Name of the book: The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man
Author: Nick Makoha
Publisher: Flipped Eye Publishing
What's the book about?
Nick Makoha's first collection of poems, The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man, recalls the dilemma of Ralph Ellison's protagonist but relocates the angst and passion of displacement in contemporary England. Somewhere between Uganda and England, Nick Makoha is redefining manhood, fatherhood, and intimacy in a Black British context.
Why am I reading the book?
I met Nick Makoha at the Yardstick Festival. As writers from the African diaspora, I was intrigued by his poems because of the similarity in the themes we are exploring, but also by the generational and national differences.
Quote from the book:
The Light
The city clings like skin to the back of me,
like summer sweat, my oils mixing
with the humidity of the night.
Sleep the language I am speaking,
every move mimicking death.
My body leaves a signature
in the sheets. I rise; my feet touch the carpet’s canvas
cooling me slightly. The window spilling moonlight
into the room. Artificial light born from the TV mimics
the light of the sky. Voices like my vision, blurred.
My hands snakes to the remote to mute the sound
that brought me to sleep and in this moment awakens me.
Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-Collection-Invisible-Mouthmark/dp/1905233035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375712586&sr=8-
1&keywords=Nick+Makoha
About the Author
Nick 'urbanspirit' Makoha is an immensely talented poet of Ugandan origin. On stage he drops he drops a succession of interwoven one-liners so deep that every longitude ever imagined begins to shiver with insecurity. The original poet-in-residence with London's revered performance showcase, Kindred Spirit, urbanspirit catapulted himself to legendary status by disappearing off the poetry scene for two years. He re-emerged in early 2005 with a completed poetry chapbook, The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man, and has begun to reclaim the territory he haunted for many years.
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I've modified this format from One Minute Book Reviews: http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/
Inshallah, I will be joining these talented writers for four days of literary bacchanalia at the Yardstick Literary Festival on June 27-30, 2013.
Lorna Goodison,
Tanya Shirley,
Geoffrey Philp
Lemn Sissay
Warsan Shire
Mukoma Wa Ngugi
Nick Makoha
Leeto Thale
Jamal Safari
Emman Egya Sule
Nii Ayikwei Parkes
Dean Atta
Chioma Okereke
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Businesses are being invited to support a festival that will bring an impressive array of international writing talent to Bath and Bristol later this month.
A dozen of the best writers and performance poets from across the African Diaspora will take part in the Yardstick Festival from June 27 to 30.
Prestigious authors at the festival will include Lorna Goodison, Tanya Shirley, Geoffrey Philp (all Jamaican), Lemn Sissay (British Ethiopian), Warsan Shire (Somali), Mukoma Wa Ngugi (Kenyan), Nick Makoha (Ugandan), Leeto Thale (South African) and Jamal Safari (Congolese).
Also taking part will be Emman Egya Sule (Nigerian), Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Ghana), Dean Atta (British Jamaican) and Chioma Okereke (Nigerian)
Global writing talent heads to Bath for major literature festival | Bath Business News:
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