.
--“Stump of the Terebinth.” (Staged Reading). Dirs./Dramaturgs Michael Shamata, Michelline Chervier, Kathleen Flaherty, Alun Hibbert, Theatre New Brunswick, 1991.
-- “Passages.” (Staged Reading). Dir. Michael Devine, Dramaturg, Kathleen Flaherty. Playwrights Workshop of Montreal, , 1990.
-- “Charades.” Dir. John Ruganda. Enterprise Theatre, Fredericton, Memorial Hall, 1990.
-- “Charades.” (Staged Reading). ; Dirs./Dramaturgs, Kathleen Flaherty, Paula Dankert, Alun Hibbert. Theatre New Brunswick, 1990.
-- “Charity's Come.” Dir. Faith Hamer. Christian Graduate Theatre Company, Creative Arts Centre, Kingston,1990.
-- “In My Garden.” (Staged Reading). Dir. John Ruganda. Theatre New Brunswick, 1988.
-- “Song of An Injured Stone.” (Musical). Dir. Jennifer Campbell; music: Michael Lesley, Jon Williams. Christian Graduate Theatre Company, Creative Arts Centre, U.W.I.: Extra Mural Centre, St. John, Antigua, 1988.
-- “Coming In From the Cold.” University of New Brunswick, 1988.
-- “Brown Leaf and Other Plays.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Memorial Hall, UNB, Fredericton, 1987.
-- “Confessions.” Dir. Faith Hamer. Dramatic Theatre, Creative Arts Centre, Island Tour, Jamaica, 1986.
-- “Charity's Come.” (Staged Reading). Dir. by Faculty. Theatre School of Univ. of Iowa, 1986.
-- “Confessions.” (Staged Reading). Dir. Kwame Dawes. Theatre School of Univ. of Iowa, 1986.
-- “Dear Pastor.” Dir. Diane Thompson. Creative Arts Centre, Jamaica School of Drama, 1986.
-- “Friends and Almost Lovers.” Dir. Jennifer Campbell. Creative Arts Centre, Extra Mural Department, U.W.I. Antigua, 1986.
-- “Charity's Come.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Creative Arts Centre, Dramatic Centre, Jamaica School of Drama, Island Tour (Jamaica); Remounted, May 1998, Columbia South Carolina, Forest Drive Baptist Church, 1985.
-- “Even Unto Death.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Creative Arts Centre, Kingston, 1985.
-- “It Burns and It Stings.” Dir. Keith Ellis. Island Tour (Jamaica), 1985.
-- “In The Warmth of the Cold.” Dir. Oswald Zachariah. Extra Mural Dept. U.W.I. Antigua, 1985.
--"The System." College of Arts Science and Technology, Kingston, 1984.
--"In Chains of Freedom." Dir. Kwame Dawes & Faith Hamer. Dramatic Theatre, Creative Arts Centre, Kingston, 1984.
-- “The Martyr.” Dir. Kwame Dawes. Bethlehem Teachers' College, Jamaica, 1985.
-- “And The Gods Fell.” Dir. Kwame Dawes & Faith Hamer. Dramatic Theatre, Creative Arts Centre, Kingston, 1983.
-- “In the Warmth of the Cold.” Dir. Maurice Hall. Creative Arts Centre, Little Theatre, Kingston, 1982-83. -------John Henry Clarke Distinguished Lecture and Poetry Reading. Bankhead Visiting Writers Series. University of Alabama, 2001. --“Wisteria: Twilight Songs from the Swamp Country.” Music composed by Kevin Simmonds. Columbia Museum of Art. April 9^th, 2005. --“The View from Africa Tour” Organized by Virginia Quarterly Review, Granta, and Transition Magazine. University of Maryland and George Mason University, VA. February 2006. --“Wisteria: The Performance.” Music composed by Kevin Simmonds. Performed at the South Sumter Resource Center on July 9^th, 2006.

PAPERS PRESENTED, LECTURES, READINGS AND WORKSHOPS

PAPERS PRESENTED AND LECTURES

1999-2002 - In the last three years I have presented papers and given keynote lectures at conferences like CARIFESTA 2000, the South Carolina Teachers of English Conference in Charleston SC, Studies of the African Diaspora at York University among others.

