It was great news, to say the least, for this writer to learn that Dr. Margaret Busby, OBE, would be in Bermuda this week at the joint invitation of the Bermuda College and Government's Department of Community and Cultural Affairs. She has come from London to highlight the annual Bermuda College Literature Series

Dr. Busby made history when she became Britain's first black woman publisher and its youngest.

She is a distinguished writer, editor, broadcaster, book reviewer, who has strong Bermuda connections, for the most part through Mazumbo (Dr. E.F. Gordon) and his wife Clara whose offspring are her first and second cousins, and who are distinguished in their own right including broadcaster Moira Stewart and musician and bandleader Kenneth Gordon.

Dr. Busby was born in Ghana of Barbadian parents who migrated to Trinidad and Tobago and eventually to Ghana. She received honours degrees from London University and was awarded the OBE in 2006.

Aside from the foregoing, I should state here that one of the most prized volumes in my library is an 1,800-page book, Daughters of Africa, An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent from the Ancient Egyptians to the Present, Edited by Margaret Busby.

The autograph in my copy states: For Ira Philip ¿ with much respect (signed) Margaret Busby, London 22 July 2000 ¿ Centenary Pan-African Conference.

That's the same date that I had the honour and distinction of being presented (picture left) by none other than Margaret Busby to address the Conference on Mazumbo. She was one of the principal organisers who attracted distinguished delegates from all over the Black Diaspora.

I just happened to be in London at the time to be invested with my MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. And, of course, I plan to attend tonight's second of the free public lectures being given by Dr. Busby. Her first, last night, was based on Daughters of Africa.