How to say babylon

Safiya Sinclair's How to Say Babylon is a lyrical memoir over which one woman fights to break free from a strict Rastafarian upbringing and to discover her own voice as a poet. Told with rhythm and candor, the book traces her journey from a childhood under a powerful father who governs with paranoia and a vision of Babylon—the corrupting influences of the outside world—toward a path of independence, education, and creative voice. Interwoven with Jamaica’s colonial legacy, patriarchal expectations, and the tension between reverence for culture and the urge to question it, the narrative unfolds as a universal story of personal empowerment through language and self-expression.

The memoir highlights the tension between devotion to family and the need for self-definition. Safiya’s mother, though loyal to her husband, introduces Safiya and her siblings to literature and poetry, which becomes the tool she uses to find her voice. As Safiya grows, conflicts with her father intensify, culminating in violence that underscores the price of rebellion. The work offers a poetic glimpse into Rastafari life, while examining gender, tradition, and the enduring impact of colonial history on individual choice and freedom.

Features

• National Book Critics Circle Award Winner
• Notable Book from major outlets
• Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick
• Best Book of 2023 by several publications
• Set against Rastafari culture and Jamaican history
• Focus on a woman finding her voice through poetry