A weekend festival of Caribbean literature and liming
At this biennial two-dayer, writers, artists and raconteurs from the Caribbean and its diaspora, and guest speakers, probe the narratives of Caribbean artistic expression and identity in a convivial and wide-ranging festival.
This ticket gets you into the full festival weekend, except for the evening events with Linton Kwesi Johnson and Tilt with John Agard presents London Liming,
which are ticketed separately.
Saturday 15 September
12 noon – 13.30
We Need to Talk About Windrush: Panel Discussion
Anita Sethi, Anna Walker, Stephen Bourne and Gemma Romain explore the impact and the mythologies of the Empire Windrush’s arrival at Tilbury and its legacy as a key moment in migration history, alongside other moments of Caribbean arrival and presence in England that occurred before 1948.
14.00 – 15.15
Kerry Young on ‘Not Just the Shopkeepers’: The Chinese in Jamaica
Novelist and short story writer Kerry Young gives a short historical perspective about the Chinese in Jamaica including her own family history, the Chinese influence in her trilogy of novels Pao, Gloria and Show Me a Mountain and the many and different ways that Chinese Jamaicans have been part of Jamaica’s history and story. The event includes a talk, readings, and a Q and A with the audience.
15.30 – 16.30
Shivanee Ramlochan on Poetry: Everyone Knows I Am A Haunting
Poet, arts reporter and blogger Shivanee Ramlochan reads from and talks about her new Forward Prize shortlisted poetry collection.
17.00 – 18.00
Tobago Crusoe on Kitch
The festival’s Calypsonian-in-Residence Tobago Crusoe explores the life and performs the songs of Lord Kitchener in addition to new and improvised work created for and during the festival.
Sunday 16 September
12 noon – 13.00
The NHS and Me
Inspired by a series of Love Poems to The NHS created by Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, this event marks the 70th anniversary of one of England’s best-loved institutions and the contributions and endeavours of Caribbean nurses, doctors and workers, through poetry by Breeze read by Valerie Bloom and words, poetry and music by Michael Brome, Valerie Bloom and Tobago Crusoe
13.30 – 15.00
Kei Miller on Essays: Mr Brown, Mrs White, Miss Black
Poet, novelist and broadcaster Kei Miller takes a more complicated look at race in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
and
Jacob Ross on Caribbean Noir
Novelist and short story writer Jacob Ross reads from his book The Bone Readers, the first of his Camaho Quartet and talks about crime writing as a way to retell history and to engage with the contemporary politics and culture of the Caribbean.
15.30 – 16.30
All Ah We Is One and Out of Many One People
In this event, we explore known and hidden histories within the Caribbean and its diaspora including the experiences and accounts of indentured workers, Amerindians and other races, ethnicities and groups, and what it means to be pan-Caribbean. With Kristy Warren (Chair), Hannah Lowe, John Agard and Anita Sethi.
17:00 – 18.00
Don’t Stop The Carnival
Talk and Live Music by Kevin Le Gendre and Guest Musicians
This event based on the new book by journalist, writer and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre is the story of Black music in Britain and the people who made it. Focusing on Black British Music from Tudor times to the 1960’s and covering the emergence of jazz, calypso, ska, reggae and rocksteady, soul and everything in between, Le Gendre presents a story framed by slavery, empire, colonialism and the flow of music around the Black Atlantic.
Festival curated by Melanie Abrahams. Produced by Renaissance One as part of The Independence Project.
Image: Maria Nunes Photography
TICKETS: Full Price £15 Member £15
Senior 60+ £12 Student £10 Registered Unemployed £10 Under 18 £10