147:, who had been in London for the production of some of his plays. In a 2019 interview Saakana said: "Bullins also got me a job at Marymount College, a girls' school, as a drama tutor, and also got me a job as assistant editor at the New York Festival Public Theatre which went into publishing two drama journals, one for play scripts, the other for reviews, features, interviews and performance."
327:
In 1975, Saakana founded the publishing company Karnak House, initially as
Caribbean Cultural International (CCI), "an organization of writers and artists coming together to create a new platform for the work of Caribbean and Black British writers and artists in Britain." CCI was inspired by the work
357:
Karnak House began publishing in 1979. Its stated objectives are "to continuously locate and publish books by
Caribbean and African writers in the field of creative fiction and poetry" and "to renew and reinterpret African civilizations through the prism of Africans themselves or progressive writers
336:
and turned it into an arts centre, located since 1977 in
Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, and renamed as Karnak House. The centre "soon transcended its regional perspective and included work by Africans in any geographical location as well as progressive Europeans of any nationality, a model well
465:
article, which concludes: "Whatever the problems that have confronted the black press in London, it has injected into the mainstream an imaginative and dramatic body of diverse literature. ... Perhaps, then, indigenous black publishers have stirred the imagination of the mainstream and created an
341:
in Paris." Karnak House put on exhibitions, conducted classes in
African languages and organized lectures as well as conferences, involving a wide range of creatives and intellectuals from the African diaspora, including Alem Mezgebe,
1015:
580:
1438:
1433:
495:: "It is a harrowing book, bloody and violent, frightening and often mystifying, but through it all there is a surprising kind of optimism"), and works of literary criticism such as
1423:
1378:
469:
Alongside his work as commissioning editor of Karnak House, Saakana is an independent scholar and does research in
Philosophy, Literary Theory and African World Literatures.
466:
atmosphere, through conferences, forums, book fairs, etc., in which the black writer can be seen as an economic asset to a previously flagging
British publishing industry."
1152:
1448:
1016:"Sites of conflict : identity, sexuality & reproduction : European mythological imaging of the African on the London stage 1908–1939 / Amon Saba Saakana"
1061:
315:, where in 1995 he obtained his Ph.D. in Drama & Cultural Studies. He received a certificate (distinction) and diploma (merit) in Egyptian Archaeology from the
880:
1388:
1383:
135:, he migrated as a teenager in 1965 with his six siblings to England, where their parents had come to work in a London factory. He studied playwriting at
143:
in 1968 and connecting with
Caribbeans and Africans there, then for four years from 1970 he lived in the United States, going there at the invitation of
1408:
312:
60:
1443:
1428:
308:
55:
1217:
114:-born writer, journalist, lecturer, filmmaker and publisher, who migrated to Britain in 1965. In the 1970s, he founded the publishing imprint
720:
1418:
701:
Colonialism & the
Destruction of the Mind: Psycho-social Issues of Race, Religion, Sexuality & Gender in the Novels of Roy Heath
1453:
1403:
1368:
999:
673:
136:
50:
332:, who founded a facility known as Spirit House in Newark, New Jersey. Saakana sought out a four-storey rent-free building from the
305:
Colonialism & the
Destruction of the Mind: Psychosocial issues of race, sexuality, class and gender in the novels of Roy Heath
183:. He worked as a freelance journalist in London between 1969 and 1981, writing on music, drama, and literature in such outlets as
1398:
524:
1373:
560:
303:, followed by an MA in Caribbean literature from the same university (1988). His master's thesis was subsequently published as
118:
in London. As an author, his books encompass poetry, fiction, literary criticism, and works on cultural and historical topics.
