Caribbean writers George Lamming and Lasana M. Sekou will be guest writers of the Nature Island Literary Festival & Book Fair which opens in Dominica Friday evening.
The Barbadian born, 85 year old Lamming is a world renowned, award winning novelist and poet.
Professor Lamming, who’s been described as an eminent father of Caribbean literature, will deliver the keynote address at the Nature Island’s Festival’s fifth anniversary.
Lasana M. Sekou is a poet, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and publisher from the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.
Sekou will conduct a workshop on Saturday,on “How to Get Published” with co-facilitator Dominican, Dr. Irving Andre.
According to Alwin Bully, a principal of the book fair organization, Lamming and Sekou will read from their works at the UWI Open Campus, the main book fair venue.
Among the some 20 guest participants slated for the Nature Island lit fest are novelists, historians, poets, researchers, publishers, bloggers, and spoken word artists such as Elizabeth Nunez, Lennox Honychurch, Schuyler Esprit, Mervyn Morris, Polly Pattullo, Reseau Poetique Guadeloupe, Jane Ulysses Grell, Adrian Green, Mary Walters, and Roger Bonair-Agard.
In addition to literary readings and workshops, there will be discussions, open mic sessions, films, book exhibitions and exchanges, folk music performances, and arts and crafts displays.
Entrance to all Literary Festival and book fair events are free to the general public.
Great African minds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DNO, I would like to hear George Lammings’ speech at the opening ceremony. Is it possible for DNO to obtain a recording and make it available on your website for overseas Dominicans to listen to it?
Oh, how I wish I was in DA for this event. I am a big supporter of the festival. I have attended all of the previous four. Thank you Alwyn and the other organizers for your sterling efforts. Dominicans, plese go the festival and give Alwyn and his team and the writers, performers and musicians your support.
Kudos to Alwin Bully and the team for keeping literature and reading alive in Dominica.
Despite the hard economic depression all the events are free to the public and this is highly commendable.
My only wish is that from these festivals, which is in its fifth year now, that there will arise professional writers, who will avail themselves of the opportunities for training and take their interest beyond the hobby level into full time writing and publishing.
Breaking into mainstream publishing is difficult as it is for any industry, but with the right motivation and environment it can be done.
The festival in that regard, is headed in the right direction, moreover, the festival is a great way to introduce an international clientele to the island against a most exotic landscape as presented by the island’s mountains rivers, flora and fauna, and a most interesting history. Dominica should be proud of this event and embrace it with both hands.
Thats great…I always look up to these writers because I love Literature and I love writing.
And WHEN is the literary fair?
Read the first paragraph again.
Very good, I wish there was a schedule of activities.
Oh boy – i wish i was there- I know Sekou very well, have been trianed by him as a matter of fact he has my manuscript ready for publishing – it’s a collection of short stories from Castle Bruce.