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NGC Children's Bocas Lit Fest
25 - 28 April 2024
Official Opening & Welcome by the Mayor of Port of Spain
The Mayor of Port of Spain, His Worship Chinua Alleyne, officially opens the NGC Bocas Lit Fest Children's Festival and reads an excerpt from his favourite local children's book.
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Imagine The Future: New Voices Chapter 1
The event features a rich lineup of performances and readings by talented individuals. Coryn Anaya Clarke will host and read from Chronicles of Coryn. Zachary Ransome's musical performance, alongside Mary Cuffy's Road Trip Adventure with Lola and Dawson and Sade Walker's Fuzzy Wants To Play, ensure a captivating experience. Highlights include dramatic readings by NGC SANFEST 2023 winners Kai-De Alexis and GennaLee Griffith, and engaging tales from NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan Book 9,, promising a memorable showcase of creativity and talent.
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Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
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Interactive Poetry Workshop
A fun, creative and interactive workshop where groups of children brainstorm topics, write a poem and then perform it.
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Songwriting With Anslem Douglas
Songwriter, composer and performer Anslem Douglas teaches how much fun there is in the fundamentals of creating original songs.
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Imagine The Future: New Voices Chapter 2
The event begins with Aija Jerome and Dragonzelly the Puppet introducing a diverse set of performances and readings. The lineup includes excerpts from Paul Keens-Douglas's String Bank, Alake Pilgrim's Zo and The Invisible Island, and a Carnival Character performance — Dolly Mas by Kalea Harris. Attendees will also enjoy a staged reading of Anansi and The Fire Ants by NGC SANFEST 2023 winners from Newtown Girls RC Primary School, stories from NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan Book 9 by Aija Jerome and Newtown Boys RC Primary School, and Mikayla Burton's exploration of The Creative Mind. This rich programme promises to deliver a memorable and creative showcase.
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Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
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The Power of Story
Why is reading and telling stories good for your brain
How can a story can teach you, improve your vocabulary, take you to new places and travel through time? Ella Berthoud transports children to new fantastic worlds with books and excites their imagination to create stories together, using deal with situations in life and to give them strength.
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Imagine The Future: New Voices Chapter 3
Anansi the Puppet will open the event with a mix of performances and readings from talented individuals. Highlights include Rubadiri Victor's Anansi and The Book of Night, Hazel Lynch's tale of Señor Fluffy Wants To Play, and a vibrant Carnival character performance by Pierrot Grenades Kemoni and Keiani Newton, spoken word by Markus Wylie-the youngest semifinalist in the First Citizens National Poetry Slam. Dramatic readings by NGC SANFEST winners from Sacred Heart Girls RC Primary School and NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan Book 9 by Xyon King-Massiah of Maracas RC Primary School will enrich the programme, offering a diverse and engaging experience for all attendees.
Registration Closed
Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
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The Adventures of Spin and Scratch - The Relocation - Audio/Video Book by Anslem Douglas
Join teenaged rats Spin & Scratch in their first adventure as they are suddenly uprooted from their New York City home and transported to a new home in Trinidad. Read by Anslem Douglas with follow along video illustrations.
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Affirm & Play with Storyplay
Storyplay.tv's Affirm & Play session is a fun hour-long meditation and positive affirmation class recommended for children aged 4 and over. Featuring a song and short video from Kafi Kareem's The Caddy Club, Affirm & Play sessions build self esteem, confidence and positive self image.
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The Adventures of AGRIMAN Motion Comics
AGRIMAN is on a mission to encourage YOUth in agriculture and guess what, he happens to be a farmer! Through promoting the importance of agriculture, he aims to help youth to develop their own understanding, motivation and commitment to the “Why?” of farming.
AGRIman uses Agri-Edu-Tainment (Agricultural Educational Entertainment) via song, theatre, poetry, comic books, video and animation to Grow, Nourish, Sustain the future feeders of tomorrow.
The AgriMan comic book series follows the adventures of AgriMan, AgriBot and Photosynthisister as the battle to fight for food and nutrition security.
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DIY Zine Scene
Zines are exciting and effective ways to express creativity, exploring ideas and issues important to children. Writer and activist Tracy Assing takes children through a journey of creativity with a hands-on workshop, going back to the basics of making tangible mini magazines.
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Imagine The Future: New Voices Chapter 4
MC Puppet Anansi sets the stage for a series of engaging performances and readings. The lineup includes Alex the Awesome and the Crazy Quest for the Golden Pod by Jeunanne Alkins, Sonja Dumas's Avocado and Zabouca, and a dramatised reading of Once Upon A Toy Shop by Lylah Persad. Attendees will also enjoy Makayla in the Land of Papa Bois by Marsha and Christiana Gomes-Mckie, The Enchanting Folklore of Trinidad and Tobago by Mishal Rahaman-Ali and Love, Lah Lah by Nailah Blackman. Rounding out the event, NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan Book 9 promises to captivate with a blend of storytelling and creativity, offering a memorable experience for all.
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Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
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Wire Bending Folk Theatre Workshop
Multi-media artist Rubadiri Victor brings ancient and local folklore into the modern age where children will learn the basics of wire bending, costume making, stories behind traditional characters and create their own stories.
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An Extemporaneous Time
Kevan Calliste, grandson and heir to the legacy of the late Mighty Stalin, Leroy Calliste, leads a fun interactive session explaining the fundamentals, history and practical aspects of extempo.