1289:
985:
459:
and others, including access to coverage on the books pages of the mainstream press, were highlighted by
Saakana in a 1988
1196:
316:
65:
1318:
1413:
1334:
991:
665:
556:
576:
572:
338:
333:
180:
386:
300:
1065:
552:
1363:
528:
694:
1393:
786:
622:
516:
261:
1358:
608:
540:
536:
414:
477:
Saakana's own books include poetry collections, the first study on Jamaican popular music, entitled
1201:
940:
544:
520:
461:
418:
410:
197:
185:
165:
150:
On returning in 1974 to London from the US, where he had also been inspired by the theatre work of
179:
described as "London's very active black literature scene of the early 1970s", which included the
945:
548:
532:
249:
243:
1263:
156:
995:
716:
669:
600:
568:
564:
209:
1329:
1086:
831:
631:
456:
437:
433:
422:
390:
370:
273:
515:
Saakana has lectured at many educational institutions in Britain and the US, including the
500:
343:
233:
221:
827:"Comparative approach of dissecting literature, history to chart out better ways forward"
428:
In 1985, Karnak House organised its first major international conference under the title
1133:
596:
394:
267:
169:
741:
1352:
1222:
616:
612:
486:
382:
374:
347:
289:
191:
1170:
1112:
981:
491:
449:
441:
406:
402:
398:
366:
329:
215:
203:
1108:
455:
The continuing difficulties facing Black publishing houses such as Karnak House,
444:. This led to Diop being brought to the US, being granted the key to the city of
771:
767:"Jah music : the evolution of the popular Jamaican song / Sebastian Clarke"
647:
351:
176:
151:
1342:
1237:
299:
In 1982 he earned a Diploma of Higher Education in Caribbean Studies from the
227:
144:
766:
604:
255:
826:
365:, an anthology including both new and previously published poets such as
154:(later Amiri Baraka), Saakana became a contributor to the drama magazine
132:
111:
881:"Karnak House & Cheikh Anta Diop Paradigm in the African World View"
626:(2010). He has also worked in various capacities on productions for the
445:
1036:
581:
College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago
969:
The Heritage Series of Black Poetry, 1962–1975: A Research Compendium
241:. He also contributed to other international publications including
1319:"JAH MUSIC:EVOLUTION OF THE POPULAR JAMAICAN SONG–SEBASTIAN CLARKE"
713:
Djehuty/Hermes: Foundational Philosopher In The Italian Renaissance
140:
1313:
915:
857:
Toynbee, Polly (24 February 1986). "A word in your white ear".
296:(1980), which was the first history of Jamaican popular music.
92:
1264:"Texturing the Word. 40 years of Caribbean writing in Britain"
627:
284:
His contribution towards the making of the BBC TV documentary
1031:
1029:
1027:
1025:
593:
Texturing the Word: 40 Years of Caribbean Writing in Britain
1343:"Interview: Amon Saba Saakana (Karnak House Publishing)"
16:
Trinidad-born writer, scholar and publisher (born 1948)
662:
Jah Music: The Evolution of the Jamaican Popular Song
377:. Among notable titles that Saakana has published is
354:, Lance Watson, Norman Reid, and Vernon St. Hilaire.
75:
Writer, journalist, lecturer, filmmaker and publisher
346:, Charles Sambono, Babatunde Banjoko, Seheri Sujai,
1439:
Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United Kingdom
1290:"Ida's Daughter: The World of Eintou Pear Springer"
317:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London
294:
Jah Music: The Development of Jamaica Popular Music
87:
79:
71:
66:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London
46:
30:
23:
292:, led Saakana to write his first nonfiction book,
655:New Planet: Anthology of Modern Caribbean Writing
389:in 1983. Karnak House authors have also included
237:, and he was the founding editor of the journal
1434:Trinidad and Tobago dramatists and playwrights
1218:"Dissecting Roy Heath and Guyanese literature"
499:, as well a notable work on Guyanese novelist
1270:. University of Westminster. 19 November 2015
452:, and receiving wide coverage for his visit.
8:
1424:Trinidad and Tobago male non-fiction writers
691:The Colonial Legacy in Caribbean Literature
505:Colonialism and the Destruction of the Mind
497:The Colonial Legacy in Caribbean Literature
1379:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London
1062:"Towards a radical black publishing space"
787:"Tones & Colours by Amon Saba Saakana"
742:"Amon Saba Saakana (aka Sebastian Clarke)"
83:Founder of publishing company Karnak House
20:
852:
850:
1140:. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
971:, Ashgate Publishing, 2008, pp. 153–154.
861:. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
591:Saakana directed and produced the films
313:Goldsmiths College, University of London
61:Goldsmiths College, University of London
1449:Trinidad and Tobago non-fiction writers
910:
908:
906:
904:
902:
900:
898:
732:
967:Ramey, Lauri, with Paul Breman (eds),
879:Saakana, Amon Saba (7 November 2017).
874:
872:
870:
868:
309:School of Oriental and African Studies
56:School of Oriental and African Studies
7:
987:West Indian Intellectuals in Britain
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
804:
361:The imprint's first publication was
307:(1997). Saakana also studied at the
1389:Alumni of University College London
1384:Alumni of SOAS University of London
1195:Walker, Klive (30 September 2016).
