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Anthony Joseph is best known for his work as a poet, but this October sees the publication of his first novel The African Origins of UFOs, a unique fusion of prose, poetry, science fiction, surrealism and mythology. Ruth Puckering interviewed the man himself to find out more…
It’s an interesting title, The African Origins of UFOs; what does it mean?
It’s very tongue-in-cheek, but essentially the title is a metaphor for the many Africans who go in search of Africa, trying to find their roots, identity, home and a sense of self. The spacecraft in this story carries people as they fly around in search of an Africa that no longer exists – instead they find and settle on a new planet.
Was the book inspired by a personal search for identity?
Not really, although a lot of that has happened on the way. I was originally inspired whilst reading a story of the history of the Caribbean and coming across the line ‘They set off to walk back to Africa.’ That line really hit me because so many people do try to return to Africa as a homeland where they will find and understand themselves.
The novel is divided into three parts, Past, Present and Future. Whilst the future is set on the fictional planet Kunu Supia, the rest is more personal. The present is based on my returning to Trinidad, researching and learning about my own family and history there. The past focuses on mythology and pre-history, such as stories handed down in family legend.
You address the concept of ‘blackness’ in world of Kumu Supia. Are you trying to convey a particular message?
No.There are two parties of thinkers – those who see blackness as a socially created concept, and those who believe it’s something inherent from birth. I’ve tried to leave the debate open and not give any answers.I’m not trying to be too serious about it either, it’s quite satirical. In the novel it’s the very people who deny blackness who get down and funky on the dance floor!
And what about Joe Sam, the smuggler of bootleg melanin?
Joe Sam is a kind of cowboy/Zorro/renegade character – a bit of a dude. He deals in high quality melanin because the climate of Kunu Supia is so severe that blackness is essential for survival, and the melanin supplied legally is not strong enough for protection. It’s ironic that the people on the planet trying to deny their blackness at the same time need it for survival.
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