PHILIPSBURG:--- A small delegation of St. Maarten poets just returned home from Tortola, BVI, where youngsters Jenice Forbes and Andrew Peterson performed at the annual Microphone Messenjah.
Forbes and Peterson, the winner and 1st runner-up, respectively, of the first ever Soualigan Fyah Youth Poetry and Spoken Word Competition held earlier this year, were both excited to present their work to a new audience and both were very well received at the event. The delegation left for Tortola on Friday, October 4 and returned to the island on Monday, October 7th.
While on the island the youngsters were treated to an island tour by host Jerome Joseph and were also able to enjoy a full day on the sea exploring places such as The Baths on Virgin Gorda and Sandy Key. They were also introduced to completely Ital food at well-known restaurant Mellow Moods, were able to link with poets from both Tortola and Jamaica and Forbes took part in an interview with a well known local DJ, which she enjoyed very much.
For both youngsters the trip and performances added fuel to their desire to continue on with poetry and spoken word and to only get better. Both anticipate more local and regional performances in the future, including the upcoming Interscholastic Talent Showdown 2013. Charles also said that the trip allowed for a great deal of networking with other regional poets and she hoped to bring some of them to island soon to meet with the young poets who frequent the monthly Soualigan Fyah afternoons.
The trip, which was a collaborative effort between Conscious Agricultural Awakening Foundation and Foundation 5 square miles St. Martin, only occurred because of the kind contributions from Seven Seas Water, Orco Bank, Edu Consult, Maneks Imports and Top Carrot Restaurant. Nadjesca Gumbs of CAAF and Lysanne Charles of F5SMS, both extend deepest gratitude to the above mentioned companies.
The next Soualigan Fyah: You(th) Take The Mic, which is an open mic poetry afternoon held once a month, is scheduled for Friday, October 25th, 4-6pm at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. Teens interested in learning more about Soualigan Fyah should like its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SoualiganFyah in order to remain update on planned events.
