15 poets have advanced to the final round of the 2024 First Citizens National Poetry Slam, following intense weekend at the Central Bank Auditorium. Nearly 100 hopefuls became 34 for the semifinal round. This year’s semifinal judges included Karene Asche, Kwame Weekes, Nickolai Salcedo, Patti-Anne Ali, and head judge Arielle M. John.
The poets will compete at the Grand Slam finals on Sunday 28 April, as the First Citizens National Poetry Slam, the closing event of the 2024 NGC Bocas Lit Fest. The winner’s row takes home a total of $80,000 courtesy First Citizens, with first, second, and third places receiving $50,000, $20,000, and $10,000 respectively. Reigning Slam Champion Kyle Hernandez, who automatically advances to the Final, will face off against the 15 qualifying poets from the semifinal round.
finalists
Reigning Champion:
Kyle Hernandez
Abdul Majeed Abdal Karim
Alexandra Stewart
Alicia Haynes
Daniel Baptiste
Darion Cunningham
Derron Sandy
Dershawn Hernandez
Gabrielle Murray
Kedisha Thomas
Keeron Isaac
Michael Logie
Renaldo Briggs (WC)
Ronaldo Mohammed
Seth Sylvester
Shakira Burton
Standby Poets
Kevin Soyer . Soleil La Barrie
Tickets:
The finals took place on Sunday 28 April 2024 at Queen’s Hall in St. Ann’s.
Physical tickets also available at Xtra Foods locations
- Aranguez
- Arima
- Grand Bazaar
- Price Plaza
- Sangre Grande
Tickets are available at the Queens Hall Box Office from Monday through Sunday from 12noon to 6:00pm.
Physical tickets also available at the Paper Based Bookshop:
- The Writers Centre
- 14 Alcazar Street,
- St. Clair,
- Port of Spain.
Cash Only
Judges
The Grand Slam Judges:
Semifinals Judges:
Audition Judges:
For more information, call the Slam Hotline at 375-2155 or email [email protected]
HISTORY
In 2022, all stages of the championship were accessible for public viewing, for free, and was hosted by popular personalities each year. 2023 marked the return of the annual Spoken Word championship to its traditional in-person, pre-covid schedule, with the reintroduction of the popular Wild Card feature of the Slam.
Over twelve years, the First Citizens National Poetry Slam has seen:
1247 poets auditioned (2013-2023)
378 semi-finalists (2013-2023)
144 finalists (2013-2023)
39 winners (1st – 3rd places)
TT $717,000 distributed in prize money
72 Slam events to date