Books like How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

In *How to Say Babylon*, Safiya Sinclair recounts a childhood spent beneath the strict gaze of her father, a volatile reggae musician and devout Rastafarian who sought to shield his daughters from what he called “Babylon.” To preserve their purity, he imposed rigid dress codes, silenced their opinions, and barred them from social interactions. Though denied outward expression, Sinclair found refuge in books and poetry, nurtured by her mother’s quiet defiance. The memoir follows Sinclair’s transformation from a restrained child to a powerful poet, documenting her confrontations with a father whose violence escalates as her voice rises. Through vivid lyricism, Sinclair examines the intersections of patriarchy, tradition, and the lingering scars of colonialism in Jamaica, offering both a personal reckoning and a rare glimpse into Rastafarian culture.

First publish date: 2023