1018:. Goldsmiths, University of London.
436:as the primary speaker, along with
1151:Saakana, Amon Saba (3 July 1988).
825:Mekassa, Ambo (16 December 2019).
430:The Afrikan Origin of Civilization
14:
1409:Book publishing company founders
525:Goldsmiths, University of London
561:Staten Island Community College
106:(born 1948), formerly known as
1216:Creighton, Al (22 July 2018).
653:(As Sebastian Clarke; editor)
1:
1444:Trinidad and Tobago novelists
1429:Trinidad and Tobago academics
621:Ida's Daughter: The World of
1153:"Out of the Colonial Cocoon"
1089:. Ladbroke Grove Association
687:(poetry), Karnak House, 1985
139:(1966–1967), began visiting
1419:British publishers (people)
1335:Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
1037:"Our Story and Our Mission"
992:Manchester University Press
681:(novel), Karnak House, 1985
666:Heinemann Educational Books
557:Manhattan Community College
358:of any ethnic background."
38:1948 (age 75–76)
1470:
1330:"I is a long marooned man"
1136:(24 March 1993). "Diary".
579:. He also lectured at the
577:University of North London
573:University of Pennsylvania
379:I is a Long-memoried Woman
339:Society of African Culture
334:Notting Hill Housing Trust
181:Caribbean Artists Movement
127:Education and early career
1454:Trinidad and Tobago poets
1404:Black British journalists
1369:20th-century male writers
387:Commonwealth Poetry Prize
301:University of East London
175:Saakana was part of what
131:Born Sebastian Clarke in
1066:George Padmore Institute
835:. Ethiopian Press Agency
707:God In The Song of Birds
553:City College of New York
160:, and one of his plays,
137:Mountview Theatre School
51:Mountview Theatre School
1399:Black British academics
920:Amon Saba Saakana, Ph.D
168:in 1975, and ]moved to
1374:20th-century novelists
1292:. British Council Film
1087:"Westbourne Park Road"
715:, Karnak House, 2020,
660:(As Sebastian Clarke)
529:Institute of Education
164:, was produced at the
1197:"Reggae Reading List"
697:), Karnak House, 1987
638:Selected bibliography
623:Eintou Pearl Springer
517:University of Warwick
481:(1980), a 1985 novel
1268:Arts on Film Archive
703:, Karnak House, 1997
657:, Karnak House, 1978
609:Linton Kwesi Johnson
541:University of Exeter
537:Leicester University
415:Maureen Warner-Lewis
288:(1971), directed by
172:for a two-week run.
1338:, 22 February 2021.
1325:, 24 February 2013.
1202:The Jamaica Gleaner
1171:"Amon Saba Saakana"
1157:The Washington Post
685:Tones & Colours
545:University of Essex
521:University of Keele
411:Yosef Ben-Jochannan
198:New Musical Express
166:Royal Court Theatre
157:Plays & Players
41:Trinidad and Tobago
1414:British filmmakers
1323:Chestnut Tree Cafe
946:The New York Times
549:Reading University
533:University of Hull
262:Présence Africaine
250:The Amsterdam News
162:Soul of the Nation
1345:, 5 January 2021.
941:"GOING OUT Guide"
740:Emrit, Ronald C.
