About the book "Cumbite y otros poemas contemporáneos" (1987):
This poetry collection by Pedro Pérez Sarduy spans work from 1964-1984, showcasing a diverse poetic experience expressed through heterogeneous means. The book features cover art and illustrations by Eduardo Roca (Choco). The book draws from surrealist registers and addresses themes related to Césaire and Depestre - the exaltation of ancestry, the fusion of history and legend regarding Black heroes, and the vindicatory reclamation of Black identity within contemporary social reality. It also includes open poetic testimony that incorporates colloquial rhetoric to provide a vision that is legitimately universal rather than cosmopolitan.
About Pedro Pérez Sarduy (Santa Clara, 1943):
Pérez Sarduy is a Cuban poet, writer, and editor. His published works include:
- Poetry: "Surrealidad" (Honorable Mention in poetry, Casa de las Américas Prize 1966; Ed. Unión 1967) and "Como una piedra que rueda" (1st Mention, Julián del Casal Prize, UNEAC National Literature Contest 1967)
- Unpublished works: "Las criadas" (novela-testimonio/novel-testimony) and "Diario en Babilonia" (novelized chronicle about the Afro-Antillean community settled in England)
Pérez Sarduy is an important voice in Afro-Cuban literature, exploring themes of Black identity, diaspora, and social consciousness. His work bridges Cuban and international Black literary traditions, and he has lived and worked in both Cuba and abroad (including England, as referenced in his unpublished work about the Afro-Antillean community there).
About Eduardo Roca "Choco":
The cover art and interior illustrations were created by Eduardo Roca, known as "Choco," a prominent Cuban artist whose work explores Afro-Cuban themes and identity - a perfect visual complement to Pérez Sarduy's poetic exploration of Black consciousness and heritage.
