(Tribute delivered by David Comissiong at the funeral service for Kamau Brathwaite (1930-2020) on Friday 21st February 2020 at the James Street Methodist Church in Bridgetown, Barbados)
I have been asked to give a funeral tribute to Kamau Brathwaite. But this is a very difficult task, for a funeral tribute typically consists of reminiscences and reflections on the past -- on your memories and past experiences with someone who has passed on.
But this is really not possible in the case of Kamau! I simply cannot think of Kamau Brathwaite as being "in the past" or "of the past " -- he is too relevant, too fresh, too urgent, too contemporary, too futuristic!
Kamau has NOT left us -- he is very much here with us, among us, in the form and substance of the tremendous body of work that he has produced. And also in the sheer power of his lived example.
(I must confess that yesterday in the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation studio, when I listened to the recording of Kamau's voice reciting "Negus", tears came to my eyes as I reflected on the fact that we will never hear that voice here among us again. But that is a natural human response, and does not derogate from the deeper truth that Kamau is still here with us -- that Kamau still lives.)
You know, we Barbadians have always had one -- and only one -- issue or dilemma in relation to Kamau Brathwaite, and it is this: are we going to do ourselves the favour, the critical self-service, of making use of Kamau's tremendously valuable body of work? Not for his sake, but for OUR sake!
You see, we have had the good fortune of having had bestowed upon us this rare and remarkably creative and intellectually gifted son of the soil who took it upon himself to make that critical inward journey towards the core of his being as a child of Africa transplanted in the New World and shaped by the powerful "tidalectical" cultural currents of Plantation America.
In Kamau Brathwaite, the fates bestowed upon Barbados a profound native philosopher and creative artist whose body of work has helped to elucidate and clarify many of the critical cultural and other existential challenges that we face as a nation.
And what makes Kamau's body of work so important for us, is that it is evergreen and so relevant to our present and to our future.
A few examples will demonstrate what I mean :
- We are now in the process of developing diplomatic and other relations with the African countries of Ghana and Kenya -- but how can we do so without drawing on the foundations laid by Kamau in his creative engagements with both Ghana and Kenya, and on the work he has done on elucidating the Pan- African dimensions of our cultural identity
- Our "Thorne Commission on Local Governance "is now in the process of holding national consultations on a system of community based Peoples Assemblies for Barbados. But are we aware that Kamau contributed important ideas to the very Concept Paper that we are engaging our people on?
- Our Prime Minister has proposed the holding of a National Summit on the crucial issue of Crime and Violence : - but how do we hold such a Summit without consulting Kamau's elucidation of this issue in his "Trenchtown Rock" and in so many other components of his work?
- We all now understand the need to protect the Environment, especially the fragile environment of our Barbadian island home :- but Kamau has long pointed us in this direction with such poems as "Francina" in "The Arrivants " and in his " Barabajan Poems ".
- And whenever we talk about CARIFESTA and the need to reform and refocus it, how can we ever attempt to do so without consulting the original concept that Kamau and his artist comrades developed for CARIFESTA way back in the year 1970?
The point is that Kamau and the work that he produced is extremely relevant to us in the here and now.
Indeed, how fortunate we were to have this wise shepherd-like elder living among us and keeping watch over the cultural and psychological health of our nation!
Let me conclude by saying that there are many ways in which we could conceive of what should be the future direction and development of our nation and people. But I would wish to suggest that one compelling way in which we should proceed is to set out to create a nation of Kamaus, a nation of "Quiet Warriors ".
Or, put another way, we should set out to inculcate "KAMAU CONSCIOUSNESS" all across our nation!
And what-- you may ask-- does "Kamau Consciousness" consist of ? Well, these are its key components:-
- A deep understanding of our history-- and an equally deep respect for the suffering and the efforts of resistance, survival and cultural creativity of our ancestors.
- An appreciation and an embracing of our identity as African-Caribbean people with deep familial links to our kith and kin throughout the Americas and on the African heartland.
- A deep commitment to justice, and an uncompromising respect for human rights and human dignity.
- A profound sensitivity to all forms of human suffering-- a deep belief in humanity and in human values and humane behaviour.
- A love for the natural environment, and a special commitment to preserve and protect the environment of Barbados.
- A consuming commitment to the very highest academic, professional and artistic standards -- a commitment to discipline, to integrity and authenticity, and a passionate determination to produce.
- A profound belief in the worth and value of one's own people, and an uncompromising commitment to represent, champion defend and protect one's people and nation.
Let us therefore resolve to use - use - use Kamau's tremendous body of work, and to inculcate KAMAU CONSCIOUSNESS all across our nation and particularly in our youth.
Kamau Brathwaite is not dead! KAMAU LIVES!
