Fabian M. Thomas is one of those inspiringly creative Jamaicans. There is no stopping him! I believe we first met at a Calabash workshop, quite a few years ago now. I was doing Fiction Writing with Colin Channer. Fabian was doing Poetry with Kwame Dawes. I recall that we fiction writers were extremely noisy. Our exclamations and occasional loud crashing noises (Mr. Channer expressed himself quite physically sometimes, and we perhaps encouraged him) disturbed the rather more contemplative poets in the other room from time to time.
Fabian remains a contemplative person. His art has a purpose, which is social and personal transformation. At the same time, he has a certain exuberance that is hard to rein in. He has been striding along over the past several years – exploring, turning over stones, nudging at a boundary here and there. His sense of humor, amid the serious topics that he tackles in his work, is always just under the surface. He has always been someone you can have a good chuckle with. He’s not afraid to shock his audiences a little, either.
This summer is looking hot – and I mean in terms of activities – for Fabian. The group he founded and directs, Sankofa Arts and Facilitation, will be staging the Summer Version of its Word Soul production later this month – which Fabian describes as “our signature production, which showcases our niche of combining spoken word/poetry and soulful song-styling uniquely blended with other visual and performing arts.” It will be directed by fabian m. thomas, Darian Reid, Jamaal McKnight & Jomo Dixon, with special Guest Shantol Jackson.
But before that, a book launch! Please find the details below, from Fabian’s press release:
July 10, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Transformational trainer/facilitator, performing arts specialist, poet/writer and life coach Fabian Thomas (fabian m. thomas) will host the launch of his first self- published book, New Thought, New Words: a collection of gratitude verses, affirmations and spoken word in the Neville Hall Lecture Theatre (N1), at the University of the West Indies on Monday July 16th at 6:30p.m.
New Thought, New Words is an engaging exploration of thomas’ commitment to constantly “show-up” as his best self, an exploration from which most can undoubtedly benefit. As Rev. Sheila McKeithen opines in her opening message: “This work will not only inspire you to think a ‘new thought’ about your life and circumstances, it will give you permission to speak ‘new words’, and express ‘new feelings’ about your life and its every possibility. It will encourage you to ‘speak over yourself’ and to believe in yourself.”
Thomas says a 5-track CD of spoken word items from the book is currently in production, but may not be ready for the launch: “When the CD is finished folks will have the option of buying them (the book and CD) together or separately.”
For the past 20 years, a forward-thinking thomas has maintained an unshakeable commitment to interpersonal training, life coaching and performing arts for social transformation. He has worked with several individuals, schools and larger organizations on team building, vision boarding and personal strategic decision making under the banner of his brand Sankofa Arts & Facilitation.
His next book project will be the publication of his first manuscript of spoken word poetry, for which he will soon be seeking a publisher.
SANKOFA Arts & Facilitation – ‘arts & training for transformation’ – is at 34 Lady Musgrave Road, Unit 18, Kingston 5 Tel: 876-492-9020. E-mail: sankofaaf@gmail.com
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