About

Brown Bamboo is pleased to introduce itself as a small poetry book club. The club dedicates its attention to the rejuvenation of poetry spirit, celebration of language, and aesthetic innovation. Committed readership can highlight the power of imagination in addressing the most pertinent issues in Africa and the new Black Diaspora.

Brown Bamboo derives its name from a gathering place for the elders called Bómpé. Bómpé is made of brown bamboo originally neatly arranged up to ten feet. Bamboo sticks are lined horizontally beside each other with little space in-between. Bómpé is an assembly, is a place of poetry as much as a place of politics.

In the last one and half decades, African poetry has taken a new leap. A new-generation of African poets has emerged in the African market and the new Black diaspora. The intervention of publishing markets such as the African Poetry Book Fund cannot be underestimated. Yet, these griots have little place of gathering in African space.

Readership of African literature today has overemphasized a prose genre above other literary genres as the cumulative sum of African literature. Brown Bamboo is an attempt to retrieve the place of African poetry in African literature. We are gathering readers of African poetry.

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.