I have been invited to give guest lectures and key note addresses at the following institutions:

Jamaican High Commission in the UK, Benedict College, South Carolina State University, the University of Cambridge, University of Maryland, University of the West Indies (Mona), University of the West Indies, (Cave Hill), University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Duke University, Barnard College, Ithaca College, University of Alabama, University of North London, University of South Carolina at Lancaster, National Black Theatre Festival, University of Colorado, Kenyon College, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Winston Salem University, among others.

-- “Writing Home Away from Home.” (Lecture). UWI Academic Conference for Writers. University of the West Indies, Mona, Saturday, August 26^th, 2006.

-- “Towards a Reggae Aesthetic.” (Guest Lecture.) Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, Scotland, July 1998.
-- “Windrush Stalwarts: George Lamming, Beryl Gilroy and E.R. Brathwaite.”(Session Chair.) Windrush Conference, Southbank Centre, London. July, 1998.
-- “Babylon By Bus: Reading America Through the Eyes of Bob Marley: A Third World Perspective.” (Panelist.) International Studies Conference, Walker Institute, University of South Carolina, April 1998.
-- “Colonialism and Irish Literature.” (Session Chair.) International Irish American Conference, University of South Carolina, Spring 1998.
-- “Understanding Race.” (Key-note Address.) MLK Commemoration, University of South Carolina at Sumter, February, 1998.
-- “Black British Writing, An Introduction.” (Guest Lecture.) Walthamstone Library, London, November, 1997.
-- “A Ship on Their Heads: Redefining Black British Writing.” (Featured Lecture.) Tracing Paper: Conference on Black British Literature. London Museum, November, 1997.
--“Reggae Poetry: Apologia.” (Featured Lecture.) University of Linkoping, Sweden, November, 1997.
--“Media Representation and Cultural and National Identities.” (Panelist) CELAFI Black Canadian Festival, Toronto, July, 1997.
--“African Diasporic Dilemmas.” (Panelist). African Festival, Chicago, October 1996.
--“The poets Voice in the Caribbean.” (Guest Lecture). University of Leeds, April 1996.
--“Vision of the New Caribbean Artist.” (Guest Lecture). University of Warwick, 1996.
-- “Ritual in Theatre of the African Diaspora.” (Panelist). International Black Theatre Festival. Winston Salem University, NC. Summer, 1995.
-- “Women and Drama.” (Session Chair). USC's Women's Studies Conference, Spring 1995.
-- “Black Apocalypse in the South: Dennis Scott and the Georgia Landscape.” 20th Century Literature Conference. Louisville, Kentucky, Fall 1994.
-- “Why Ngugi should Win the Nobel Prize for Literature and why the Nobel Prize needs Ngugi.” (Commentator for Patrick Scott’s paper). South Eastern Association of African Studies Conference, Athens Georgia, Spring 1994.
-- “West Indian Literature.” (Session Chair). Commonwealth Studies Conference, Georgia Southern University, April 1994.
-- “Colonialism and Feminism in Emecheta's Joys of Motherhood.” (Guest Lecture) University of South Carolina, Columbia, fall 1993.
-- “West Indian Literature.” (Session Chair/Presenter). Commonwealth Studies Conference, Georgia Southern University, April 1994.
-- "The Black Canadian Voice.” (Panelist) Griot Speaks: Festival of African Canadian Writing. National Library of Canada, Ottawa. August 1995.
-- “Finding a Voice.” (Session Chair) Griot Speaks: Festival of African Canadian Writing. National Library of Canada, Ottawa. August 1995.
-- “Training, Education and Development for Artists and Arts Administrators in a Culturally Diverse Environment: Comparing Strategies and Models.” (Panelist). At Crossing Frontiers: Issues of Heritage, Culture and Identity in a Comparative Context, an international symposium. Hull, Quebec, June 1994.

READINGS (SELECT)

1999-2002 In the last three years I have read at venues in the Caribbean, Sweden, the UK, Canada and throughout the United States at festivals, universities, bookstores and other venues. Following are some of the venues at which I have read from my poetry in the last three years:

