The first of two semi-final shows of the biggest spoken word competition in the Caribbean takes place this Sunday, March 24, with the second booked for Sunday, March 31. In each show 20 poets will vie for the judges’ favour at the Central Bank Auditorium from 6 PM.
As excitement mounts in anticipation of the premiere of the final season of the popular fantasy series Game of Thrones (GOT) on April 14, fans will be treated to the integration of Trinidad and Tobago’s lore, history and culture into signature GOT stories of rivalries, battles and conquest.
The GOT theme was established back in January where each of the five open mic auditions held throughout the country was assigned a ‘House’, in keeping with the GOT plot of powerful embattled clans. Houses were identified by local, iconic socio-cultural references such as House Moko, House Jab, House Chantuelle, House Merikins and House Maroons.
The best 15 will move on to the Grand Slam finals to challenge First Citizens National Poetry Slam defending champion Deneka Thomas for the “microphone throne” on Sunday 5th May at NAPA.
For the third consecutive year, the winner will take home $50,000, while second place will be awarded $20,000 and third place $10,000, all courtesy First Citizens.
This year’s second round judging panel includes prize-winning poet Professor Emeritus Funso Aiyejina (head judge), prize-winning author/journalist Lisa Allen-Agostini, journalist/writer Sterling Henderson and academic/writer Janique Dennis.
For ticket information, visit www.facebook.com/FCNPS or call 319-4749.
The First Citizens National Poetry Slam is the closing event of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, which takes place from May 1 to 5 at the National Library and Old Fire Station.
Semi-Finalists according to Houses
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Semis 1
Crystal St. Hilaire – Maroons
Kyle Hernandez – Merikins
Semaura Clarke-Celestin – Moko
Michael Logie – Chantuelle
Brendon O’Brien – Jab
Jovon Williams – Chantuelle
Jamila Gomez – Merikins
Akile Wallace – Jab
Ronald Forde – Jab
Javaughn Forde – Jab
Red Frederick – Moko
Muhammad Muwakil – Moko
Isaiah Wayne John – Jab
Keno Samuel – Chantuelle
Omavi Langevine – Merikins
Mishael Henry – Chantuelle
Ronaldo Mohammed – Moko
Emmanuel Villafana – Moko
Alliyah Jackson – Jab
Jonathan Dennis – Merikin
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Semis 2
Iyana Phillips – Maroon
Idrees Saleem – Jab
Aaron Charles – Moko
Shimiah Lewis – Jab
Dennis Joseph – Merikin
Amy Yeates – Maroons
Coryal Sylvester – Merikin
Shineque Saunders – Jab
Ahmad Abdul Muhammad – Jab
Marcus Millette – Jab
Kenson Laudat – Jab
D’Izraiel Billy – Jab
Abdul Majeed Abdal Karim – Jab
Seth Sylvester – Merikin
Winston Trotman – Jab
Justin Michael
Barker – Chantuelle
Chaquille Charles – Jab
Arnaldo Conliff – Moko
Brandon O’Brien – Chantuelle
Alexandra Stewart – Merikin
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