Jamaica’s Commonwealth Short Story prize-winner Kwame McPherson in Abu Dhabi

IN 2023, Kwame McPherson became the first Jamaican to win the prestigious, global Commonwealth Short Story competition.

Since then, his presence is being requested at high-end events and on occasions, such as the one that took place at Buckingham Palace in England. And, on March 26, McPherson got another invitation by way of email, but he found this particular one suspect.

“It informed me about the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and how I was the guest of honour, representing the Caribbean. I was immediately suspicious, my sensors alerted to a possible scam. Nonetheless, I did my due diligence about the event and the individual who contacted me, and lo and behold, it was legit … I was stumped,” he shared with The Gleaner from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The award, I feel, got me noticed. Eventually, details were transferred, correspondences exchanged, and travel arrangements confirmed, and by April 26 I was on a flight going to Abu Dhabi, a region, a country, and a city I have never been to before.”

He is there, on an all-expenses-paid trip, at the international book fair, one of the biggest in the world and the Middle East region, “and of the highest quality and standards”. To get there, he travelled from Norman Manley International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, from which he flew almost 16 hours on Etihad Airlines to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, of which he said, “Everything about Abu Dhabi is futuristic.”

And he seemed to have jumped out of the frying pan right into the fire, as he also said, “Abu Dhabi is clean, with wide roads, efficient and fast-moving traffic, large modern buildings and apartments, and sweltering heat. The heat in the United Arab Emirates feels like being in a sauna. I am sure, easily hotter than Jamaica. It was built in the desert after all. Nobody walks anywhere, especially during the day.”

McPherson’s first speaking occasion happened the day after he arrived; it was a one-on-one interview with William Mullally, a leading journalist in Abu Dhabi. The conversation focused on the Caribbean and the region’s importance in “capturing and retelling our stories to a global audience and the Middle East, in particular”.

The second one was in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Shaikha bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan. They spoke about how stories change lives and how Caribbean storytelling enables that. He has also been featured across the Arab world through various media.

Over the next three days, there were another three sessions on a similar theme. The last one, to date, was in the Caribbean Pavilion. A stall was built to represent the region and literary works from here. The majority of the published works is in Arabic. There were a few books in English, but the majority of the books were in the native language.

“Lots of networking in-between, and it was interesting to hear how the UAE was opening up to learn more about other places in the world, the reason why the Caribbean, our stories, and storytelling were on their radar. It was such an honour bestowed on me to represent the region,” he said.

Apart from the busy book fair, there is much to learn about Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, McPherson said. It is an Islamic state with a population of nearly 10 million, of which nearly 90 per cent are expatriates. The country is divided into seven states, or emirates, with a ruling Supreme Council made up of leaders of those states.

“The system blends monarchy and federal governance, with a strong emphasis on consensus among the emirate rulers. A fascinating way to govern. Just to mention, they have zero tolerance for crime. It is non-existent. The food is magnificent, with an emphasis on chicken, beef, and fish,” McPherson shared. He finds the clothes, too, to be fascinating, though Western clothes are also in the mix.

“Overall, the people have been accommodating, warm, friendly, and approachable, always willing to be of service for the smallest things. It has been a truly wonderful learning experience. I am honoured to have been selected to represent Jamaica and the Caribbean region, and excited about the collaborations and partnerships that have been garnered from my attending the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair,” McPherson also told The Gleaner.

“Sightseeing so far has consisted of going to a mall and Al Qanaa, an entertainment area, and a trip to the Grand Mosque to come. With another week remaining, I intend to make the most of travelling around Abu Dhabi and might make Dubai, which is about two hours away, for a reggae event.”

A Big News Network (based in UAE/Dubai) online story published on Sunday, April 27 opened with, “Jamaican writer Kwame McPherson said that his visit to Abu Dhabi presented a valuable opportunity to discover new cultures and strengthen literary ties with Emirati writers, noting the growth and potential in the UAE-Caribbean literary relations.”