721:978-1-872596-31-0
695:Ngugi Wa Thiong’o
601:Edward Brathwaite
595:(1985, featuring
569:Wellesley College
565:Temple University
485:(reviewing which
432:, which featured
104:Amon Saba Saakana
101:
100:
25:Amon Saba Saakana
1461:
1314:Official website
1302:
1301:
1299:
1297:
1286:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1275:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1249:
1242:Art Africa Miami
1234:
1228:
1227:
1213:
1207:
1206:
1192:
1186:
1185:
1183:
1181:
1167:
1161:
1160:
1148:
1142:
1141:
1130:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1105:
1099:
1098:
1096:
1094:
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1058:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1033:
1020:
1019:
1012:
1006:
1005:
978:
972:
965:
959:
958:
956:
954:
937:
931:
930:
928:
926:
912:
893:
892:
890:
888:
876:
863:
862:
854:
845:
844:
842:
840:
832:Ethiopian Herald
822:
799:
798:
796:
794:
783:
777:
776:
763:
757:
756:
754:
752:
746:Best of Trinidad
737:
457:New Beacon Books
438:Ivan Van Sertima
434:Cheikh Anta Diop
423:Jacob Carruthers
419:Théophile Obenga
391:Cheikh Anta Diop
385:, which won the
371:Kamau Brathwaite
274:Trinidad Newsday
108:Sebastian Clarke
97:
94:
35:Sebastian Clarke
21:
1469:
1468:
1464:
1463:
1462:
1460:
1459:
1458:
1349:
1348:
1310:
1305:
1295:
1293:
1288:
1287:
1283:
1273:
1271:
1262:
1261:
1257:
1247:
1245:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1179:
1177:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1150:
1149:
1145:
1134:Busby, Margaret
1132:
1131:
1127:
1117:
1115:
1107:
1106:
1102:
1092:
1090:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1045:
1043:
1035:
1034:
1023:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1002:
980:
979:
975:
966:
962:
952:
950:
939:
938:
934:
924:
922:
914:
913:
896:
886:
884:
878:
877:
866:
856:
855:
848:
838:
836:
824:
823:
802:
792:
790:
785:
784:
780:
765:
764:
760:
750:
748:
739:
738:
734:
730:
640:
589:
513:
501:Roy A. K. Heath
475:
462:Washington Post
344:Emmanuel Jegede
325:
234:The New African
222:Caribbean Times
129:
124:
93:amonsabasaakana
91:
64:
59:
54:
42:
39:
37:
36:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1467:
1465:
1457:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1351:
1350:
1347:
1346:
1341:Asar Imhotep,
1339:
1326:
1316:
1309:
1308:External links
1306:
1304:
1303:
1281:
1255:
1229:
1208:
1187:
1162:
1143:
1125:
1109:"Karnak House"
1100:
1078:
1053:
1021:
1007:
1000:
973:
960:
932:
894:
883:. Karnak House
864:
846:
800:
789:. Karnak House
778:
758:
731:
729:
726:
725:
724:
710:
709:(poetry), 2016
704:
698:
688:
682:
676:
658:
651:
639:
636:
597:George Lamming
588:
585:
512:
509:
474:
471:
395:Hilary Beckles
324:
321:
268:UNESCO Courier
170:the Roundhouse
128:
125:
123:
120:
99:
98:
89:
85:
84:
81:
80:Known for
77:
76:
73:
69:
68:
48:
44:
43:
40:
34:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1466:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1364:Living people
1362:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1354:
1344:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1331:
1328:B. C. Pires,
1327:
1324:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1311:
1307:
1291:
1285:
1282:
1269:
1265:
1259:
1256:
1243:
1239:
1233:
1230:
1225:
1224:
1223:Stabroek News
1219:
1212:
1209:
1204:
1203:
1198:
1191:
1188:
1176:
1172:
1166:
1163:
1158:
1154:
1147:
1144:
1139:
1135:
1129:
1126:
1114:
1110:
1104:
1101:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1067:
1063:
1057:
1054:
1042:
1038:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1022:
1017:
1011:
1008:
1003:
1001:9781847795717
997:
993:
989:
988:
983:
982:Schwarz, Bill
977:
974:
970:
964:
961:
948:
947:
942:
936:
933:
921:
917:
911:
909:
907:
905:
903:
901:
899:
895:
882:
875:
873:
871:
869:
865:
860:
853:
851:
847:
834:
833:
828:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
801:
788:
782:
779:
774:
773:
768:
762:
759:
747:
743:
736:
733:
727:
722:
718:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
696:
692:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
675:
674:9780435821401
671:
667:
663:
659:
656:
652:
649:
645:
642:
641:
637:
635:
633:
629:
625:
624:
618:
617:Marc Matthews
614:
613:Grace Nichols
610:
606:
602:
598:
594:
586:
584:
582:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
558:
554:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
510:
508:
506:
502:
498:
494:
493:
488:
487:Polly Toynbee
484:
480:
472:
470:
467:
464:
463:
458:
453:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
426:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
383:Grace Nichols
380:
376:
375:Marc Matthews
372:
368:
364:
359:
355:
353:
349:
345:
340:
335:
331:
322:
320:
319:(1996–1998).
