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Three new books released from Kibo Books, LLC --- June 8th,
2007
BROOKLYN, NY – Kibo Books, LLC. - independent press in
Brooklyn, NY, released three new books at a unique book launch event on Friday,
June 8th at BRIC Studio. The launch party was produced in conjunction
with Blakhand Artistik, Inc. and Dreaming Makes Sen$e®;
food and beverage sponsorship was provided by bushbaby®
coffee-house in Brooklyn.
The books featured were Potions and Plots Unraveled from my
Locs and Conversations with my Violent Side from poets, Makeela B.
Amani and Norman Alexander Alkamal Jemmott respectively, as well as, Small
Black Book of Mighty Thoughts by writer Odimumba Kwamdela. In
addition to celebrating the book releases, the evening also included the
official announcement of the recently restructured website,
www.blakhandarts.com,
from the independent artist-support company, Blakhand Artistik, Inc. --- a
business entity founded by Ms. Amani.
The night began with a slide show reflecting the history of Kibo
Books and Blakhand Artistik, Inc. and was punctuated by spirited performances by
the featured authors reading from their newly released books, as well as
readings upcoming poets Essence Lamonde (who also served as host) and newcomer
Krysten Edmund.
During the evening Makeela B.
Amani captivated the crowd with a rousing spoken word performance/reading from
her book, Potions & Plots Unraveled from my Locs; she read several
engrossing poems. House of Horrors, her signature piece about
oppression and the African Diaspora moved the audience to participate
energetically in a call-and-response manner. Another piece performed Composite
of a King, an ode to the charm, appeal, and power of men garnered similar
enthusiasm.
Makeela is a Brooklyn-based, Toronto, Canada
born artist, whose parental roots sprout from the island of Barbados. She
is an all-around artist who, in addition to writing and performing poetry and
prose, also works in various mediums, including painting, web design, music
arrangement, and sterling silver jewelry making. Makeela's art reflects the
unconditional love, pain and joys of people of African descent in particular,
and all folks in general. All these themes are also reflected in her first
book, Journey Free: The Eighth House
and previously released CD of poetry "KeyVisions: The Poetik Rantings of
Makeela Amani".
Makeela has delivered her hard-hitting driving lyrical poetry in
a variety of venues around the US, from coffee houses, schools and community
centers to the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival at
Madison Square Garden. Makeela has also been a motivational speaker at
UCLA as part of the Choose College series, as well as, with the Youth2Leaders
arm of the Tavis Smiley Foundation.
Norman Alexander
Alkamal Jemmott, known simply as Alkamal, also wowed the audience,
reading fresh works from his new book Conversations with my Violent Side (see
left). Ghetto Get High referencing the trials of living in African American
ghettos and Staying Poor, which reflects the economically challenged
garnered thunderous applause from the eager audience. Alkamal also read his
lament for victims of domestic abuse poem The Mirror Breaks from his
first book titled, Recovery: the lost and found poetry of Alkamal Soul.
Alkamal is a poet, writer, spoken word artist and public
speaker. In his works, as well as his performances, Alkamal employs a
dynamic blend of imagery, thought and emotion. He is co-creator and developer
of "the v3 sessions" and "The World of Words Youth Poetry Showcase." Both are
programs geared to poets and musical artists of all ages to showcase their work.
Since 1996, he
has traveled across the country performing spoken word at various cultural
events as the Afrikan Liberation Day Celebration, The Black L.U.V. Festival,
WordStock and the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival at
Madison Square Garden. He's also been the invited guest speaker
at numerous Black History Month celebrations, graduation and award ceremonies,
as well as conferences hosted by the Tavis Smiley Foundation, The Urban Network,
The College Board's NYOutreach Program and Madison Square Boys & Girls Club.
His upcoming projects include
writing his first novel, "A Slow Turn Towards Tomorrow," a story detailing the
African-American community's response to the victims of a gay-bashing incident.
He is also in the development stages of establishing his communications
development company, Dreaming Makes Sen$e.
The evening met its crescendo with the presence of author
Odimumba Kwamdela, also known as the Grassroots Philosopher. Kwamdela
possesses power-of -the-word ability that allows him on as consistent basis to
write such interesting and poignantly detailed books.
In 1960 while in his early teens, and still known by his given name John A.
Brathwaite he, who would some years later change his name to Odimumba Kwamdela,
left his native Barbados for London, England. He eventually enlisted in the
British Army and served in the Mideast; after military service, he left London
for Ontario, Canada. There, he freelanced with Toronto newspapers before
becoming founding publisher and editor of Spear, reputed to be the first
Black magazine published in Canada.
To date, Kwamdela has published 14 books of fiction, nonfiction
and poetry, and one musically dubbed poetry CD. A former New York City Board of
Education high school teacher of Writing and Graphic Arts, Kwamdela taught
adolescent offenders for several years in the roughest schools in the world,
located in the "belly of the beast," infamous, volatile Rikers Island Jail.
Kwamdela discussed his experiences in this school jail with audience members.
At the event Kwamdela touched on his latest tomes, and recalled
his experiences in the NYC school system documented in his 2004 release
Journey Through Jailhouse Jeopardy: A Good New York City Teacher Ends Up Down in
Bad Rikers Island Jail, which is a no-holds-barred account of some the
fundamental causes for schools spiraling downward out of control. Also discussed
was Kwamdela's 2006 release, Mighty Sparrow: Calypso King of the World
chronicling the impact of The Mighty Sparrow on the calypso arena and Mighty
Sparrow's rise from poor boy in Trinidad to undisputed Calypso King of the
World.
Finally, Kwamdela's latest book Small Black Book of Mighty
Thoughts: Africa's Seeds Sure Path to Redemption, was unveiled in which the
author presents his afro-centric philosophies with the realistic solutions
to the unique problems faced by people of African ancestry.
The evening concluded with host
Essence Lamonde bringing the three authors onto the stage to impart some final
words. The three authors emphatically thanked their audience for their support
and shared their visions for supporting other writers and artists through
combined efforts. Ms. Amani talked of the method through which Blakhand
Artistik, Inc. supports visual artists and poets with online publication; Mr.
Jemmott discussed the manner through which Dreaming Makes Sen$e®
will work to suppts and other communications.
Kwamdela capped the evening off by imparting his dream to continue his 30-year
mission to provide an avenue through which emerging authors can smoothly
transition from manuscript to finished, perfect-bound publications.
For those who are interested
in any of the books mentioned, would like to arrange interview(s), or book
event, please contact the 347-232-3974.
For more on Makeela B. Amani and Alkamal Jemmott, visit
www.blakhandarts.com.
For more on Odimumba Kwamdela, visit
www.kibobooks.com
Books are available for purchase at the following outlets:
www.kibobooks.com
www.blakhandarts.com
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