The University of Miami recently concluded the 43rd West Indian Literature Conference, a significant global gathering that brought together approximately 150 scholars, writers, artists, and educators from October 8-11, 2025. Under the evocative theme, “The Time of the ‘Bruggadung’: States of EmUrgency,” the conference delved into the critical ways contemporary Caribbean writers are articulating and responding to the multifaceted crises afflicting the region. The gathering underscored the vital role of literature in understanding and confronting the urgent realities of the Caribbean.
Decoding ‘The Time of the ‘Bruggadung’: States of EmUrgency’
The conference’s theme draws from the Bajan Creole term “bruggadung,” which signifies not just the sound of an impact but also a moment of disaster, reckoning, or profound transformation. This concept became the lens through which participants examined the complex web of challenges facing the Caribbean. These include escalating environmental pressures such as record-breaking hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, and rising sea levels, alongside persistent social and political unrest that has led to widespread “States of Emergency” in several nations. The conference posed a central question: what are Caribbean writers grappling with today in the face of these converging crises?
Literature as a Mirror to Crisis
A pivotal event during the conference was the panel “Hurricane Stories: From the ‘l’ of the Storms.” This session explored literary responses to hurricanes, tracing a narrative arc from Zora Neale Hurston’s seminal 1937 novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” to contemporary works addressing events like Hurricane Dorian. Scholars and writers, including Tiphanie Yanique, Erica Moiah James, and Angelique Nixon, shared insights on how literary forms capture the profound impacts of natural disasters, reflecting on disaster response in locales like the Bahamas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beyond environmental calamities, discussions also grappled with the political and social dimensions of urgency, acknowledging the passing of a foundational generation of Caribbean critics and the imperative for new voices to shape the field’s future.
University of Miami: A Hub for Caribbean Discourse
The University of Miami served as an ideal host, recognized internationally for its interdisciplinary strength in Caribbean Studies. The university’s commitment to the region is evident through various centers and programs, including the Center for Global Black Studies and the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, which fosters a dedicated Hemispheric Caribbean Studies group. This academic environment provided a fertile ground for the conference’s deep engagement with Caribbean culture and its literary output.
The conference also highlighted a broader concern: the potential estrangement of younger generations from their land and history. A call was made to foster a deeper connection, emphasizing the need to educate the next generation on land restoration and historical continuity. The event was a testament to the resilience and critical consciousness embedded within Caribbean literature, showcasing how writers serve as chroniclers, analysts, and provocateurs in a region under immense pressure.
The 43rd West Indian Literature Conference, supported by various UM departments and the Pérez Art Museum Miami, not only provided a platform for scholarly exchange but also reinforced the indispensable role of literature in documenting, interpreting, and navigating the profound challenges and transformations that define the contemporary Caribbean landscape. The news from this gathering signals a dynamic period for Caribbean literary arts, as writers continue to bear witness to and shape narratives of survival, resistance, and change.