Kamau Brathwaite

Kamau Brathwaite coined the term "Nation Language" to describe the distinctive, locally developed Caribbean dialects used in literature, rather than standard English. He argued that this language carried the rhythm and history of the region's African heritage and physical environment.

"The Arrivants" is a historic poetry trilogy completed in 1969, comprising "Rights of Passage," "Masks," and "Islands." It explores the journey of Caribbean people through their African roots, the middle passage, and modern Caribbean life.

While he has many acclaimed works, poems featured in "The Arrivants" like "Calypso" are among his most studied. His writing is renowned for its experimental typography, oral rhythm, and deep integration of Afro-Caribbean folklore.

Kamau Brathwaite was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1930. He later moved to England to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge, before extensively researching and teaching in the Caribbean.