Smoked Pearl - Akin Jeje - Bookniverse
Smoked Pearl
Akin Jeje
US $10.05
US $12.56
2010/11
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9789888167753
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PDF
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Proverse Hong Kong
copyAbout this book
View more文學 > 世界文學
SMOKED PEARL chronicles observations and experiences in Hong Kong, Canada and Africa, and was long-listed for the inaugural Proverse Prize in 2009. Smoked Pearl is Akinsola Olufemi Jeje's first full-length collection of poetry, a semi-autobiographical compilation of poems written between 2005 and 2008. The collection thus indirectly chronicles Jeje's arrival in Hong Kong and his subsequent observations of Hong Kong life, Chinese and world events (Canada, Iraq, Africa, the USA); and his musings on race, culture, everyday life and matters of the heart. By turns exuberant, pensive, angry and poignant, Smoked Pearl speaks from the heart of a black Westerner as he negotiates the complexities of "Asia's world city" and its unique place in Chinese history and culture. Akin Jeje sees Hong Kong as a place where the political intersects with the personal. In his poetry, he compellingly shows his consciousness that the territory itself creates its own daily poetry through the joined rhythms of its own existence and that of the emerging giant on whose lip it rests. The title "Smoked Pearl" alludes to Hong Kong's position at the mouth of China's Pearl River Delta. But it also calls to mind Hong Kong's common designation as, "the Pearl of the Orient", indicating that here we have a different view. Jeje brings to Hong Kong and the world events he engages with a unique perspective of outrage, fascination, and – ultimately – compassion.
About the author(s)
View moreAkin Jeje
Akin Jeje was born in the United States of Nigerian and Kenyan parents in the early 1970s and raised in diverse locations around the world from Lagos, Nigeria, London, England and London, Ontario to Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Petersham, Massachusetts. Educated in Canada, Jeje is the graduate of four universities; The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario (BA Sociology 1994); The University of Calgary (BA English 1996); The University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario (MA 2001) and York University in Toronto (B.Ed Primary/Junior, 2005). He now lives and works in Hong Kong. He wrote his first poem at the age of ten, and from the age of eighteen onwards has been continuously writing multicultural experience in verse. A presence in Hong Kong's English-language literary scene since 2006, Jeje is a regular performer at regular Hong Kong literary events such as Outloud and Jazzetry, and he has participated in The Hong Kong Man Literary Festival. Jeje's poetry collection, Smoked Pearl, which chronicles various observations and experiences in Hong Kong, was long-listed for the inaugural international Proverse Prize (2009).
About the publisher
View moreProverse publishes internationally from Hong Kong mainly high quality literary and general titles (novels, novellas, single author short story and poetry collections, poetry anthologies, biography and autobiography), also some travel, sport, young author, mixed genre, educational and academic works, and edited historical source materials. Proverse authors include local and international authors, native speakers of English as well as non-native speakers. Topics and settings vary between local and international. Publication modes are paperback, hardback, ebook and audiobook. Most books are in the English language, including translations into English. A number are in Chinese, and a couple in Italian, a few are bilingual (English/Chinese; English/Italian). Several titles received publication support from Hong Kong Arts Development Council and other cultural bodies in Hong Kong and elsewhere.In 2008, Proverse established theannual international Proverse Prize for unpublished book-length non-fiction, fiction or poetry submitted in English. In 2016, Proverse launched theannual international Proverse Poetry Prize for a single poem submitted in English. Both prizes open for entries no later than 7 May each year (closing date 30 June). Entries to both prizes are invited from anywhere in the world and are open to all over eighteen years old, whatever their nationality, residence or citizenship. Writers and poets from Hong Kong and many countries in the world participate. Winners have been both local and international.Beginning in 2009 and continuing, Proverse organises in central Hong Kong a Spring and an Autumn literary event, open to the public. In recent years, a parallel event, available internationally, is shown on Youtube.Of the titles published by Proverse, several have attracted a Preface or advance appreciation from figures of international reputation. Two Proverse authors have been best sellers, one (Peter Gregoire) in Hong Kong and the other (Nicholas Binge) in Spain.Further informationWebsite: htt[s://www.proversepublishing.comGillian Bickley, ‘The Proverse Prize, Journal of Postcolonial Writing, Vol 59, 2023 Issue 1. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/TKVG8HZSZWX6R4CUJUKM/full?target=10.1080/17449855.2022.2101653Proverse titles page:https://cup.cuhk.edu.hk/ProversehkProverse Autumn Reception 2022 video (3rd edit): https://youtu.be/9L0L0AY6NGQProverse Youtube channel: youtube.com/@ProversePublishing
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