BRADES, Montserrat -- From November 12-14, 2010, literary enthusiasts will come to Montserrat for the second annual literary festival, the Alliouagana Festival of the Word.

With the theme Discovering New Worlds Through Words, the three-day event will bring together acclaimed writers and readers from the Caribbean, North America, United Kingdom and Australia.

Confirmed speakers include award-winning poet and author Kwame Dawes as well as screenwriter and novelist Eric Jerome Dickey.
Beginning Friday, November 12 at 6:30 pm, the festivities will kick off with a grand opening ceremony and the launch event for a series of books about Montserrat by Montserratian authors Dorine O’Garro and David Bradshaw. This will be followed by a musical explosion courtesy of Garvin “Scrappy” Johnson and the Black Rhythm Band, led by Cecil 'Cepeke' Lake.

On Saturday, patrons of the word will have the chance to take part in open-mic sessions, writing workshops, presentations and book signings with authors including Frané Lessac, Rachel Manley, Mark Greenwood, Howard Fergus, Opal Palmer Adisa and Edgar Nkosi White. At 8 pm, at the Montserrat Cultural Centre, the audience will be treated to a live dramatic staging of Edgar Nkosi White’s play, Count It All Joy.

During the three-day festival, visitors will also have the opportunity to view the Soufriere Hills Volcano, explore Montserrat’s slopes and mountainous vistas on the many hiking trails, catch a glimpse of the Montserrat Oriole while bird watching and tour the picturesque tropical landscape of the island.

The event culminates on Sunday, November 14 with more dramatic presentations, readings and workshops. The highlight of the evening will be the viewing of the recorded presentation of “My Little Island,” at 5 pm at the Cultural Centre. The program, starring author, actor and the host of PBS Kids Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton, is based on the children’s book of the same name by author Frané Lessac and portrays life on the island of Montserrat.
http://www.litfest.ms