Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56

This collection is a look back at the body of work by Iyaba Ibo Mandingo. It includes his early work, the works written after his 911 arrest and detainment by homeland security and the latest work following his return to Afrika. "Fu You Tongue Heavy Lakka 56" is Antiguan patois. It is a favorite saying of Iyaba Ibo Mandingo's Great Grandmother, "Rozzy" Guy. It means you have a lot to say. As the grandchild of former enslaved Africans she remembers the elders talking about the heavy plows they used during slavery and the days of shooting hard labor (sharecropping) that followed. The size of each plow was designated by a number stamped on the handle. 56 was the number of the heaviest of them all. It was a perfect way to honor his Eguns (ancestors) and the perfect title for a collection of poetry.

"We decided to reissue this book in my sisters memory. Her cancer was discovered just as I began writing the poems, I told her I was going to livicate (Rasta don't like to say dead) the finished book to her; she smiled. She transitioned three days after the book release and I remain utterly heartbroken. The four years has quelled none of the whys. Though I remained inspired, thanks to her spirit, I was not able to promote it the way we had planned. But as our grandfather would say, "time waits for no man." So here we go once more, we've reimagined the cover and added a few poems from something I'm working on called "Yellow for Nikki" she loved yellow...Love her!"