Author John Robert Lee Talks About His Literary Works – Books And Poetries

Writing is an important skill in today’s world and many people are turning to books to express themselves or tell their stories. Writing a book forces, you to turn inward and explore your ideas. With this introspection, you can find new inspiration and lose yourself in the creative process. meanwhile, the sense of accomplishment you get pushes you forward and forward.

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.

In today’s episode of Obehi Podcast, we are going to consider different things about book writing with a St. Lucian author and poet, John Robert Lee. He will be joining us form via skype.

Some Key Points In This Episode

• How you first started writings,
• The role of literature in reawakening the African diaspora community
• What do you love about poetry and literature

The Full Interview With John Robert Lee

The role of literature in reawakening the African diaspora community

Literature plays a significant role in reawakening the African diaspora community by preserving the cultural identity of African people, promoting social and political awareness, and providing a platform for African voices to be heard.

Firstly, literature serves as a means of preserving the cultural identity of African people by documenting their history, traditions, and beliefs. Through literature, the African diaspora community can reconnect with their roots and gain a better understanding of their cultural heritage. This, in turn, helps to foster a sense of pride and belonging, which is essential for the community’s overall well-being.

Secondly, literature promotes social and political awareness by addressing issues that affect the African diaspora community. Literature can be used to highlight the struggles and challenges faced by African people, including racism, discrimination, and inequality. By bringing these issues to the forefront, literature can help to inspire action and bring about change.

Finally, literature provides a platform for African voices to be heard. By sharing their stories and experiences, African writers can challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about their culture and history. This can help to build bridges between different communities and promote greater understanding and appreciation of African culture.

Note that literature plays a crucial role in reawakening the African diaspora community by preserving cultural identity, promoting social and political awareness, and providing a platform for African voices to be heard. By recognizing the importance of literature, we can help to empower the African diaspora community and promote a more inclusive and equitable society.

See also our previous article: Why African Diaspora Is An Essential Factor For The Continent’s Development

About The Guest: John Robert Lee

John Robert Lee (b. 1948) is a St. Lucian writer who has published several collections of poetry. His short stories, poems, essays, and reviews can be found in many journals (print and online), newspapers, and international anthologies. He curates a Caribbean Poetry Portfolio for Acalabash.com where much of his recent work is also published.

Lee’s latest publications are Pierrot published by Peepal Tree Press in February 2020, Saint Lucian Writers and Writing: an author Index of published works of poetry, prose and drama (Papillote Press, 2019) and Collected Poems 1975-2015 (Peepal Tree Press, 2017). His Belmont Portfolio, Poems will be published by Peepal Tree in 2023. He is a regular contributor to PN Review.

He has been a teacher, librarian, radio and TV broadcaster, literary journalist, reviewer, newspaper columnist, actor and director. He presently manages an email list serve to Caribbean writers at home and abroad. He is committed to Caribbean Community. He regularly reviews Caribbean Literature for various journals and newspapers.

In 1993, at the launching of a poetry collection by Lee entitled Translations, Nobel laureate Derek Walcott said of his younger contemporary, “Robert Lee has been a scrupulous poet; that’s the biggest virtue he has, and it’s not a common virtue in poets, to be scrupulous and modest in the best sense, not to over-extend the range of the truth of his emotions, not to go for the grandiose. He is a Christian poet obviously. You don’t get in the poetry anything that is, in sense, preachy or self-advertising in terms of its morality. He is a fine poet.”

Learn More About Obehi Podcast

Obehi Podcast brings you leaders and experts from different industries to share their experiences, relating to Africa and the African diaspora. Listen to Obehi Podcast across different platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube, and much more.

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.