Hemayel Michael Anthony Martina (24 October 1990 – 29 January 2011) was a Curaçaoan poet. While studying at the International School of Curaçao, the 17-year-old Martina started writing poems addressed to young people. Later, these were collected in a book, with each poem appearing side by side in both Papiamento and English. The book has two titles: Ansestro Preokupá Sosegá (Papiamento) and Worried Ancestor Rest in Peace (English). The poems explore politics, music, sports, and various personalities who have made important contributions to Martina's homeland of Curaçao.
After residing for a while in Leiden, Netherlands, and continuing his university education at Webster University in Leiden, he toured Curaçao with musician and friend Levi Silvanie. They performed at various venues combining poetry with Silvanie's music. They both organized a night of poetry and music on local television. He also toured South Africa in December 2010.
On 29 January 2011, while touring Curaçao, he died from injuries suffered in a car crash. He was buried in Curaçao.
Bibliography
- 2010: Ansestro Preokupá Sosegá / Worried Ancestor Rest in Peace
References
- Rosabelle Illes, Crisen Schorea, Levi Silvanie, "Ansestro Preokupa Sosega paso Ami ta Korsou", August 18, 2015; the text of this post archived on January 14, 2016
- Hemayel Martina ta presentá: ”Ansestro prekupá, sosegá” (in Dutch and English); archived on January 14, 2016
- Two Webster Students Publish Books, November 28, 2010, Webster University; this is an archive snapshot of a page that is no longer available on Webster's website
- RNW: Dichter Hemayel Martina omgekomen bij auto-ongeluk Archived 2011-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch)
- Poet of Curaçao: Hemayel Martina interviewed by Lee Bob Black
- Anne de Graaf, "Hemayel Martina: 12 October 1990 - 29 January 2011", archived on January 14, 2016
- "Hemayel Martina had een missie" Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch), Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (RNW); archived September 29, 2012
External links
- An archive of Hemayel Martina's website (HemayelMartina.com), which is no longer available.
- An archive of the Ancestro Preokupá Sosegá book's website (AnsestroPreokupa.com), which is no longer available.
- Hemayel Martina Facebook.
- "Poet of Curaçao: Hemayel Martina interviewed by Lee Bob Black" (video).