Manorism is divided into four parts, each exploring different themes related to identity, family, and belonging. “Genesis” delves into Yomi’s personal history and the experiences that have shaped him. “Loss” is an exploration of grief and mourning. “Legacy” reflects on his family’s history and his place within it. And “Manorism” is where Yomi turns his attention to the wider world, writing about social and political issues.

Some of the themes in Manorism speak to how black people are treated in the media. In one chapter, Yomi hones in on an instance where entertainer Alex Mann went viral at Glastonbury festival for rapping the lyrics of a song by AJ Tracey. Alex Mann went on to be praised on daytime TV for his performance, while the man who wrote the song Alax Mann rapped, was simultaneously being grilled by TV presenters for his violent history that he was trying to escape.

“Alex Mann is celebrated. He reaps the rewards of words that were never his, while the mouth in which the lyrics were born is sealed, unpraised, the artist constantly reminded of the circumstances he grew up in, and which he has since outgrown.”

While the fault isn’t with Alex Mann himself, this segment highlights an unspoken issue that we face in the UK with how the black population is presented. Instead of celebrating our art, the media fixates on our trauma. It sometimes feels as though there is a ceiling for our success. Or that to succeed, we must be pigeonholed to fit the world’s vision of us. Yomi Sode sheds light on these complicated issues in creative ways throughout this collection.

The poem A Sestina for the Curious Oyinbo is about an experience that Yomi had at a writing retreat where a white woman asked if he wishes he was white. The poem walks us through Yomi’s thought process in trying to process the question.

Another poem called On Fatherhood: Proximity to Death focuses on the problems within black communities and the treatment of black men towards each other. In particular, Yomi communicates the anxiety and fear that black men sometimes face as they walk by another unfamiliar black male. Instinctively, we’re always sizing each other up, trying to determine the threat level of the other black man. It’s only when we get the head nod of acknowledgment that we mutually lower our guard and acknowledge each other as brothers. But why is there always that initial hostile energy? I am truly grateful to Yomi for communicating this problem.

There is also a heartbreaking series of poems dedicated to the death of Yomi’s Big Mummy, and the feelings preceding and following her death. Using the depth of his writing to show the strong supernatural strength of his grandmother while suffering through her terminal illness.

Yomi Sode is a Nigerian-British author, so readers should expect some Yoruban words spread throughout the book. As someone not from that culture, I never felt like I struggled to understand what was being communicated. In some instances, it drew me into the poems more.

Manorism is more than just a collection of artistic poetry. It’s a representation of the black male experience. It reflects subjects that have been somewhat difficult to talk about for a majority of black people. Whether you’re African or Caribbean, these themes will be familiar to you. And for anyone else choosing to read the book, it gives a strong enough sense of the black male experience for conversations to be had.

It’s also important to note that the racial topics in this book represent only a portion of the book’s overall themes. There are themes of fatherhood, belonging, anxiety, fear, and many relatable topics for everyone.

Manorism is a powerful and moving book that materializes unspeakable thoughts and emotions. It’s proof that black men are capable of vulnerability and introspective expression in a form other than music. Yomi Sode communicates complicated topics in a way that no one has before.

Manorism by Yomi Sode / Buy on Amazon UK / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Bookshop

Sweetdark by Savannah Brown | Buy on Amazon US | Buy on Amazon UK

About Sweetdark

Author: Savannah Brown
Pages: 101
Date Published: 8th October 2020

Book Description

A poetry collection exploring themes of vulnerability, pleasure and chaos. Sweetdark looks at how experiences in life can often be dark yet sweet at the same moment. Sweetdark is the second collection of poems published by Savannah Brown. The first being Graffiti.

My Thoughts

For someone like me who is a sucker for good prose and mind-bending metaphors, this collection was nothing short of euphoric. Each poem has its set theme, but Savannah covers so much ground within a short number of words.

The tone of these poems lives up to the title. These thoughts are dark and at times cynical. But they’re delivered in a way that shows there is always promise to hold onto.

Savannah Brown hails from Ohio but now lives in London. And the beautiful city of London is often weaved into the many observations eternalised in Sweetdark. The words are so vividly painted that the poetry feels more like a reel of visuals than words on a page. I’ve seen poetry collections that weave in artistic visuals to compliment the work, and although there’s not one piece of art inserted (at least in the Kindle version), this book felt like it did indeed include visual detail.

I like to call myself a writer, but in truth, I could only wish to utilize words in this manner. Savannah displays how to use words in ways I never imagined. Her use of metaphors are excellent. She makes it all look so easy, to the point I picked up my journal and attempted to construct my own poems after reading. And that exercise made me realize just how well constructed a body of work Sweetdark is.

I debated on whether to quote some of the poems in this review, but it wouldn’t be right to read any of it without the full poem before you. Instead, I will list the poems that resonated with me the most.

• The universe may stop expanding in five years
• Too hostile too ticking
• If I’ve ever made something beautiful
• Promise

Verdict

If you love words, metaphors and poems, Sweetdark is a collection you absolutely should check out. I would also recommend Savannah’s YouTube channel where she often publishes original visual poems. Some people were born to form words and sentences, and Savannah is one of those people.