Channer

Colin Channer is one of the most self-assured people I know.

Calabash–Second Day and Night : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

Mike Farrell reads from his memoir from the podium and returns to his seat for more questions from Colin Channer, and when it is over, the audiences is loud, hooting and cheering.

Calabash–Second Day and Night : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

At the heart of this festival is the unavoidable and contagious presence of Colin Channer, already hoarse-voiced after just one night, constantly grinning, constantly talking, constantly ensuring the chairs remain in some kind of order, and constantly making quick decisions about even the most minute details.

Calabash : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

Indeed, the fact of this musical performance at Calabash exemplifies what Colin Channer and I have been working to demonstrate again and again in our writing and in what we have done with this festival.

Calabash, The Third Day : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

But this is how, and I am here with my good friends, the novelist Colin Channer and the film producer and all around amazing woman, Justine Henzell — the three of us forming the core crew that plans the Calabash International Literary Festival which occurs in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, each year.

As Jamaican as I am, I am not Jamaican : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

Colin Channer goes on stage to thank the musicians, and then he carries out our ritual of seven years – he invites Miss June, the aunt of Justine Henzell, a devout Christian woman, to take the stage and offer a benediction.

Calabash, The Third Day : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

By the time Colin Channer has taken the stage with Mike Farrell, one of the stars of M*A*S*H and the author of a tough memoir, Call Me Mike, the sheltering clouds have gotten heavier and the wind is cool and dense with moisture.

Calabash–Second Day and Night : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

Colin Channer, Justine and I, are people who like to share stories and to laugh and to see the genius of artists working itself out.

Calabash–Arrival : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

Colin Channer, in full black and wild hair, would have welcomed the guests and started to make clear that this is a place for people to find out each other and make new connections; we would all have eaten a wonderful meal; I would have checked e-mail with Delroy Lindo and Caryl Phillips checking their e-mail in the WiFi friendly Jakes lobby, and the pulse of reggae music would have dulled me to sleep at midnight.

Calabash–Arrival : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007

By the end of this first night, I will sit with two administrators from the British Arts Council, have a long catch up session with Colin Channer and Justine, my dear friends and accomplices in this venture, have dinner with Patricia Smith and Maryse Conde the witty and brilliant novelist, embrace and shake hands with an array of splendid writers, journalists, musicians and friends; the entire crowd of writers will have sung Happy Birthday to my son as he blows out a cake.

Calabash–Arrival : Kwame Dawes : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007