Ithaca College, University of Alabama (Bankhead Visiting Writers Series); South Carolina State University; Simmons College; Duke University; North Carolina State University; USC Lancaster; University of Maryland; Calabash International Literary Festival launch 2002; SCTE Conference, Charleston; Illinois State University; Calabash International Literary Festival 2001; USC Local Writers Festival 2002; Explorer’s Club, NY (Hosted New York Times and Jamaica Tourist Board); Barnard College; SC Governor School for the Arts, Greenville, SC; Aiken High School Poetry Reading; MacNair Scholarship Program, USC; Q Gallery in Derby (UK); Royal Festival Hall (London, UK); Jamaica High Commission (UK); Manchester Public Libraries (UK); West Indian Café, Brighton (UK); Battersea Arts Centre (UK); North London University (UK); Borders Bookstore, London, UK; Diggante Writers Festival, Stockholm (Sweden); Faculty of Arts, University of the West Indies, Mona (Jamaica); CARIFESTA (Caribbean Arts Festival) St. Kitts; University of Maryland; University of South Carolina Columbia; University of South Carolina Lancaster; University of South Carolina Aiken; Greenville Public Library; Spartanburg Public Library; University of Illinois Chicago; Illinois State University; Winston Salem University; Gallery 701, Columbia, SC; University of Colorado, Francis Marion University, Kenyon College, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Winston Salem University.

“Of Poetry.” JHB Arts Alive Mind’ Sessions, Johannesburg, South Africa, September 8^th, 2006.

--“Of Poetry.” Rutenberg Poetry Performance (A Reading of Kwame Dawes’Poetry inspired by the art of Brian Rutenberg), South Carolina State Museum, August 26^th, 2006.

-- “Of Poetry.” Souls of Black Folks Bookstore, Brixton, UK, June, 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” (with Keith Waithe). Apples and Snakes at Battersea Arts Centre, UK, June 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, Scotland, June, 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Mango Lick Performances, London, June 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Embankment Festival, London, June 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Columbia Jazz Festival, Gallery 707, Columbia, July 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Gallery 707 June 1998.
-- "Of Poetry." Claflin College, South Carolina, April 1998.
-- “Of Poetry” McKessick Museum, University of South Carolina, January 1998.
-- “Grits and Poetry II.” South Sumter Resource Center, January 1998.
-- “Of Poetry.” Miami International Book Fair, November 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” The Barbican Library, London, October 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” McKissick Museum, October, 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” Birmingham Readers and Writers Festival, October, 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” Cambridge University, UK, October, 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” South Carolina Book Festival, September 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” Creative Arts Centre, University of the West Indies, August, 1997.
-- “Grits and Poetry I.” South Sumter Resource Center, January, 1997.
-- “Of Poetry.” Centreprise Book Store, London, October 28, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” The Poetry Box, South Bank Centre, London, May, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” Handsworth library, Birmingham, October 30, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” Swansea Literary Festival, November 1, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” Poetry Society, London, May 5, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” Sidwell Friends High School, Washington DC, January, 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” University of South Carolina, Lancaster, October, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” University of South Carolina, Aiken, November, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” National Library of Canada, Ottawa, February, 1996.
-- "Of Poetry." National Association of English Teachers Annual Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC. August, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Harbour Front Writers Series, Toronto, October 1995.
-- “Anomie.” Gallery Connexion, Fredericton, NB, June 23, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Exeter Devon Arts Festival, Exeter Arts Centre, UK, May 25, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry” International Arts Festival, Swansea Arts Workshop Gallery, Wales, May 28, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Birmingham Readers and Writers Festival, May 17, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Huddersfield Writers Festival, May 27, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Beeston Public Library, UK, May 25, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Outloud Poetry Performance, West Yorkshire Playhouse, UK, May 22, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” (With Linton Kwesi Johnson), Bury St. Edmunds Arts Festival, UK, May 1996.
-- “Of Poetry.” Sumter County Library, Fall 1993.
-- “Of Poetry..” University of South Carolina at Sumter. January 1995.
-- “Story Telling.” Irish American Storytelling Festival, Belfast, Ireland. June 1994.
-- “Of Poetry.” National Black Theater Festival, Winston Salem, NC, August 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” Waterstones Book Store, York, UK, May 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” UK Year of Literature Roots Festival, Swansea, Wales. May, 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” The Poetry Bar, Toronto. October 1995.
-- “Of Poetry.” National Library of Canada ("Griot Speaks Festival) November 1995.
-- ”Of Poetry." Sumter County Library. May 1995.

