Memoir — The Book Roads

How To Say Babylon

Safiya Sinclair

How to Say Babylon is a memoir by Jamaican poet Safiya Sinclair about growing up in a strict Rastafari household, where religious beliefs shaped nearly every aspect of family life. Her father, a devoted Rastafari, raises his children according to rigid interpretations of the faith, imposing strict rules on their behaviour, education, appearance, and relationships with the outside world. For Sinclair, these restrictions become particularly difficult as she grows older and begins to question the expectations placed on women. Books and poetry gradually offer her a way to explore ideas beyond the boundaries of her upbringing. Through education and writing, she discovers the language to challenge the beliefs that have defined her childhood and to develop an independent sense of self. Yet her journey toward freedom is complicated by love for her family and the cultural traditions she does not wish simply to reject. Written in lyrical prose, the memoir explores religion, patriarchy, colonial history, and the transformative power of literature. It is a deeply personal account of finding one’s voice while negotiating the complex relationship between family, cultural inheritance, and individual freedom.

Jamaica 2023