Magazine planned for Jamaica Poetry Festival

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Poet Yasus Afari is no stranger to the world of publishing, having written the books Eye Pen (a poetry collection) and Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica's Gift to the World.

For the upcoming Jamaica Poetry Festival, to be staged at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre on Sunday, August 14, he will be approaching publishing from a new angle with the Jamaica Poetry Festival Magazine. Afari explained that the magazine will evolve into a poetry journal, to be published more frequently than the magazine, which will coincide with the annual editions of the festival.

"It is for the purpose of pushing for the progress and development of poetry in Jamaica, not only dub poetry, although there is an emphasis there," he explained.

For this initial edition, Afari said, "we will be featuring all the performers and highlighting persons who have been consistent supporters of poetry". This year's performers include Mutabaruka, Yasus Afari, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Kai Falconer, Ras JaJa, Steppa, Fuzion, Dr Michael Abrahams, The MAD Poet (from England), Viv Morris Brown, Iion Station, Ann-Marie Wilmot, Raquel Jones, LSX, Royal African Soldiers, Tanhoi, JCDC awardees and special guest Macka Diamond.

There will also be a tribute to Marcus Garvey, Louise Bennett-Coverley and Mikey Smith.

Afari says the magazine will have 25 to 30 pages, as "we like to start things manageable and let it grow". Among the articles is Professor Mervyn Morris' writing on Mikey Smith - the anniversary of whose death is three days after the festival and on Garvey's birthday. Afari also said poet Malachi Smith has contributed two articles, one on the development of dub poetry and the other a tribute to Smith. Liberty Hall is contributing an article on Garvey.

A release from the organisers said that the Jamaica Poetry Festival will be a day and night event. It reads: "The day will consist of family friendly poetry and storytelling workshops between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as well as display booths, face-painting, portrait creations and other interesting attractions. The night-time component will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature a varied array of national and international poets and special invited guests. This year's invited guest is Macka Diamond and she was selected to encourage social responsibility as well as to support her literary efforts and exploits and to build and extend a artistic bridge between reggae-dancehall and poetry".