Literature and Music: Benito Bause reads Baldwin

Around the time of his 100th birthday, James Baldwin is being rediscovered in Germany thanks to new translations of his works. This is also due to the multi-layered non-fiction book "James Baldwin - Der Zeuge" (C.H. Beck) by René Aguigah, who provides the introduction and not only knows Baldwin's relationship to Martin Luther King or Malcolm X, but also to activism here and now like no other. James Baldwin built a bridge from America to Europe early on and immersed himself in the jazz scene in Paris. In his work, he repeatedly bore witness to the racism he experienced, for example during a visit to Leukerbad: Baldwin went there for a cure and the children followed him like an alien being from another world, as can be seen in a disturbing film documentary. The experience of further persecution is also evident in his work: homosexuality was still a criminal offence in many countries at the time. Baldwin found his own language for his lust for his body and music, which can now be heard in German thanks to the new translation and in the Tonhalle Zurich thanks to Benito Bause.

Translated with DeepL.com