Lasana M. Sekou
(Aruba, 1959) Lasana M. Sekou is the author of 13 books of poetry, short stories, monologues and essays. Born Harold Hermano Lake in Aruba in 1959, he grew up in Sint Maarten. Sekou studied political science and mass communication in the USA, where he changed his name to Lasana (poet) Sekou (warrior). His books, such as The Salt Reaper and Nativity, have been required reading at Caribbean and North American universities. He is the editor of National Symbols of St. Martin and The Independence Papers – Readings on a New Political Status for St. Maarten/St. Martin. He also produced Fête – The first recording of traditional St. Martin festive music. Sekou lectures on history, culture, politics and literature at schools, universities and festivals throughout the world. His poetry has appeared in journals such as The Massachusetts Review, Del Caribe, De Gids, and Boundary 2. In 1982, Sekou founded House of Nehesi Publishers in New York. In 1984, he established the small press in Sint Maarten, where he lives and continues to publish well-known and new writers www.houseofnehesipublish.com.
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Archive available for: Lasana M. Sekou
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Presentation of the Kurdish novel Sivane Kurmance
With: Abdelhay Moudden, Diana Ferrus, Frank Westerman, Lasana M. Sekou
Hoogtepunt van het bezoek van de schrijvers aan Diyarbakir was de slotavond waarin alle auteurs voorlazen uit de zojuist verschenen eerste editie in het Koerdisch van wat wordt gezien als de eerste Koerdische roman, 'Koerdische herder', van Ereb Semo.
Met İnci Aral, Markar Esayan Lasana M. Sekou, Diana Ferrus, Abdelhay Moudden, Frank Westerman, Mueyed Teyib Şêrzad Barzanî, Vecdi Erbay, Irfan Babaoğlu, Azad Zal, Evrim Alataş, Kesk müzik grubu, Dengbejler Dicle-Fırat. In aanwezigheid van en deelname van de burgemeester van Diyarbakir. Dhr. Osman Baydemir.
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Diyarbakir - Sümerpark - debate
With: Abdelhay Moudden, Diana Ferrus, Frank Westerman, Lasana M. Sekou
Twee debatprogramma's in Diyarbakir.
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Dyarbakir - opening programme
With: Abdelhay Moudden, Diana Ferrus, Frank Westerman, Lasana M. Sekou
In Diyarbakir traden de auteurs samen op met Turkse, Iraakse en Iraanse auteurs, o.a. Mueyed Teyib, Şêrzad Barzanî, İnci Aral. Arjen Arî, Aslı Erdoğan, Vecdi Erbay, Evrim Alataş, Markar Esayan, en Ayça Damgacı.
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Istanbul - Winternachten reading
With: Abdelhay Moudden, Diana Ferrus, Frank Westerman, Lasana M. Sekou
Voor studenten gaven de schrijvers een lezing in Mavikum Bookshop in Istanbul.
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Istanbul - Literature Café with Hare - City and the Other
With: Abdelhay Moudden, Diana Ferrus, Frank Westerman, Lasana M. Sekou
In het ITEF Festival in Istanbul gingen de schrijvers in gesprek in een literair café, Kaktus Cihangir Café.
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The kingdom a realm of dreams?
With: Barche Baromeo, Carel de Haseth, Lasana M. Sekou, Maurice Adriaens, Ruben Severina, Vivien Calmez
Seldom was the relationship between The Netherlands and the Antilles so turbulent as now. Just in the year the Dutch Kingdom Charter celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. In this charter, the relationship between Holland and its colonies was formalized. The Antillian writers Barche Baromeo (Curaçao) and Lasana M. Sekou (Sint Maarten) have clear opinions on what this relationship should be in the future. They discuss the future of the kingdom with the authorized Antillian minister Maurice Adriaens and his predecessor Carel de Haseth and Vivien Calmez, together with the audience. The debate is led by Ruben Severina. English/Dutch spoken.
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Winternachten - Preview
With: Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Antjie Krog, Chirikure Chirikure, Denise Jannah, Lasana M. Sekou, Michaël Zeeman, Nelleke Noordervliet, Putu Wijaya, Robert Menasse, Syahrial & Grup, Tessa Leuwsha, Tom Gilling, Zakes Mda
Before Winternachten starts with its major programme, the journalist and literary critic Michaël Zeeman gives his view on the theme of this year's festival: future and ideals. After this, writer Nelleke Noordervliet presents a varied programme with writers, poets and music. Foreign authors present themselves with a short reading, as a preview on their performance in the coming weekend. With writers from Suriname, Saint Martin, South-Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, Austria, the USA and Indonesia, and music by the Sumatran group Syahrial & Grup and jazz singer Denise Jannah.
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Lasana M. Sekou
Lasana M. Sekou from Saint Martin is a poet and publisher. He is a wonderful performer who likes to perform among the audience. His poetry often refers to the colonial relationship with The Netherlands and Curaçao.
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Hivos: main debate
The presentator reports on the individual events and enters into discussion with the artists about some of the various themes that have arisen from these events. Finally each participant gives a personal recommendation to the Dutch relief organizations.
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Dreams and ideals from the Antilles
What would the Antilles have looked like if the revolution of 1969 had not been surpressed? Barche Baromeo sketches that other future in his novel E Parto. Lasana Sekou from Saint Martin, in his fierce resistance poems, and Carel de Haseth from Curaçao, in a more modest tone, also dream of a new future for their islands.
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Live Anthology and Debate
With: Anna Enquist, Ardashir Vakil, Bas Heijne, Basil Appollis, Breyten Breytenbach, Ellen Ombre, Henk van Woerden, Ian Buruma, Jan Eijkelboom, Jit Narain, Lasana M. Sekou, Michaël Zeeman, Rajeev Balasubramanyam, Vamba Sherif
What is the most beautiful poem on diaspora? A number of Winternachten guests read their favourite poem from each other's literatures. The writers were introduced by Basil Appollis.
Dutch writer Henk van Woerden gave the introductory lecture (in Dutch) to a debate on the theme of 'diaspora and the writer'. This debate (in English), hosted by Michaël Zeeman, appeared to be a good start for the Boekenweek, a annual event for the promotion of Dutch literature, following a few weeks later in The Netherlands. -
Connected through slavery and colonialism
Ellen Ombre, the venomously and precisely observing Surinamese-Dutch writer, poet Lasana M. Sekou of St Maarten, and Netherlands-based Liberian writer Vamba Sherif, share a common offspring. The West African history of slavery and colonialism ties up these writers, born so far apart. Hosted by Ed van Eeden (Dutch spoken).
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Performing Poets
Lasana M. Sekou is a poet from the Isle of St Maarten. He has a clear message on the history of slavery and forced migration. Together with Dutch performing poets Mustafa Stitou, Ruben van Gogh and Albertina Soepboer the theme of migration was further elaborated on. The South African poet Koos Kombuis put his poems to music. Swinging verse, combined with guitar music, performed in the theatre's foyer. In this same venue there was a performance of poet Jan Kees van de Werk. Hij read from his recent book De Vissenvrouw. The programme in this venue was presented by Basil Appollis. With his Capetonian coloured humour he also performed his own stand-up comedy.