WORKSHOPS FACILITATED (SELECT)

--In the last three years I have been a regular writers’ workshop tutor for events sponsored by the London Literary Arts organization, Spread the Word. I have visited the UK four times a year to give writing workshops in London and through out the UK.
--Calabash International Literary Festival Workshops (May, 2004)
-- Arvon Writers Workshop (Tutor) (Five Days), Lumb Bank, UK. April 2002
-- Arvon Writers Workshop, (Tutor) (Five Days) Lumb Bank, UK. September, 1998
-- “Poetry Workshop: Master Class” (Three Days) Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. June 1998.
-- “Myth and Form: Poetry Workshop.” (Three Days Spread The Word Arts Organization, at Poetry Society, London. June 1998.
-- “Advanced Poetry Workshop.” (Three Days) Spread The Word Arts Organization. London, October 1997.
-- “From Pen to Print: A Workshop on Publishing.” (Co-facilitator with Jeremy Poynting) York, UK, May 1996.
-- “Writing Poetry within the African Diaspora: A workshop.” (Three Days) Spread The Word Arts Organization, at Poetry Society, London. May 1996.
-- “Ritual and Myth in Creative Writing: A Workshop.” (Three Days) Spread The Word Arts Organization, at Poetry Society, London, May 1996.
-- “Writing in the Reggae Aesthetic.” (One day) With Colin Channer, Spread The Word, London, October 1996.
-- “Workshop on Storytelling and Bookmaking.” (Semester Long) Wil Lou Grey School, Columbia SC, Spring, 1996.
-- “Cultural Equity in the Film and Video Industry in Canada.” (One Day) (Workshop Facilitator and Designer). Sponsored by Alliance of Independent Film and Video Artists in Canada, Toronto. Spring 1994.
-- “Marginality and the Art Industry in Canada.” (Workshop Co-Facilitator and Co-Designer with Premika Ratnam) (One Day). Sponsored by Alliance of Independent Film and Video Artists in Canada, Montreal. Fall, 1992.
-- “Understanding History and the Artist.” (Guest Lecture) Rotary of Sumter. Fall 1992.

OTHER SCHOLARLY WORK

-- The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories. Eds. Stewart Brown and John Wickham. Reviewed manuscript and wrote blurb for the jacket notes. Published by OUP, 1998. -- Waiting In Vain, by Colin Channer. Reviewed manuscript and wrote blurb for jacket notes. Published by Ballentine Books. 1998. -- Electricity Comes to Cocoa Bottom by Marcia Douglas. Reviewed and recommended manuscript for publication. A Poetry Society Recommendation. Peepal Tree Books, October 1998. -- Criticism Editor and Poetry co-editor of Obsidian III (refereed journal) (I have, in the course of my duties for that journal considered numerous manuscripts for publication. 1997. -- Editor of The Essayist, Journal of Student Essays, USC Sumter. 1993-6 -- Editorial Advisor for The Sandhill, Student literary journal, USC Sumter. --Author of eight letters of reference for Guggenheim Fellowships for novelists, poets and essayists (as of 2004).

My publications and productions have been reviewed and featured in the following publications:

The Daily Gleaner, The Herald, The Observer, The Daily News, Caribbean Writer, Air Jamaica Magazine, BWIA Flight Magazine (Caribbean), Globe and Mail, The Daily Gleaner, The Daily Gleaner, The Telegraph Journal, The Brunswickan (Canada), The Guardian, Bristol Evening Post, Western Daily Press, The Voice, Venue, Time Out London, The London Times, Poetry Review, Impact, Lines, Calabash, Wasafiri, The Courier, World Literature Written In English, The English Review, Poetry London Newsletter, Morning Star (UK), World Literature Today, The Atlanta Journal/Constitution, The State, Publishers Weekly, Black Issues, The State, Library Journal, Black Warrior Review, Beat Magazine, The Sumter Item (USA), Dagens Nyheter (Sweden)

