Tracing JaJa

by Anthony Kellman

Based on the life of accomplished merchant prince King Ja Ja of Opobo, Anthony Kellman has created a richly imaginative and warmly human work of historical fiction. Weaving between the official records and the satirical and cynical traditions of the tuk song, Tracing Ja Ja "traces the emerging love between an ailing African king in exile and his Barbadian servant Becka. When Jubo Jubogba began life as a trader's slave, paddling the great house's canoes, no one could've predicted his meteoric ascent to become Ja Ja of Opobo, a sage merchant king of the Niger's rich river delta. Kellman's psychological insight crosses ages and cultures, with a poet's perception of the beauties of his island's flora and fauna."

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2020

About the author

ANTHONY KELLMAN is a writer and musician, and Emeritus Professor of English & Creative Writing at Augusta University. He is the author of five books of poetry, Watercourse, The Long Gap, Wings of a Stranger, Limestone (the first published epic poem from the island of Barbados), and South Eastern Stages. He is also the author of two novels, The Coral Rooms and The Houses of Alphonso; and four CDs of original music two of which are companions to his books Wings of a Stranger and Limestone. He's a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts poetry fellowship (USA) and The Prime Minister's award (Barbados). His poems, stories, and essays have appeared in literary periodicals in the USA, the Caribbean, Canada, England, Wales, India, Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil. He is also the editor of the first full-length U.S anthology of English-language Caribbean poetry Crossing Water: Contemporary Poetry of the English-Speaking Caribbean (1992) and is the originator of the Barbados poetic form Tuk Verse.

As a musician, he played and sung pop and West Indian folk songs on England's folk-club circuit in his late teens before returning to Barbados to resume academic studies. Anthony has released four CDs of original music (in the Island-folk/World/singer-songwriter genres) which feature an eclectic mix of Caribbean, African, and European folk influences. His lyrics reflect themes found in his novels and poetry such as the celebration of geographical as well as emotional landscapes; the importance of justice as a precursor to peace in the world; and the creole dimensions of Barbadian culture and identity which reflect both African and European elements. His music is also available from amazon.com and at