Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Dr. Olive Senior was a primary-featured poet opening the five days long, “Out of Many Lit Festival”, produced by the Jamaica Society Leeds in the United Kingdom. This diaspora celebration of Jamaica’s diamond Jubilee saw Senior sharing the stage with the renowned Simon Armitage, the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom.
Though one might say that listening to one Poet Laureate satisfies some longing for the world of well-crafted words, witnessing two Laureates share a stage could be considered the experience of a lifetime.
The opening show at the “Out of Many Lit Festival” was nothing short of enthralling, as two of the world’s ceremonial leaders in Literature read selections from their bodies of work. This was a well-received showcase of Jamaican and British everyday culture and their intersections.
Following their readings, both went on to have a whimsically succinct conversation raising topics ranging from decolonization, the COVID-19 pandemic and the environment, to simple pleasures such as Christmas pudding and breathing fresh air.
Drawing on specific examples from their homelands, both laureates showed the best of their shared humanity to satisfy the Briton-based audience.
In addition to a well-received night-time poetry reading, Dr. Olive Senior, on the second day of the festival, tastefully delivered a heritage masterclass to a mixed group of residents affiliated with the Jamaica Society Leeds. One may say “who better to do this than the woman who penned the much-respected Encyclopaedia of Jamaican Heritage?”
As the Laureate delivered her thoughts on the importance and the processes of making cultural connections, delineating, and incorporating all aspects of one’s heritage, a fruitful exchange ensued between herself and the students of culture; young creatives artists and elders alike.
Throughout the Festival, the Poet Laureate engaged in supplementary ceremonial duties as she was welcomed to the City of Leeds by the Lord Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Robert Gettings MBE, JP and Councillor Leslie Gettings. She also visited the Leeds Central Library which received donations of her works as well as two recent publications from the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ). Both the Laureate and the NLJ’s Director of Special Programmes, Royane Green, took part in the weeklong working visit to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Green commented on Laureate’s engagements:
“The Poet Laureate of Jamaica Programme has within its remit taking using Literature to take Jamaican culture ‘down the lane, through the streets and to the highways of the world.’ The person-to-person experience of our art forms continues to unite us as a people across space and time – this was clearly seen in the audiences’ response to the Poet Laureate throughout the “Out of Many Lit Festival” in Leeds UK. We, at the National Library of Jamaica, believe in utilizing this kind of foundation for culture led development to the benefit of Jamaicans at home and abroad.”
The National Library of Jamaica partnered with the Jamaica Society Leeds for this year’s staging of the “Out of Many Lit Festival.” The NLJ, being the nation’s premiere reference Library, has been home to the Poet Laureate of Jamaica Programme since its reintroduction in 2014. Since independence in 1962, there have been three officially appointed Poet Laureates namely Professor Mervyn Morris OM, Dr. Lorna Goodison CD and Dr. Olive Senior.
Olive Senior delivers from her latest collection of poetry “Hurricane Watch” (2022)
UK Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage reads to the audience.
The Laureate-to-Laureate event was hosted in the Howard Assembly Room, Leeds UK.
Olive Senior responding during the Laureate-to-Laureate discussion
Olive Senior leads heritage masterclass to Jamaica Society Leeds members
Olive Senior in dialogue with Mrs Yvonne English, founding member of the Jamaica Society Leeds
