Early Life and Education:

David Dabydeen was born on December 9, 1955 in Berbice, Guyana. He was born into an Indo-Guyanese family, descended from Indian indentured laborers brought to Guyana in the 19th century. In 1969, at the age of 14, Dabydeen immigrated with his parents to London, England. Dabydeen excelled academically and won a scholarship to study at Cambridge University. He earned his BA in English from Cambridge in 1978. He then went on to complete his PhD in English literature at University College London in 1982.

Academic Career:

After completing his doctorate, Dabydeen began his academic career at the University of Warwick in 1984. He served as a lecturer and later became Professor of Postcolonial Literature and Director of the Centre for Caribbean Studies at Warwick. He held these positions until 2010.From 2016-2019, Dabydeen was a Professorial Fellow in the Office of the Vice Chancellor and President at the University of Warwick.

Literary Works:

Dabydeen is an accomplished poet, novelist, and non-fiction writer. Some of his major works include:Poetry:

• Slave Song (1984) – Won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize
• Coolie Odyssey (1988)
• Turner: New and Selected Poems (1994)

Novels:

• The Intended (1991) – Won the Guyana Prize for Literature
• Disappearance (1993)
• The Counting House (1996)
• A Harlot’s Progress (1999)
• Our Lady of Demerara (2004)
• Molly and the Muslim Stick (2008)
• Johnson’s Dictionary (2013)

Non-fiction:

• Hogarth’s Blacks: Images of Blacks in Eighteenth Century English Art (1985)
• Co-editor of The Oxford Companion to Black British History (2007)

Dabydeen’s writing often explores themes of colonialism, migration, slavery and the experiences of Indo-Caribbean people. He is known for his use of Guyanese Creole and his ability to blend historical research with imaginative storytelling. Diplomatic Career:
In addition to his literary and academic work, Dabydeen has had a distinguished diplomatic career:

• From 1997-2010, he served as Guyana’s Ambassador to UNESCO
• From 2010-2015, he was Guyana’s Ambassador to China

Awards and Recognition:

Dabydeen has received numerous awards for his contributions to literature and academia, including:

• Commonwealth Poetry Prize (1984)
• Guyana Prize for Literature (1991, 2004)
• Raja Rao Award for Literature (2004)
• Anthony Sabga Prize for Literature (2008)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature

Current Work:

In 2020, Dabydeen established the Ameena Gafoor Institute for the Study of Indentureship and its Legacies in London, where he currently serves as director.

Legacy:

David Dabydeen is considered one of the most important contemporary Caribbean writers and intellectuals. Through his creative writing, scholarship and diplomatic work, he has made invaluable contributions to postcolonial literature and the understanding of Caribbean history and culture. His exploration of the Indo-Caribbean experience and use of Creole language have expanded the landscape of Caribbean literature. As an academic and public intellectual, he has also played a crucial role in promoting the study of Black British history and culture.