Selection from Inna Mi Heart

A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid is from Joan Andrea Hutchinson's latest book and CD, Inna Mi Heart. Inna Mi Heart is a collection of Jamaican love poems, written by Joan in the Jamaican dialect, which is very colorful and expressive.

A You Mi Want Fi Deh Wid 

·      Even if you put on fifty poun

Even if you sick and mawga down

Even if you bleach di black fi fayva brown

A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

Even if you foot shape like afoo yam

And you hand look like song of di banana man

Even if you claim rasta but quietly lick di ham

A you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

So even though you a behave like a clown

And your name a call all over town

A you mi want fi be around

A just you mi want fi ‘deh wid’

Copyright Joan Andrea Hutchinson. Reprinted with author's permission.

Dat Bumpyhead Gal

Dat Bumpyhead Gal was written by Joan Andrea Hutchinson, in response to public criticism of her for wearing the nubian knots hairstyle on a local Jamaican television station in 1996. Joan has since published seven CDs and three books, and Dat Bumpyhead Gal is the title of one of her books and CDs.

Joan's hairstyle,
the inspiration for Dat Bumpyhead Gal





Dat Bumpyhead Gal

Tell mi say mi no good enough fi you TV screen

How mi offend you eyesight

Tell mi say mi is a black, ugly, bumpyhead gal

And mi tell you, mi feeling right

Cuss mi say mi is a bootoo, and mi no have no class

Trace mi and galang rude

Tell mi say a educated woman shoulda know better

And I tell you mi feeling good

 You say mi hairstyle disgusting chaka chaka an tan bad

And favour like something out a street

And say mi should a shame fi lef mi house tan so

And mi smile, for mi feeing sweet

You see, the truth is, mi not ashamed of mi owna self

Mi not afraid of me

When mi look into the mirror, mi like the somebody

Weh mi  see a look pon me

Mi like her thick nappy hair and her broad face

Mi like her in and out of clothes

But most of all mi love weh she stan up for and defend

And, a no pose she a pose

But serious, when you a go fall in love with you

And leggo of all you fear

When you ago take the time tell God thanks fi you life

Instead of fret bout ‘hair’

For if it kinky or straight, if it black or white

Transparent or opaque

God make all a wi fi a special reason

And God don’t make mistake

So if you want to criticize the Father work

Then you life going to be ‘salt’

For the Creator love all a wi and look out fi wi

Even when wi have plenty fault

So galang, call mi black and bumpyhead if you  want

But make sure say you say it loud

Because the Creator love me and me feel good

Fi be bumpyhead, black and proud.

Copyright Joan Andrea Hutchinson. Reprinted with author's permission.

Literary Life After the Calabash International Literary Festival

Joan Andrea Hutchinson

Thanks to my poet of the month, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, for bringing to my attention the planned Asante Adonai Literary Lyme, being organized by Dr. Leachim Semaj, for May 2011 at Asante Adonai, Winefield, St. Ann in Jamaica. See the Jamaica Sunday Gleaner of March 27, 2011 for more details.

Dr. Semaj plans to build on the Calabash model, and in the above Gleaner article, he noted that "where we thought Calabash was weak, we are trying to improve it." As such, the Asante Adonai Lyme hopes to include a children's package. I think this is really great, because children's poetry is an area of Caribbean poetry that is often overlooked. Children do appreciate poetry, and the earlier it is introduced, the better.

Other literary events that are being organized to fill the Calabash void include the Jamaica Poetry Festival, which is being organized by Jamaican poet Yasus Afari, on August 14, 2011 at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre. Local poets such as Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Mutabaruka, Michael Abrahams, Viv Morris Brown, and Royal African Soldiers will be in performance, as well as international poets.

Jamaica's south coast, which benefitted from Calabash since its inception, will also host the Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival, which will include the Talking Trees Fiesta, from May 27-29.

So, while we regret that the Calabash International Literary Festival is no more, I am pleased to see that local poets and poetry lovers in Jamaica are keeping Caribbean poetry alive and vibrant with these new literary events. If you can attend or contribute in any other way, please do, whether it's through blogging, tweeting, attending, or financial support. Also, if you have a literary event that you are hosting, please let me know, and I would be very happy to spread the word about it.

Joan Andrea Hutchinson

Joan Andrea Hutchinson is an amazingly talented and versatile Jamaican poet. In addition to her poetry, she is also a teacher, motivational speaker, actress and storyteller. Joan has often been compared to the late Louise Bennett, Jamaican poet and storyteller, who wrote and performed in the Jamaican dialect.

Joan has a passion for preserving Jamaican culture and dialect, and her poems and CDs reflect the many proverbs and expressions unique to Jamaica. She continues to work with young Jamaicans throughout the island to highlight the island's rich cultural heritage.

The following are some of Joan's poetry collections and CDs:

Inna Mi Heart: Jamaican Love Poetry
Meck Mi Tell Yuh
Dat Bumpy Head Gal
Jamaica Kin Teeth
Everyting Jamaican
Jamaica Ridim and Ryme.

Joan also had a role in the play Laugh Jamaica. To date, as a testament to her talent, she has received the following awards:

Caribbean Hall of Fame Award for Excellence in the Peforming Arts
Jamaica Music Industry (JAMI) Award for Dub Poetry

Throughout this month, I will continue to shine the spotlight on Joan's writings. What are your thoughts? If you have read or listened to any of Joan's work, please let me know.