The NGC Bocas Lit Fest Tobago 2016, took place from 17 November to 2 December and delivered a rich and diverse literary programme at numerous satellite venues across the sister island. Again the Bocas Lit Fest was sponsored by the NGC partnered with Tobago Library Services, the Empowerment Foundation of Tobago and the Tobago Writers Guild. The programme was a celebration of words and ideas in books, films and performances and as always delivered something more.
The celebration included something for everyone. For the children there was a workshop on Creative Writing Skills and Story Development in which primary schools in Bon Accord, Black Rock, Buccoo, Mt. Pleasant among others participated. School-aged students took part in Create a Superhero Story Competition, held at Gulf City Mall in Lowlands.
Adult workshops included Choosing a Publisher and Marketing your Book, delivered by Bocas founder and Director Marina Salandy-Brown and Jeuanne Alkins, How to Edit your Writing: Editing Assistance and Techniques, facilitated by prize-winning writer, editor and teacher, Professor Emeritus Funso Aiyejina and The Methodology and Techniques of Spoken Word: Writing and Delivery facilitated by First Citizens National Poetry Slam 2016 champion, Seth Sylvester and 2 Cents Movement founder, Jean-Claude Cournand. A Spoken Word Competition afforded Tobago’s hottest talent to strut their stuff.
An open public debate was held in Shaw Park to discuss the hot topic of the decriminalisation of marijuana, and there was a poetry night featuring Anne Mitchell Gift, and an evening of poetry readings with the Tobago Writers Guild. Beloved Jamaican writer, Olive Senior, winner of the 2016 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature read from and discussed stories from her winning book, The Pain Tree.
Last but not least, was a series of film screenings also held at different venues across the island. The films included the documentary The Merikins, directed by Dahlia Dennison, Art Connect, directed by Miquel Galofre, His Story, directed by Wayne John, Kill with Kindness, directed by Wayne John, Calypso Rose, Lioness of the Jungle directed by Pascale Obolo, Amerindians, directed by Tracy Assing, Island on the Edge and In Hot Water, directed by Owin Day and Gerald MacFarlane.
