Jamaica’s much-loved Calabash International Literary Festival brings a hint of Treasure Beach vibe to Leeds for an unmissable, day-long literary take-over of the library curated by Calabash co-founders Kwame Dawes and Justine Henzell.

Internationally acclaimed Emmy Award winning writer Kwame Dawes will take to the stage in conversation with Yvonne Brewster OBE and to introduce a tribute to the late Godmother of Dub Poetry, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, as well as a stellar line up of writers of Jamaican heritage;

UK fiction:  Sara Collins (Confessions of Frannie Langton), Kerry Young (Pao; Gloria), Alex Wheatle (Cane Warriors; Kemosha of the  Caribbean), Courttia Newland (A River Called Time).

Poetry: The UK’s Roger Robinson (A Portable Paradise; T.S Eliot Prize and the Ondaajte Prize) , Raymond Antrobus (All the Names Given) and Jamaica’s Tanya Shirley (The Merchant of Feathers) will be joined by more writers to be announced.

 

The full schedule is as follows:

 

Calabash Presents: Binta – Tribute To Jean Binta Breeze

A gathering of literary and community voices sharing readings and memories in tribute to the life and work of the late poet, storyteller and ‘Mother of dub poetry’, Jean Binta Breeze. Featuring Jason Allen-Paisant, ​Malika Booker, Musufing Whyles and Kadish Morris.
FREE by ticket only; book here.

 

CALABASH PRESENTS: FYAH UK FICTION PANEL

2:00pm – 3:00pm 

Leeds Central Library, Leeds LS1 3AB 

Introduced by acclaimed Calabash International Literary Festival co-founder and producer Kwame Dawes, four of the hottest UK fiction writers of Jamaican heritage share their acclaimed work followed by an audience Q&A; 

Sara Collins (Confessions of Frannie Langton) 

Kerry Young (Pao; Gloria) 

Alex Wheatle (Cane Warriors; Kemosha of the Caribbean) 

Courttia Newland (A River Called Time) 

FREE by ticket only; book here.

 

CALABASH PRESENTS – IN CONVERSATION: YVONNE BREWSTER OBE AND KWAME DAWES

3:30pm – 4:30pm 

Leeds Central Library, Leeds LS1 3AB 

Internationally acclaimed Emmy Award-winning writer and Jamaica’s Calabash International Literary Festival co-founder Kwame Dawes takes to the stage in conversation with Yvonne Brewster OBE, revered author, director and founder of the UK’s oldest Black theatre company, Talawa. 

FREE by ticket only; book here.

 

CALABASH PRESENTS: LYRICS

6:00pm – 7:00pm 

Lyrical fire from poets Roger Robinson (A Portable Paradise; T.S Eliot Prize and the Ondaajte Prize), Raymond Antrobus (All the Names Given) and Jamaica’s Tanya Shirley (The Merchant of Feathers) – all introduced by Jamaica’s Calabash International Literary Festival co-founder and producer, acclaimed writer Kwame Dawes.

FREE by ticket only; book here. 

Calabash Presents is curated by Calabash International Literary Festival, generously supported by Leeds 2023, Peepal Tree Press and the Institute of Colonial and Post-Colonial Studies and in partnership with Leeds Libraries. The day is a part of Out of Many Lit – the literature strand of the Out of Many Festival made possible thanks to National Lottery players by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.

 

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