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Juanita Brings Us Together (Juanita Nos Une)
The authors of Juanita, Rayne Affonso, Bilqees Mohammed, Talia Khan, and Jesse Buendía Ragbir — lead an interactive storytelling session with Venezuelan and Cuban migrant children and T&T children to share cultures and language for greater tolerance. Including a reading by Anya Ayoung-Chee from Questions and Answers about Refugees.
In partnership with UNHCR, Trinidad and Tobago.
Juanita Nos Une (una narración en español e inglés)
Los autores de Juanita, Rayne Affonso, Bilqees Mohammed, Talia Khan y Jesse Buendía Ragbir, dirigen una sesión de narración interactiva con niños migrantes venezolanos y cubanos y niños trinitenses para compartir culturas e idiomas para una mayor tolerancia. Incluyendo una lectura de Anya Ayoung-Chee de Preguntas y Respuestas sobre refugiados.
En asociación con ACNUR de Trinidad y Tobago.
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NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan Final Stop (Pre-registration required)
After a nationwide tour of libraries and schools, the NGC Bocas Children's Storytelling Caravan makes its final stop with a storytelling and writing workshop led by Theodora Ulerie.
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Family Reading Circle - Festival Edition
Join us for a day of interactive reading in partnership with Let’s Read TT, where stories come to life for children, fostering a lifelong passion for reading while enhancing essential language, comprehension, and emotional skills, offering valuable tips for parents on how to make reading aloud a joyful experience at home. Children's writers will be present to do read aloud sessions including: Luna's Rainbow Day: A Story for Toddlers by Lisa-Marie Foster, Malaika, Carnival Queen by Nadia L. Hohn, The Adventures of Heidi The Boxer Pup! by Vic Susanna Surajdeen, Nayeli and Friends Adventures by Shinade Martin and others.
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The Art of Writing
The Art of Writing is an educational company that provides in person Literacy Workshop experiences and products that are designed to help students unlock their creativity through Writing and Art Making. They use the dual power of Visual Arts and Language Arts in transforming children's relationships to literacy and most importantly their self expression. This workshop, led by Khaffi Beckles and Kernella Berment, uses the rich history and the magic of storytelling, not just as a tool of expression, but as a way to connect young minds to the ever developing global narrative.
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Yoga Adventures With Vesh
Drs Riann and Ria Bala will lead an interactive reading and Yoga session with children and their parents/caragivers, using their new book Yoga Adventures with Vesh - Let's Go To The Beach! Bring your yoga mats and get ready to read and relax.
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Sock It To Me
SRackal Productions introduces the joy of puppet making and storytelling using socks to create characters by children who will use them in a group generated story.
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Caribbean Books Foundation Presents "Marketing Self Published Children’s Books"
Marsha Gomes-Mckie gives advice to writers of children's books how to market self-published writers, and the resources available from the Caribbean Books Foundation.
Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
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To & Fro: Published Writers To Aspiring Writers
Writers who have had success in self publishing will take questions and give advice to aspiring writers on how to negotiate the world of self-publication.
Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
Including Me 2: An Ongoing Conversation About Inclusion + Accessibility For Children's Authors
Representatives from organisations working with children with special needs offer insight and advice to writers, including aspects to consider when producing works.
Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) and American Sign Language (ASL) services will be provided by The Trinidad and Tobago Association of the Hearing Impaired (TTAHI).
Bocas Storytime Open House
Full of fun, entertaining videos, Bocas Storytime helps to nurture young viewers’ language skills and improve their understanding of the world around us, through topics such as Carnival, folklore, and the environment. It's a treasure trove of original tales by our talented young writers. Bonus videos include Pretty Like Jamaica by Opal Palmer Adisa, Love, La La by Nailah Blackman and Let's Talk About Feelings by Aché Abrahams. Attendees of the Adult Festival are welcome to leave their children ages 4 and over at this all-day event, under the supervision of our carefully selected caregivers.
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Festival Participants
Aaron Duncan
Musician
Aaron Eastley
Speaker
Aaron Kamugisha
Professor of Africana Studies at Smith College
Aarti Gosine
Author
Abigail Parry
Author
Aché Abrahams
Children's Author
Adalber Salas Hernández
Author / Translator
Adam Andrews
Author
Adam Lowe
Author of Patterflash
Afua Hirsch
Author / Broadcaster / Barrister
Agyei Archer
Graphic Designer
Aija Jerome
Children’s Author
Aimée Felone
Speaker and Bocas Caribbean Literature Showcase Delegate
Aisha Acres
Author
Akilah Jaramogi
Activist
Akilah White
Speaker
Alake Pilgrim
Author
Alana-Marie Gopaul
Marketing and Media Manager at Bocas Lit Fest
Alecia McKenzie
Author of A Million Aunties
Alette Liz Williams
Actor
Alexander Girvan
Environmental Economist
Alexandra Stewart
Spoken Word Poet
Alexia Arthurs
Author
Alianna Grant
CEO & Creative Director of The Li Collection By Creativ-li
Alison Donnell
Head of School of Literature, Drama, & Creative Writing At The University of East Anglia
Alissa Trotz
Professor / Author
Aliyyah Eniath
Author
Alscess Lewis-Brown
Author