GRANTS AUTHORED AND PROJECTS INITIATED

-- Sisters of Charity Fatherhood Initiative Planning Grant, “Fatherhood Initiative for Sumter Region.” Grant consultant and co-author for South Sumter Resource Center. Planning Grant. (Approved: $1500).
--Individual Artist Award, South Carolina arts Commission ($3000.00).
-- Provost Innovative Teaching Award, USC. “Teaching Dramatic Literature in High Schools.” Co-authored with Dr. Carol Kay. Spring 1997. (Approved: $1500).
-- “Multicultural Grant for Artists.” To South Carolina Arts Commission ($500.00).
-- “Sumter's African American Festival of the Arts.” Grant application authored and submitted. Invited to resubmit to South Carolina Arts Council. (1994).
-- “Alternate Roots-Collaborate Arts Project.” Co-authored with Nikky Finney.(1994) Awarded.
-- “Caribbean Poets Speak: Book Proposal.” Submitted to Scholarship and Support Division of USC. Awarded ($3000.00). (1994).
-- “Towards the Establishment of a Center for Oral Narration at USC Sumter.” Project proposal submitted to USC Sumter Administration. Project Approved. (1994)
-- “Workshops on Cultural and Racial Equity in Canadian Independent Film and Video Industry.” Submitted to the Alliance of Independent Film and Video of Canada. Approved. (1993).
-- “Revitalizing Dramatic Arts at USC Sumter.” Submitted to USC Sumter Administration. Approved. (1994).
--Travel Support Grant. South Carolina Humanities Council. Not Approved. (1994).
-- “Towards the Establishment of a Journal for Student Essays.” Submitted to USC Sumter Administration for Approval. Approved. (1993).
-- “Marketing Proposal for Launching the book, A History of USC Sumter.” Submitted to Marketing and Promotions Committee, USC Sumter. Proposal utilized. (1993).

COMMITTEES

2002- -- Board Member, South Carolina Humanities Council (Executive Committee)
2003- -- Teaching Committee, Department of English, USC
2000- -- Board of Directors, Calabash International Literary Festival Trust. (Jamaica/USA)
2000-2002--Faculty Advisory Committee, English Department.
2001- --Tenure and Promotion Committee, English Department.
1999- -- Chair, Minority Writers Series, English Department.
1998-2000 -- Chair, Spring Writers Committee, English Department.
1998-2001 -- Member of Advisory Committee for Comparative Literature Program.
1997-8 -- Chair, English Department's Visiting Writers' Series.
1997-8 -- Member of Search Committee for faculty in African American Studies and Southern Literature.
1997- -- MFA Committee, English Department.
1996-7 -- Member of African Studies Program Committee.
1996-7 -- Committee to design English 600-level course for high school teachers.
1996-8 -- Faculty Senator (English Representative).
1996-7 -- Search Committee, New Position in Southern Literature (English Department)
1996- -- Graduate Committee Member (English Department).
1996 -- English Department's Creative Writing Contests (Adjudicator).
1996-7 -- Speakers Program Committee Member (English Department).
1996-7 -- Admissions Sub-Committee, Graduate English Program.
1995-6 -- Chair, Faculty Welfare Committee, Regional Campuses Faculty Senate (Sumter Representative).
1994-6 -- President's Task Force on Affirmative Action, University of South Carolina.
1994-6 -- USC Regional Campuses Senator. (Sumter Representative).
1994-6 -- USC Sumter Honors Committee.
1993-6 -- Member, USC Sumter Academic Council
1993-6 -- Member of MLK Day Committee, USC Sumter Faculty Organization.
1993-6 -- Chair, Korn Trust Foundation, USC Sumter
1995-6 -- Member of Advisory Board to International Students Program (CASS), USC Sumter.
1993-6 -- Member of USC Sumter's Marketing and Publications Committee.
1993-6 -- Member of USC Sumter's Computer Advisory Committee.
1993-6 -- USC, Columbia, Faculty Senator (Sumter Representative)
1994-6 -- Member, University Library Art Selection Committee, USC Sumter.
1993-6 -- Acting Chair, USC Sumter, Discipline and Grievance Committee (Summers)
1993-5 -- Chair of Fall Academic Convocation Planning Committee, USC Sumter.
1993 -- Member of Search Committee for University Dean, Sumter, South Carolina.
1991 -- Member of Preservation Committee, University Libraries, UNB.
1990-1 -- Member of Search Committee for Head of Libraries, University of New Brunswick.
1989 -- Student Union Representative, Library Users Committee, University of New Brunswick.

COMMUNITY

For the last eight years I have worked closely with the staff at the South Sumter Resource Center with at-risk youth. I have written grant applications for them, most of which have been successful. To date the center, with my assistant has secured almost half a million dollars in grant money. Over the last two years I have designed and spearheaded a special Rites of Passage Program for minority youths in the county that has been quite successful at working with students who have been expelled from the public school system.

REFERENCES

Upon Request

PERSONAL:

Born: 7.28.62. Accra, Ghana. Lived in Ghana, Britain, Jamaica, Canada, USA. Married (Lorna Marie) with three children (Sena, Kekeli, and Akua).

Updated: September 2004