Poetry Slam final on Sunday

Spoken word, the festival’s most wildly popular event, will feature competitive bards performing Shakespearean- inspired, sonnet-length pieces.

Bocas, by its very name, appreciates the significance of the spoken word and so has always placed oral traditions centre stage.

This time around, festival attendees will be treated to a fearsome duel of Midnight Robbers, a singular display of indigenous Black Indian mas and speech, plus the intrigue of a roving Bookman.

These together with extempo and rapso evening performances will bear out some of TT ’s very own treasured traditions, for the benefit of visitors and locals alike, said a media release from the Lit Fest.

With its high energy and distinctive youth appeal, the Slam has grown from 200 to a sensational 1,200 patrons over its four years to become the largest spoken word event in the region, the release said.

This year’s finale will see 14 of the best performance poets take the Globe cinema stage to vie for the Grand Slam title and $20,000 prize from 6 pm and at its heart will be the young, eloquent orator that is our Minister of Tourism who cut her oratorical teeth on performance poetry.

For details of these and the many other events see: bocaslitfest.

com.

Today 12 - 1 pm -Pistols Drawn! Midnight Robbers battle Old Fire Station & festival village, 1.30 - 3.30 pm: Beware the Bookman , festival village 8 pm - till: Where there’s a Will - Shakespeare in the words of TT writers and artistes, Big Black Box Murray St, Woodbrook.

Tomorrow 12 - 1 pm: 30 War Chants Black Indians display their mas and speech traditions, Nalis Hart Street Arcade, Port-of-Spain.

Sunday 12 - 1 pm: 14 line or less – Shakespearean open mic, Nalis Hart Street Arcade.

1 - 2.30 pm: Sunday Lime Storytellers and actors liven up the afternoon, Library Rotunda 6 - 8 pm: First Citizens National Poetry Slam finals 14 finalists compete for the Grand Slam title , Globe cinema, Port-of-Spain.