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Kamau Brathwaite [Edward Brathwaite]


Photo credit: Beverly Brathwaite



The editor of PennSound's Brathwaite page is Jacob Edmond of the 
University of Otago (New Zealand). Read his Listener's Guide to the page. 


PoemTalk #149, Discussing Kamau Brathwaite's "Negus," feat. Amber Rose Johnson, Jacob Edmond, Huda Fakhreddine

Listen to the complete recording and read program notes at Jacket2.


Segue Reading at the Bowery Poetry Club, New York City - May 1, 2004

Complete Reading (43:23): MP3

  1. Introduction (3:18): MP3
  2. Negus (4:35): MP3
  3. The Skin, part one of The Making of the Drum (1:06): MP3
  4. The Two Curved Sticks of the Drummer, part three of The Making of the Drum (0:45): MP3
  5. Gourds and Rattles, part four of The Making of the Drum (0:48): MP3
  6. The Gong-Gong, part five of The Making of the Drum (0:33) MP3
  7. Atumpan (2:06): MP3
  8. Naming (1:31): MP3
  9. Shepherd (6:36): MP3
  10. The Twist (0:41): MP3
  11. Wings of a Dove (3:51): MP3
  12. Caliban (10:06): MP3
  13. Xângo at the Summer Solstice (3:23): MP3
  14. The Twist (1:04): MP3

On Cross-Cultural Poetics Radio Show, Hosted by Leonard Shwartz

1. show number 16, Feburary 2, 2004 (59:58): MP3 RealAudio
Brathwaite talks about his new work, Caribbean poetry, and the ancient art of making it new.

2. show number 94, 2005 (59:43): MP3
Brathwaite, on the phone from Kingston, Jamaica, returns to Cross-Cultural Poetics to read from his new book Born to Slow Horses and to discuss the situation of Cowpastor, a piece of land in Barbados on which a slave burial ground is in danger of being desecrated.

Reading at New York University, December 9, 2000

Recorded by
Chris Funkhouser
  1. Introduction (3:48): MP3
  2. Son(g) to Ra for the coming of the Day of the New Moon (3:46): MP3
  3. Bliss Poem (10:07): MP3
  4. Three Things the Artists Say (19:40): MP3
  5. The SilverSands Poem (4:01): MP3
  6. The Day the First Snow Fell (3:22): MP3
  7. Calypso (10:11): MP3
  8. Beast (4:00): MP3
  • Complete Reading (59:12): MP3

"Angel/Engine"

(4:48): MP3
This poem was recorded October 19, 1997, part of a lecture/reading at the XCP: Cross-Cultural Poetics Conference, University of Minnesota. Published in Ancestors (A Reinvention of Mother Poem, Sun Poem, and X/Self) (New Directions, 2001). The poem appears here courtesy of Ken Sherwood. Click here for Sherwood's commentary.

Reading with Cecil Taylor and Quincy Troupe, Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO, July 13, 1994

  • Complete Recording, (1:35:04)MP3
  • Recording courtesy of Michael Davidson

Reading at Poets House, November 18, 1993

  1. Introduction (3:53): MP3
  2. Mackey Introduction (10:33): MP3
  3. On new pathways (26:23): MP3
  4. On Shakespeare (1:47): MP3
  5. On poverty (1:35): MP3
  6. On poetry and music (3:42): MP3
  • Complete recording (51:39): MP3

Reading at UC Santa Cruz, April 5, 1990

  • Complete Recording, (1:33:20)MP3
  • Recording courtesy of Michael Davidson

Reading at UC Santa Cruz, 1990

  • Complete Recording, (1:31:23)MP3
  • Recording courtesy of Michael Davidson

International Poetry Forum, Pittsburgh, February 7, 1988

International Poetry Forum, Pittsburgh, February 10, 1987

Reading at the Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, October 5, 1982

Full Recording: External Link

Reading at Robin's, November 9, 1982

  1. On work in relation to Caribbean (22:05): MP3
  2. The Day the First Snow Fell (2:17): MP3
  3. Judas of Barcelona (7:26): MP3
  4. On Ghana (9:52): MP3
  5. The New Ships (9:43): MP3
  6. South (7:53): MP3
  7. On rhythm (20:37): MP3
  8. A Game of Cricket (9:29): MP3
  9. The Making of the Drum (4:43): MP3
  • Complete Reading (1:33:39): MP3

Reading of "Islands," 1973

  1. Complete Reading, part one (43:05): MP3
  2. Complete Reading, part two (22:44): MP3
  3. Complete Reading, part three (21:36): MP3

Reading at the Recording Library, Library of Congress, September 11, 1970

Full Recording: External Link

Reading of "Masks," Unknown Date

  • Complete Reading (58:06): MP3

Reading from The Arrivant, Date Unknown

  • Part 1, (1:42:52)MP3
  • Part 2, (46:15)MP3
  • Recording courtesy of Michael Davidson



These sound recordings are being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to the author © 2008 Kamau Edward Brathwaite Used with permission of Kamau Edward Brathwaite. Distributed by PennSound.