Kenneth Ramchand

#bocas2026

Biography

Ken Ramchand, distinguished literary critic, is the author of the seminal study The West Indian Novel and Its Background. He is Professor Emeritus of West Indian literature at the University of West Indies and a former President of the University of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2014, he received the Bocas Henry Swanzy Award for his distinguished service to Caribbean letters. He is co-editor of Amazing Scenes, the selected journalist of Seepersad Naipaul (2024).

Photo courtesy Mark Lyndersay

Awards

2014 Bocas Henry Swanzy Award, Bocas Henry Swanzy Awards

Years Attended

2012, 2012 Adult's Festival Participant, 2013, 2013 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2013 South Festival Participant, 2014, 2014 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2014 South Festival Participant, 2015, 2015 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2016, 2016 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2017, 2017 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2018, 2018 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2019, 2019 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2024 Adult’s Festival Participant, 2025 Adult’s Festival Participant

Kenneth Ramchand

Author, Speaker
Trinidad & Tobago
Events Featuring Kenneth Ramchand
2026
Literary Tour of Central Trinidad
Couva Event
Author Readings, Discussion, Literary Tour Event
Event Date: July 18, 2026 @ 2:00 pm
Lisas Gardens Community Centre
2025
Earl Lovelace at 90
Festival Programme Event
Fiction, Poetry Event
Event Date: May 1, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
Central Bank Auditorium
2024
Amazing Scenes
Festival Programme Event
Book Launch Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station
2019
The Naipaul inheritance
Big Ideas, Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station
2018
The Suffrage Of Elvira At 60
Festival Programme, Words Alive Event
Performance Event
Event Date:
Library Rotunda
2017
Discussion: C.L.R. James reconsidered
Festival Programme, In Tribute Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station
2016
Wilson harris at 95: the writer as magician
Festival Programme, In Tribute Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
AV Room
2016
Cricket then, now, and when
Big Ideas, Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Queen's Park Oval
2015
The unknown Eric Roach
Festival Programme, In Tribute, Words Alive Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
AV Room
2014
Remembering Samuel Selvon
Bocas South Event
Performance Event
Event Date:
SAPA
2014
Bocas Henry Swanzy Award
Bocas Henry Swanzy Award, Festival Programme Event
Awards Event
Event Date:
AV Room
2014
Neil Bissoondath in conversation with Kenneth Ramchand
Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Naipaul House, St James
2013
Portraits of Central Trinidad
Bocas South Event
Readings Event
Event Date:
Nigel R. Khan Booksellers, Chaguanas
2013
Beyond a Boundary at 50
Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station
2012
Anxieties of influence: postcolonial writing and literary tradition
Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station
2012
One on one with Rabindranath Maharaj
Festival Programme Event
Discussion Event
Event Date:
AV Room
2012
The 2012 NGC Bocas Lit Fest officially kicks off!
Festival Programme Event
Readings Event
Event Date:
Old Fire Station