Dr. Roi Ankhkara Kwabena (born: Fitzroy Cook Jr. 23 July 1956 – 9 January 2008) was a Trinidadian cultural anthropologist, who worked with all age ranges in Europe, Africa, Latin-America and the Caribbean for over 30 years. He died in England, where he had relocated.

Life and career Kwabena was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad,"Roi Kwabena - Birmingham's Poet Laureate 2001 - 2002". where he was educated. At the age of 14, he published his first poem, "Why Black Power", which he also performed at a Black Power rally.Eric Doumerc, "An Interview with Roi Kwabena", Literature of the Caribbean. 2006. His first collection, Lament of the Soul, appeared three years later, and marked the beginning of a prolific body of work over the following three decades, including other poetry collections, journals, essays, children's stories and the thesis Marijuana (1981). At the same time, he founded the publishing co-operative Afroets Press, and Bembe Productions,Afroets International Publishers website. a cultural collective whose objective was the propagation of creative expression from the Caribbean and its diaspora.

In commemoration of UN's International Literacy Year 1990 he was "Writer In Residence" at Trinidad's Public Library. In the mid-1990s he served as a Senator in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. He then made Birmingham, England, his permanent base and was appointed its sixth Poet Laureate for 2001–02. As a cultural ambassador he hosted numerous readings by writers and actively promoted literature development internationally as well as himself lecturing and performing at many schools, universities, cultural and social venues.

Dr Kwabena was renowned for using critical analysis to examine the historical roots of racism and to assess the direct relevance this has on present society. He also championed wide-ranging issues such as functional and cultural literacy, therapeutic harvesting of memories by elders and young people (including cross generational dialogue), Community Cohesion, Social Inclusion, Cultural Diversity, redefining the heritages of indigenous peoples, plus confidence building for convicted prisoners, excluded and traumatized students, refugees, etc.

In 2007, Roi Kwabena was included among activists, artists, campaigners, sport and media personalities on a wall celebrating efforts of The World's Black Achievers: Past and Present at the Liverpool-based International Slavery Museum."List of Black Achievers", International Slavery Museum.

Kwabena died on 9 January 2008, one day after being diagnosed with lung cancer at a hospital in London - prior to this, doctors had been treating him for pneumonia. His funeral took place in London on 26 January 2008 and he was cremated two days later. His ashes were flown to Trinidad.

Bibliography Source:"Selected published works" compiled and edited by Roi Kwabena. Temple of Ankhara. Lament of the Soul (poetry), 1974 Insight (poetry/essay), 1975 Follow de Path (poetry), 1980 Marijuana (thesis), 1981 Vegetable & Fruit Juices (health), 1982 C.U.R.E. 84 (health journal), 1983 C.U.R.E. 85 (ibid), 1985 In other words (poetry) 1986 Black Molasses /Brown Sugar (journal), 1986 Seasons of Exile (poetry), 1986 About the Caribbean (socio-geography), 1986 Sojourn: towards victory (travel journal and history), 1988 Profile 96 (journal of culture), 1994 Manifestations: selected poems 1985-95 (poetry), 1997 Destiny (journal black history), 1997 Kush Reclaimed (poetry/ history), 1987/1997–1998 Nubian Saints of Christianity (history), 1997–1998 Nubian Glory: our heritage (anthropology/history), 1999 A Job for the Hangman (poetry), 1999 Never Trouble, Trouble (children stories), 1999 Ancient Inscriptions & Sacred Texts of Ethiopia (anthropology), 2000 Whether or Not (poetry/history; Raka Publications), 2001 As Long As (poetry), 2005 Muse of Maps, Muurs, Mounds & Mysteries (essay), 2006 DIALOGUE (journal for Cultural Literacy), 2006–2007 Orisha Songs for Celina (poetry), 2006 In the Moment (Poetry), 2006 Making of TA-MERI-KA: Black Women in Time (Anthropology), 2006

Discography Y42K – Spoken Word CD- 2000–2006 (blueplanetsound, UK & Bembe Productions)

References

External links Poems and introductions Post-Colonial Literature of the Caribbean Cultural Literacy blog by Roi Kwabena "Roi Kwabena - Birmingham's Poet Laureate 2001 - 2002" National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy Website dedicated to Roi Kwabena's life's work