It began with a vision. It is now a mission to share the joy and beauty of poetry with students, and the people of Jamaica. To show students how the magic of poetry can be used to increase one’s cognitive skills, to help with conflict resolution, to help with the process of healing after trauma and challenging situations in our daily lives, to model the way, to uplift, to educate, and in the process, liberate ourselves from the many constructs that surround us.

And now, the stage is set. Excitement and expectations are building for the 2022 edition of the Jamaican Poets Nomadic College and School Tour. For three weeks from Tuesday, November 25, 2022, to Thursday, November 10, a stellar line up of poets will visit educational institutions across the length, and breadth of Jamaica to share their gift and talent.

Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa

The official launch of the tour will take place on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 7 PM, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. It is will be in partnership with the Poetry Society of Jamaica. Guest speaker for the occasion is the distinguished lady of letters, Caribbean author and scholar, Dr. Opal Palmer-Adisa.

The Tour will be partnering with the Department of Literature in English to host a free poetry workshop on the Mona Campus for students, faculty, and the general public. Dr. Amina Blackwood-Meeks will present on Storytelling and Stage Presentation. Poet Cherry Natural will present on Dub Poetry, and Poet Ann Margaret Lim will present on other genres.

One of the main strengths of the tour is the richness of the offerings from poets with different styles and background. It is headlined by the founder of the tour Malachi Smith. The other poets are, Dr. Opal Palmer-Adisa, Dr. Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Chery Natural, Tomlin Ellis, Ann Margaret-Lim, Curtis Myrie, Judith Falloon-Reid, Fabian Thomas,  Wise Wurdz, Christine Neil-Wright, Antonia Valaire, Howard Hendricks, Ras Jaja, Marcus Harrison, Garfield G.G. Gouldbourne, Anord Sichinsambwe, Amaziyah The Great, Alan Parish, Dawitt St. Aubyn, Dusty, Charlie Bobus, and the youngest of all, Courtney Greaves, AKA Mini Miss Lou, a multi- gold medalist winner in the annual J.C.D.C competitions. University of the West Indies students from the Creative Writing Programme, Writer’s Circle, will also be participating on the tour.

The Tour was launched in 2017, to provide opportunities for Jamaican poets to read and share with students, while showing the positive role of poetry and its role as a tool of empowerment.  It aims to also empower, while showing them how poetry can be used in conflict resolutions and their personal growth.

To register for the poetry workshop at UWI, please email: liteng@uwimona.edu.jm,  and malismith58@gmail.com

Sound and lightning for the launch is sponsored by Jamaica Youth for Christ.

JAMAICA POETS NOMADIC COLLEGE & SCHOOL TOUR SCHEDULE 2022

Tuesday, October 25:
KTHS                                               9:00AM-10:00AM
Mona High                                       11:00AM-12:00PM
JC                                                   1:00PM-3:00PM
Edna Manley College – Official Tour Launch  7:00 PM

Wednesday, Oct. 26:
Hillel Academy                                 10:00AM-11AM
Edna Manley                                   1:00PM-2:00PM
Campion College                             2:30PM-4:00PM
Trench Town – A New Jamaica of Peace Foundation (130 Greenwich Park Road).                    5:00PM-7:00PM

Thursday, Oct. 27:
Schools in May & Mandeville

Friday, Oct. 28:
Bethlehem                                       10:00AM-12:00PM
Hampton                                         1:00PM-2:00PM
STETHS                                          3:00PM-4:30PM

Monday, Oct. 31:
Manning’s                                        10:00AM-11:30 AM
Rusea’s                                             2:00PM-3:30PM

Tuesday, Nov. 1:
Mt. Alvernia                                    10:00AM-11:30AM
Cornwall College                             3:00AM-4:00PM
Montego Bay High                          1:00PM-2:00PM
Herbert Morrison                            TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 2:
William Knibb                                  10:00AM-11:00PM
Brown’s Town Community College, St. Hider’s, York Castle        1:00PM-3:00PM

Thursday, Nov. 3:
Mico                                                   10:00 AM-12PM
VTDI                                                  2:00PM-3:30PM

Friday, Nov. 4:
Youth For Christ (6 Corporate Area schools will be bussed to this venue)          10:00AM-12:00PM
Spanish Town High                         2:30PM-3:30PM
YWCA                                                 1:00PM-2:00PM

Monday, Nov. 6:
St. Mary Schools

Tuesday, Nov. 7:
Portmore Schools

Wednesday, Nov. 8:
St. Mary & Portland

Thursday, Nov. 9:
UWI – Poetry Workshop                2:00pm-5:00pm
UWI – Readings                              7:00pm-8:30pm

N.B. Additional stops will be added as the tour progresses, and requests are received.

UWI students from their Creative Writing Programme will be joining the tour.