Island Archives

On today's episode of the IAP, we will peer onto the canvas of an individual who certainly made his mark in the pantheon of art history. Frank Bowling was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1934, he arrived in London in 1953, graduating from the Royal College of Art with the silver medal for painting in 1962. Bowling went on to divide his time between the art scenes in London and New York,...

Egbert Austin Williams was born on November 12, 1874 to parents Frederick and Julia in Nassau, the Bahamas. Due to an economic depression, the family decided to leave the Bahamas in 1884 and make a new home in Riverside, California. There young Bert became fascinated with medicine shows while his father was ambivalent about show business at first, but after watching his son delivering a confident...

Alfred Horford Reynoso, more commonly known as Al Horford was born on June 3, 1986, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. His father's influence and guidance played a significant role in shaping his passion for basketball and laying the foundation for his future success in the sport, as his dad played in the NBA as well in the 1980’s. Horford has collaborated with Basketball Without Borders, th...

Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, on 2 June 1973, the eleventh and last child in an impoverished family. At the age of 16, he won a scholarship with the Turin Ballet, winning the Gold Medal at the Prix de Lausanne. Acosta is that rarest of things -- a ballet dancer who has pirouetted into the public consciousness. He often speaks of the need for ballet to take risks, to evolve and to speak a...

Forbes Burnham was born on February 20, 1923, in Kitty, Georgetown, one of three children born to poor but strict parents. Some individuals make for difficult subjects to write on. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham is such a person. He is either well admired or passionately despised. Either way, or altogether, he remains, unquestionably, one of the Caribbean’s most controversial personalities of the t...

Jennifer Hosten was born in 1947 in St George’s Grenada, the youngest of five siblings. She is a mother, diplomat, queen, ambassador and a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Her contributions and legacy will be observed and revered for generations to come. Her status as a beacon of hope, strength and liberty make her a perfect addition to the Island Archives.

Alexis Léger (Saint-John Perse) was born on a small family-owned coral island in Guadeloupe on May 31, 1887. Perse's dual life as a poet and diplomat serves as an inspiration. His commitment to both creative expression and diplomatic service underscores the idea that individuals can excel in multiple spheres, fostering a holistic approach to life and contributing to a more interconnected globa...

CLR James was born in Trinidad on 4 January 1901 to parents who were part of a distinctive generation of blacks – the generation which followed slave emancipation and whose contribution profoundly shaped the future of those small island societies. His vision of humanity was animated by the simple but profound belief in the creative capacities of ordinary men and women and he felt that they were th...

Nanny of the Maroons was the first and foremost leader of the Windward Maroons of Jamaica, a community of self-emancipated formerly enslaved people. She was Queen, the mother of her people, the most brilliant strategist and guerilla general the British were ever going to encounter , not to mention a spiritual guide for her people. Nanny’s story is truly unique and it is one that deserves to be tol...

Marcus Of The Woods was a slave who had been born in St. Kitts some time in the PROBABLY in the late 1700’s. He first gained notoriety in 1813 when he ran away from Hutchinson’s Estate and took refuge in the safety of the green haven that surrounded what would come to be known as Mount Misery, and then Mount Liamuiga. The tale of Marcus of the Woods personifies bravery, resistance and the fight fo...

François Duvalier was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti  in 1907. Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 to 1971. He was unanimously "re-elected" in a 1961 referendum in which he was the only candidate and remained in power until he died in 1971. In April 1964 he declared himself president for life. Doc was able to stay in power longer than any of his predecessors and his regime cause...

Today’s episode of the IAP features a Hollywood star whose face you may recognize but story you may not. Garcelle Beauvais was born in St. Marc, Haiti, on November 26, 1966, as the youngest of eight children. From modelling to The Jamie Foxx Show to NYPD Blue, Garcelle Beauvais has shown herself to be a star. From not speaking English to Hollywood supernova, her story reminds us that it's not wher...

On this episode of the IAP, we will take a free kick at tackling a story that shows us the importance of mentality in life. Keith “Kayamba” Gumbs.  Keith 'Kayamba' Gumbs is an iconic national sports figure who features among the pioneers of sportsmen and women who blazed the trail before embarking on their professional path from small islands.  His passion for the game, distinctive chara...

Grace Beverly Jones was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on May 19, 1948, to Marjorie and Robert W. Jones. Her father was a local politician and Apostolic clergyman. When she was 13 years old, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York. Her family were devout Christians, particularly of the Pentecostal denomination, and Grace had to participate in prayer meetings and Bible readings every night....

Alexander Hamilton was born in January 1755 on the Caribbean Island of Nevis. Hamilton accomplished a lot in his relatively short life. The achievements that are usually publicized most include his role in securing America’s independence and getting the U.S. Constitution signed; his revolutionizing of the country’s financial system; founding the Federalist Party, the first voter-based political pa...

Caryl Phillips was born in St. Kitts to Malcolm and Lillian Phillips on 13 March 1958. He came from very humble beginnings, having been born in a rum shop owned by his mother’s family. Phillips’ work has been translated into over a dozen languages, and he has tackled themes on the African slave trade from many angles, and his writing is concerned with issues of "origins, belongings and exclusion",...

 Sir Simeon Daniel is an individual who is considered the father of a tiny island that left a lasting legacy. The Right Excellent Sir Simeon Daniel was instrumental in laying the foundation for Nevis's development, making him a laudable addition to the IA.

Dwight Eversley Yorke CM is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian former professional footballer and current manager of Macarthur FC. Throughout his club career, he played for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sydney FC and Sunderland, mainly as a forward, between 1988 and 2009. 

Author and Professor Fantz Fanon.

Born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Janelle "Penny" Commissiong was the first woman of African descent ever to secure the title of Ms Universe. This feat sparked a legacy of advocacy and service that makes her a worthy entry in the Island Archives. Connect with The Island Archive – Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | If you’re looking to find out more about the topics covered in thi...

St Lucian-born Derek Walcott was a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He was awarded the honor in 1992 for his outstanding works of poetry and theatre production that led him to superstardom. He even won a McArthur Fellowship aka the “genius grant” along the way. Walcott has been credited with being one of the most technically acute literary pioneers of the 20th century and we discuss his contributions i...

Hailing from St. Croix, Tim Duncan is one of the greatest basketball players to ever lace them up. At Wake Forest University, he was an NCAA rebounding leader, 3x NABC Defensive Player of the Year, and the 1997 National College Player of the year. After getting drafted #1 overall in the 1997 NBA Draft (and winning Rookie of the Year) he would become a 5x NBA Champion, 3xFinals MVP, 15x NBA All-Sta...

Buckle up as we cover the wild story of Dominican politician Eugenia Charles the first woman elected as head of Government in the Americas. The Klu Klax Klan tried to overthrow the Dominican government in 1981, and it wasn’t the only attempted coup that year. We discuss why she’s called the “Iron Lady of the Caribbean” as well as discussing ‘Operation Red Dog’ on today’s episode. Connect with The...

Sir Vivian Richards is an Antiguan cricketer who attained widespread popularity for his contributions on and off the pitch. Richards was offered a “blank check” to entice him to join the South African Rebel Tours of 1982 and 83 and both times, turned it down. He captained the West Indies from 1984 to 1991 and remains the only captain in their history to never lose a Test. Richards was a prolific b...

Dr. Eric Williams was a Trinidad historian and politician, who was one of the first major figures in history to dispel the theory that slavery ended because of a change of heart of the slave owners. He outlined that this shift was economic, not benevolent. Williams inaugurated his own political party, the People's National Movement (PNM) in 1956, which would take T&T into independence in 1962,...