The Alliouagana Festival of the Word officially kicks off this evening with the Hon. Minister of Education Delmaude Ryan as this year’s patron.
On Thursday, the Arrow Memorial Lecture was held at an earlier time than usual at the Montserrat Cultural Centre with Dr. Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Lecturer, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica presenting Forgetting Weself: Hari Kari. Dr Blackwood-Meeks encouraged teachers to see stories as more than entertainment but the actual lesson. Discussions also centred around how elements of African history can be introduced into classes with simple questions such as where did yam originate or Ananse.
Today authors and presenters will spend the morning with students from schools. Barbara Arrindell, Paul Keens-Douglas and A-dZiko Simba Gegele will meet students from MSS, Brades’ Primary, Lookout Primary and Lighthouse Academy at the Cultural Centre.
Atinuke will meet students from the St. Augustine School at Blake’s Football Field.
The Meet & Greet Reception hosted by Her Excellency the Governor, Elizabeth Carriere takes place this evening. Immediately, after the opening ceremony will begin at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.
New publications to be launched this evening are Life as Josephine by Claytine Nisbett and Plenty Mango – Postcards from the Caribbean by Sarah Dickinson.
Entertainment will be storytelling through Calypso; Kelvin ‘Tabu’ Duberry; Herman ‘Cupid’ Francis; and Pat ‘Belonger’ Ryan
Books will be available for sale and to be autographed.
Alliouagana, which means “Land of the Prickly Bush,†is the name by which the Amerindians called the island.
