GREAT BAY:--- The Frock & Other Poems by Laurelle "Yaya" Richards has just been released by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
In the book, "Richards grounds her verse in the history and culture of St. Martin," said the Jamaican/US author Geoffrey Philp.
Yaya Richards had completed working on The Frock with her publisher at the time of her death at age 55, on May 26, 2010, said Jacqueline Sample, president of HNP.
The St. Martin folklorist hailed from St. Louis where she organized annual food fairs and promoted knowledge of folk-life, said Sample.
The folk, modern, and personal elements are reflected by Richards in poems such as "Silk cotton grow," "Value of a woman," and "Abandoned salt pond," which is dedicated to the last generations that picked salt in the Grand Case Salt Pond.
Yaya's poems, like her signature piece, "The Frock," grew out of her Spoken Word presentations at schools and cultural shows throughout the island. "The poems celebrate the island and the proud heritage captured in the traditions and music of her people," said Philp, who is also a lecturer at Miami Dade College.
Gracing the book's cover is a larger-than-life painting of Yaya wearing her colorful folk persona frock. The oil painting is by leading Caribbean impressionist Roland Richardson.
The art link of the collaboration that produced the slim volume of verse inspired art gallery director Laura Richardson to say that, "As an emerging nation, St. Martin's cultural consciousness is also growing in leaps and bounds."
"House of Nehesi's role as a publisher, Roland's role as an artist, Laurelle's role as a writer, all work in unison as beacons of light, reaching out to the universal society that hungers for new fresh thoughts from all points on the globe that perpetuates growth and evolution," said Richardson.
"Miss Yaya serves as an actual and symbolic cultural nexus from the villages of St. Louis, which includes Freetown, and Rambaud, ... a depository of the oral tradition and collective memory," wrote educator Lenny Mussington in the book's introduction.
The Frock & Other Poems is "At times playful, sometimes stern, the poems do not avoid the conflicts that plague her home and by wider implication the Caribbean," wrote Philp in his review of the new seminal collection.
Linguist Rhoda Arrindell was the language editor and Sundiata Lake designed the cover and illustrations for Yaya's book.
"The Collectivity's government in Marigot provided a cultural arts sponsorship for the title as another concrete investment in the nation's literature," said Sample.
The Frock & Other Poems is available at Roland Richardson Gallery in Marigot, Van Dorp in Simpson Bay and A.T. Illidge Road, Arnia's bookstore at Bush Road/Zagersgut Road, Philipsburg Jubilee Library, and www.houseofnehesipublish.com. SXM NEWS

Ebenezer:--- Members of Government, family members and close friends of Caribbean Icon the late Ian Michael Valz paid their last respects to him on Friday prior to his internment.
Saying farewell to man who has left his footprint everywhere he went and lasting memories in the lives of those he touched was not easy. His friends and those he worked with in the theater and cultural industry all sobbed at the Emerald Funeral Home where the first viewing of the body began. After that the organizers of the service took the body of the late Valz on a motorcade along Front and Back Street. The motorcade stopped for a few minutes in front of the Philipsburg Cultural Center where Youmay Dormoy and others performed.

At the church Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards in his tributes described the late Valz as a man who distinguished himself as a playwright an actor and a filmmaker, thus St. Maarten has lost a creative genius of performing arts, one who was a servant to humanity.
While leader of Government William Marlin a friend of Valz said that not even the late Valz knew that just one week prior to his passing he had nominated him on behalf of St. Maarten to receive the CTO lifetime award, the results he said will be announced in June. He said St. Maarten gathered to bid farewell to one its most illustrious sons and artist to the core. Marlin said Ian was one of those friends that you would often admire from a distance for his dedication, hard work and perseverance.

Josianne Artsen Fleming in her tributes described Sir Ian as pensive, creative, progressive, impressive, interactive, caring, energetic, passionate, illusive, peaceful, non-confrontational, brilliant, skillful genius, powerful, humble, private, charmer, opinionated unassuming, thorough, insightful, perfectionist, visionary, catalyst, pioneer, innovator, change, agent, influencer, champion, radio personality, actor, director, producer, playwright, film maker, dramatist and an artist.
Fleming said Sir Ian was a friend and while St. Maarten has lost a great artist champion but they would never lose what he imparted to each and every one of us.

Le 2010/02/09 | Victor Wisky sort un album
Le 2010/01/28 | Après la formation, place à l’action !
Le 2010/01/10 | Les Mardis de Grand Case reprennent le 19 Janvier !
Le 2009/12/25 | La maison enchantée des JOE
Le 2009/12/25 | La tradition d’antan
Le 2009/12/18 | Les Aiglons et Youth Waves en concert le 26 décembre !
Le 2009/11/24 | Saint Martin/Sint Maarten back in my Days
Le 2009/09/21 | Journées européennes du Patrimoine 2009
Le 2009/09/21 | Compétitions de bœufs tirants
Le 2009/08/13 | Presidential Medal Of Freedom For Famed Bahamian American Actor
Le 2009/08/01 | King of Kings Calypso Sat 22 August 2009
Le 2009/07/21 | Wyclef Among Stars At Nelson Mandela Day Celebration
Le 2009/07/10 | Le Kompa
Le 2009/06/11 | History of Calypso
Le 2009/05/22 | Trinidad and Tobago Folklore
Le 2009/05/06 | Reggae music
Le 2009/04/20 | Steelband
Le 2009/04/07 | Communiqué
Le 2009/03/30 | Carnival time again !!!
Le 2009/03/08 | St Maarten Carnival 2009