Kyere Ofori Reginald was born in 1987 in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. He has an elder sister and a younger brother, and recently completed Philips Secondary Commercial School in Kumasi.
Five Questions with Reggie Kyere:
1. Why do you think the image of Ethiopia sticks so firmly in the minds of many Africans? How much of the connection do you believe to be based out of Rastafarianism?
I think it is mostly based on Rastafarianism from my own point of view. I also believe Rastafarians are the proudest black people you can ever find.
2. When you speak of Ethiopia in your poem, are you references the real country, or the mythological idea, of Ethiopia?
I speak of the Ethiopia where the black person was proud of his race, where black leaders cared more for the masses than their bellies. I speak of the Ethiopia where the black person stood for his rights and against every form of oppression.
3. We here at OGOV know that you are working hard to make contact with other writers in Kumasi. Have you had any success?
Not yet. Still searching.
4. In your last profile, you pointed to Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, both African-Americans, as your primary sources of inspiration. What drew you to America-based and not Africa-based writers? How much of the poetry you were taught in school was African, and how much European and North-American?
Let's say, African-American poetry really got me to like poetry. I was introduced to mainly African poetry at school, a few at the primary level and others at my final year at senior high. I presume it was just for examination purposes. African or African-American, we are all black.
5. Last time we chatted, you mentioned the lack of poetry books (and interested readers) in Kumasi. Is there anywhere in town where you can reliably access poetry books?
I guess the regional library.
Contact Reggie:
reggiekyere(at)@yahoo.com
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