“Black Fire” (Introduction & Blurb) 1976, James Baldwin

In the 1960s and 1970s, Baldwin was a vocal critic of the apartheid regime in South Africa, and he used his platform as a writer and public intellectual to draw attention to the struggles of black people across the continent¹. Baldwin also supported the liberation struggles in Zimbabwe. He wrote the blurb, introduction and a review in the Guardian to the book “Black Fire!: Accounts of the Guerrilla War in Zimbabwe” as well as attending the book launch in London.² “Black Fire!: Accounts of the Guerrilla War in Zimbabwe” is a book that chronicles the experiences of guerrilla fighters during the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe in the 1970s. The book was edited by journalist and film maker Michael Raeburn, and it includes first-hand accounts from several guerrilla fighters who took part in the struggle. “Black Fire!” was published in 1976, at a time when the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was still ongoing, and it provided an important and often overlooked perspective on the conflict. ³The book sheds light on the motivations and experiences of the guerrilla fighters, who were fighting against the white-minority government and its policies of segregation and oppression.

While all four scents represent a specific time and location, only the primary fragrance references a place in Zimbabwe, Chinoyi, as depicted in the story of the Chinoyi seven in the book. The three solid fragrances aim to portray and establish James Baldwin’s persona, with “135th Street Library” serving as a prelude that highlights the location shaping his early years. “18 Rue de Tournon” alludes to his influential years in Paris, and “Chemin du Pilon” evokes his final years in Saint Paul de Vence, where he likely contributed to the book.