Trinidad and Tobago Joins Region to Mark Caribbean Literature Day
tomorrow, Monday, July 12, the NGC Bocas lit Fest will host a full suite of virtual events to mark the second annual observance of Caribbean literature Day, a pan-caribbean celebration of words, stories and ideas. Writers, book lovers, publishers in the region and diaspora will have a chance to participate in the programme curated by the NGC Bocas lit Fest, in a live Facebook chat on Caribbean readership, along with recorded features on all types of writing and spoken word on its Facebook and Youtube platforms.
A special edition of the popular Pavement Poets is on point as the Caribbean continues to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. Spoken word performers, Shimiah Lewis, Mishael Henry, and Seth Sylvester, winner of the 2016 First Citizens National Poetry Slam, will deliver commissioned pieces that advocate wider vaccination uptake, in line with the messages from regional health authorities.
Stand and Deliver, the open mic series that is a staple of T&T’S annual literature festival, has thrived as a virtual event and the programme includes two sessions of several regional, emerging writers presenting their original work in high quality video recordings.
Writers need readers, and Bocas’ unique interactive BYOBB (Bring Your Own Book and Bottle) series, where readers discuss book choices in an open forum via Zoom, will also be part of the day’s activities. Felene Cayetano, poet and founding member of the Belizean Writers Guild, and Paula David, Jamaican-born, St Vincent-residing member of the Caribbean Book Club, avid reader and history enthusiast, will join Bocas team members to analyse the healthy growth spurt in Caribbean book clubs.
Jamaican-born Shara Mccallum, who won the 2018 OCM Bocas Prize for Poetry, and Barbados-based Philip Nanton, writer and spoken-word performer from St Vincent and the Grenadines will add their insights.
Tune in for free on July 12 via the Bocas Lit Fest Facebook page – www.facebook.com/bocaslitfest
NGC Bocas Lit Fest Caribbean Literature Day Events (Times are TT times, so join events one hour earlier for Jamaica time)
1:00 pm – Stand & Deliver Lunchtime Jam
3:00 pm – Pavement Poets
5:00 pm – Let’s Talk Caribbean! A BYOBB & 100
Caribbean Books That Made Us FB Live Chat 6:30 pm – Stand & Deliver Sundowner