A weekend festival of Caribbean literature and liming.

At this biennial two-dayer, writers, artists and raconteurs from the Caribbean and its diaspora, and guest speakers, probe the narratives of Caribbean artistic expression and identity in a convivial and wide-ranging festival.  

In a year that marks two 70th anniversaries, the docking of the Empire Windrush and the formation of the NHS, we explore the extent and the symbolism of Caribbean migration and endeavour in England whilst also marking the significant presences and contributions long before 1948. The festival also has a focus on the narratives, experiences and hidden histories of the many ethnicities that form a part of the Caribbean’s history and its contemporary diaspora – including African, Chinese, Amerindian, South Asian, European and more.

Featuring contributions from writers, artists and speakers including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Kerry Young, John Agard, Shivanee Ramlochan, Jacob Ross, Kei Miller, Anita Sethi, Hannah Lowe, Kevin Le Gendre, Celeste Ramos, Kristy Warren, Gemma Romain, Michael Brome and new poetry and prose by Jean 'Binta' Breeze (Love Poems To The NHS) performed by poet friends, and our first festival Calypsonian in Residence Tobago Crusoe who performs work in response to the festival and a medley of songs in tribute to Kitch (Lord Kitchener).

Curated by Melanie Abrahams and produced by Renaissance One in partnership with the British Library.