A Wordsmith
Born in the West African country of Ghana Professor Kwame Dawes came into this world a few days before Jamaica gained independence in 1962. His parents being from Jamaica, raised Kwame in the island nation. Professor Dawes attended Jamaica College and then the University of the West Indies. A Commonwealth Scholarship awardee Professor Dawes pursued his PhD. at the University of New Brunswick in Canada. A poet, actor, editor, critic and musician Professor Dawes has won several awards for his works. His works include the award winning Progeny of Air, Requiem, Jacko Jacabus, Shook Foil: a Collection of Reggae Poetry, Map-Maker and the first full length study of Bob Marley’s lyrics Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius. On September 21, 2009 his Pulitzer Centre Project Hope: Living and Loving with AIDS in Jamaica won an Emmy for new approaches to news and documentary programming, in the arts, lifestyle and culture category. Professor Dawes is distinguished poet-in-residence at the University of South Carolina, he is a writer, poet and playwright, whose works have been published widely and include books poems, childrens’ stories, and newspaper articles.