A Caribbean literary colossus has passed

Last Saturday, June 4, the Caribbean lost one of its foremost Literary giants, George Lamming who died at age 94, four days before his 95th birthday, when he was expected to speak at the 11th Annual George Lamming Distinguished Lecture; “Lamming Online: A Premier” on that day. But something strange happened. I had spoken briefly to a friend who I had not seen for some time. George became immediately the topic of conversation. She knew George but had not been in touch with him recently, the same problem I had . She agreed to contact one of her Barbadian friends to seek information about his whereabouts. A few hours later when I returned home, I got a message to the effect that George Lamming had died. Strange Indeed! The outpouring of emotions had begun.

My first contact with him started in the 1990s and I was able to get him on three different occasions to deliver public Lectures, two in 2003 and 2011. The two in 2003 and 2011 were part of the UWI Open campus’ Annual Independence Lecture series. The final one in 2011 was at the time I had just retired from the University. At his first lecture he referred to what he considered a peculiar Vincentian sense of humour for, he left us to consider, who else would want to build a Court House near to a prison and a hospital adjoining a public cemetery! His lectures were well attended and widely accepted by those who attended. During those visits he found a hotel he admired, liking the family like atmosphere of the Heron hotel, comfort of the rooms and food, and welcoming face of manager, Mrs McKenzie.

He had been familiar with two Vincentians, Shake Keane and Barbadian born-Frankie Thomas with whom he went to school. On one occasion sometime after Frank Thomas’ death he sent me a photo to turn over to Thomas’ widow. It was a photo most likely at School with Thomas sitting in front of Frank Worrell, taken perhaps at Combermere. He had met Shake in London but had lost contact. One day while reading Shake’s “Soufriere poems”, he had phoned me to ask if Empire cigarettes were produced in SVG, referring to a line in the poem that his Empire cigarette had been tasting of ash recently. He also met him briefly when Shake attended CARIFESTA in Barbados and did a performance on the beach. Shake later having read of Lamming’s visit to SVG had contacted me for Lamming’s number. He phoned him and they spent some time reflecting on their period in London.

After completing secondary school in Barbados, he went to Trinidad where he taught for four years before moving to London in 1950. One of his teachers in

Barbados was Frank Collymore, editor of the BIM magazine that carried poems by Shake, Daniel Williams and Owen Campbell. He had been given access to Collymore’s Library. Trinidad had “redirected his head” and exposed him to a wider Caribbean. But it was his move to Britain that bore tremendous significance for him. The publication in 1953 of his book IN THE CASTLE OF MY SKIN, was a critical period for Lamming and for Caribbean writers because that book placed the Caribbean on the Literary map. In the GEORGE LAMMING READER-THE AESTHETICS OF DECOLONISATION edited by Anthony Bougues, the African writer, Ngugi Wa’ Thiongo, stated that . . . “Lamming emerges at the high noon of anti-imperialism, the forcible entry of the masses into history. His work is a product of reflection and a celebration of people making history.”

IN THE CASTLE OF MY SKIN was well received and impacted strongly on African and Caribbean writers, many of whom were living in England in the 1950s and 1960s. Six other publications followed until 1972 when he saw it necessary to use other forms of communications; among them the interview, the conversation and the lecture to convey his message.

Anthony Bougues stated that “To see Lamming primarily as a novelist is to reduce his intellectual labour”. In the 2008 citation for the Order of the Caribbean Community he is described as poet, essay writer, orator, lecturer, teacher, editor and tireless activist for a New World Order.”

Lamming saw himself as a preacher, as one bringing a message. So, the different structures he used helped to spread his message more effectively. It was for this reason that I held a great deal of respect for him. He was always prepared to speak truth to power and to address fundamental issues prevalent to life in the Community. At a meeting of the Fifth Assembly of Caribbean People held at the UWI/CAVE HILL he recognised the region’s political parties as sowing seeds of corruption and suggested that they “probably do more harm than good.” The political party as currently structured he considered a “waste of human capital.”

Guyanese Andaiye, a close friend of Walter Rodney, referring to Lamming’s eulogy at Rodney’s funeral exclaimed that it was the first time she had experienced a eulogy in a Guyanese church provoke a standing innovation. Really the power of the voice and the ability to tell it like it is. The 2008 Order of the Caribbean Community applauded his “intellectual energy, constancy of vision and an unswerving dedication to the ideals of freedom and sovereignty.”

After one of his lectures here an opportunity was provided for interested persons to meet with him at the UWI OPEN CAMPUS to continue the discussion. It turned out to be a success which he thoroughly enjoyed. A dedicated son of the Caribbean has passed on. I say Farewell, treasuring the moments we had met and the conversations that you had encouraged. You have certainly left your mark!

Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian