Poets Colonizing in (RE)VERSE at Red Bones Blues Café

Three of Jamaica’s finest contemporary voices and performance poets, Mel Cooke, Yashika Graham and Richard “Dingo” Dingwall, are gearing up to participate in Jamaica Rising, a series of poetry readings across Bristol, a rising cultural epicentre in the UK. But before starting the trek they will present Colonization in (Re)VERSE at Redbones the Blues Café.

Colonization in (Re)VERSE will give Jamaican audiences a taste of the performances in Bristol (October 10 & 11) which will surround Professor Mervyn Morris’ delivery of the annual poetry reading at the Bristol Poetry Institute.

Cooke, Graham and Dingo are included in Jamaica Rising to bring greater attention and exposure to the wealth of talent emerging from Jamaica by showcasing newer voices alongside the poetic patriarch, Prof Morris. These three poets, who have been making a positive name for themselves on the local market, got on the international radar via the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment’s initiative “Arts in the Park – the Spoken Word Edition.” The Reggae Month event featuring a range of Jamaican poets was held at Devon House as part of the Ministry’s thrust to promote the cultural industries. 

Unfortunately, the organizers of the Bristol series of events were not successful in raising sufficient grant funding to cover international travel costs of the three poets. The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment has further cemented their commitment to the initiative and promoting Brand Jamaica by underwriting 50% of the outstanding sum. The poets will be raising the additional funds through the aptly titled night of poetry Colonization in (RE)VERSE, where they will be joined by some excellent guest performers including poet Velma Pollard, comedian/poet Michael Abrahams and singer/poet Jah9.  

Colonization in (Re)Verse gets underway at 7pm on October 6. Entry to the fundraiser is $1000.