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
297:
295:
291:
287:
282:
280:
276:
275:
270:
269:
264:
263:
258:
257:
252:
251:
246:
245:
240:
236:
235:
230:
229:
224:
223:
218:
217:
212:
211:
206:
205:
200:
199:
194:
193:
192:New Statesman
188:
187:
182:
178:
173:
171:
167:
163:
159:
158:
153:
148:
146:
142:
138:
134:
126:
121:
119:
117:
113:
109:
105:
96:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
72:Occupation(s)
70:
67:
62:
57:
52:
49:
45:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1394:Anthologists
1333:
1322:
1294:. Retrieved
1284:
1272:. Retrieved
1267:
1258:
1246:. Retrieved
1241:
1232:
1221:
1211:
1200:
1190:
1178:. Retrieved
1175:ResearchGate
1174:
1165:
1156:
1146:
1138:The Guardian
1137:
1128:
1116:. Retrieved
1113:Open Library
1103:
1091:. Retrieved
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1056:
1044:. Retrieved
1041:Karnak House
1040:
1010:
986:
976:
968:
963:
951:. Retrieved
949:. 8 May 1974
944:
935:
923:. Retrieved
919:
885:. Retrieved
859:The Guardian
858:
837:. Retrieved
830:
791:. Retrieved
781:
770:
761:
749:. Retrieved
745:
735:
712:
706:
700:
693:(Preface by
690:
684:
678:
661:
654:
643:
620:
592:
590:
514:
504:
496:
492:The Guardian
490:
482:
478:
476:
468:
460:
454:
450:Andrew Young
442:Carlos Moore
429:
427:
407:Jan Knappert
403:Imruh Bakari
399:Ifi Amadiume
378:
367:John La Rose
362:
360:
356:
337:preceded by
330:Amiri Baraka
326:
323:Karnak House
304:
298:
293:
285:
283:
279:Bendel Times
278:
272:
266:
260:
254:
248:
242:
238:
232:
226:
220:
216:Black Echoes
214:
208:
204:Melody Maker
202:
196:
190:
184:
174:
161:
155:
149:
130:
116:Karnak House
115:
107:
103:
102:
18:
1359:1948 births
1296:26 November
1274:26 November
1180:25 November
1118:25 November
1093:25 November
1071:24 November
1046:24 November
953:25 November
925:22 November
887:25 November
839:29 November
793:22 November
772:Smithsonian
751:22 November
679:Blues Dance
648:Paul Breman
511:As lecturer
503:, entitled
483:Blues Dance
352:Errol Lloyd
281:(Nigeria).
177:Paul Breman
152:LeRoi Jones
1353:Categories
1248:7 December
1238:"Speakers"
728:References
646:(poetry),
587:Media work
575:, and the
363:New Planet
348:Horace Ové
290:Horace Ové
228:Race Today
145:Ed Bullins
650:Ltd, 1973
605:Roy Heath
489:wrote in
479:Jah Music
448:by Mayor
256:Crawdaddy
239:Frontline
122:Biography
47:Education
984:(2013).
668:, 1980,
644:Sun-Song
507:(1997).
186:Time Out
133:Trinidad
112:Trinidad
916:"About"
619:), and
473:Writing
446:Atlanta
311:and at
244:Essence
110:, is a
88:Website
1244:. 2015
998:
719:
672:
527:, the
440:, and
421:, and
286:Reggae
277:, and
210:Sounds
189:, the
141:Paris
1298:2020
1276:2020
1250:2010
1182:2020
1120:2020
1095:2020
1073:2020
1048:2020
996:ISBN
955:2020
927:2020
889:2020
841:2020
795:2020
753:2020
717:ISBN
670:ISBN
630:and
373:and
95:.com
31:Born
632:ITV
628:BBC
381:by
328:of
1355::
1332:,
1321:,
1266:.
1240:.
1220:.
1199:.
1173:.
1155:.
1111:.
1064:.
1039:.
1024:^
994:.
990:.
943:.
918:.
897:^
867:^
849:^
829:.
803:^
769:.
744:.
664:,
634:.
615:,
611:,
607:,
603:,
599:,
583:.
571:,
567:,
563:,
559:,
555:,
551:;
547:,
543:,
539:,
535:,
531:,
523:,
519:,
425:.
417:,
413:,
409:,
405:,
401:,
397:,
393:,
369:,
350:,
271:,
265:,
259:,
253:,
247:,
231:,
225:,
219:,
213:,
207:,
201:,
195:,
1300:.
1278:.
1252:.
1226:.
1205:.
1184:.
1159:.
1122:.
1097:.
1075:.
1050:.
1004:.
957:.
929:.
891:.
843:.
797:.
775:.
755:.
723:.
63:;
58:;
53:;
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.