THE WORKS of the literary artists across Barbados were celebrated when the annual National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) literary arts gala came off at the Frank Collymore Hall last Thursday.
In his opening speech, chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Cranston Browne, lauded the works of literary icons Professors George Lamming and Kamau Brathwaite.
“The literary paths charted by both Professor George Lamming and Professor Kamau Brathwaite are not only to be admired for the sake of admiring but ought to be viewed as engines of creative inspiration,” Browne said.
He said he was pleased to know year after year that the legacy of Barbados’ icons was celebrated, fostered by the hard work of the NCF and supported by long-standing sponsor Goddard Enterprises.
Browne also commended Goddard Enterprises for their long-standing role in the literary arts discipline for many years, during which time they supported the development and production of the NIFCA anthologies.
“In each anthology we see the rewards of the dedicated commitment of our literary artists across all age groups. For some it is the first publishing of their written works and it can ignite the publishing career of many, so we pay special thanks to Goddards.”
In her report, chief judge of the festival, Sarah Venable, told the audience that writing was a process.
“We work things out in words and writing them down helps to clarify the thoughts. We check the organization and clarify the writing, and then we have something worthwhile.”
Venable said few gold medals were given this year because NIFCA was more exacting than the Barbados Community College or possibly the University of the West Indies.
She said, for example, the bronze category was equivalent to a B+ and A-.
She also said there were four published books submitted and three were awarded bronze.
“Two of those bronzes were won by Robert Sandiford; two of the four were sexy; one was an e-book, which I think is the first for us, a children’s story by Gregory Skeete. In the adult and intermediate [18 to 24] prose, there were 52 submissions, of which 13 were from intermediate and 39 from adults. These won four silvers and nine bronzes. Mark Ramsey, who took the lion’s share of the medals, is a rising star. Shakira “PAYDAY” Bourne got two medals.”
Venable also made mention of writers Tessa King-Inniss, newcomer, and Corey Springer.
“Corey Springer was perhaps the most prolific. He submitted three poems, three short stories and a published book and won three medals.” (JS)
