Calabash International Literary Festival

The Calabash International Literary Festival, inaugurated in Jamaica in 2001, is a three-day festival that was held annually for its first decade, before being staged on a biennial basis on even years, until 2018. With the 2020 and 2022 festivals having to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 is scheduled to mark the festival's return for its 15th staging. The scope of Calabash encompasses "readings and music with other forms of storytelling folded in the mix".[1]

Calabash International Literary Festival
GenreLiterary
FrequencyBiennial
VenueJakes
Location(s)Treasure Beach, Jamaica
Founded2001 (2001)
FoundersColin Channer, Kwame Dawes and Justine Henzell
Websitecalabashfestival.org/info/

History

The co-founders of Calabash in 2001 were novelist Colin Channer, poet Kwame Dawes and producer Justine Henzell, three Jamaicans with the aim of creating a literary festival "with roots in Jamaica and branches reaching out into the wider world".[1][2] Channer resigned at the end of 2010, saying in his explanation: "The ultimate goal of leadership must never be its own survival, but to become obsolete. I am glad this time has come."[3]

After taking place for 10 successive years, between 2001 and 2010, Calabash was then held on a biennial basis on even years.[1]

In 2014, there was a larger international content, including leading literary figures and musicians,[4] and the 2016 incarnation of the festival was described as "an affirmation of the steady movement towards an unfolding of a vision of something that began modestly, but full of hope and giddy ambition 15 years ago".[5]

Now acknowledged as "a world-class literary festival", Calabash takes place in the village of Treasure Beach on Jamaica's south coast.[6][7] Among the international authors who have participated are Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, Jamaica Kincaid, Colum McCann,[8][9] Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, Junot Diaz, Michael Ondaatje, Elizabeth Alexander, Russell Banks, Edwidge Danticat, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Caryl Phillips, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Chigozie Obioma, Tishani Doshi, Mervyn Morris, Kei Miller, Marlon James, Eleanor Catton, Evan Jones, and many others.[10][11][12][13][14]

An anthology entitled Much Things to Say: 100 Poets from the First Ten Years of the Calabash International Literary Festival was published in 2010.[15]

In 2021, the Calabash festival won the Madam C.J. Walker Award from the Hurston/Wright Foundation.[16]

Following cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was scheduled to relaunch in May 2023.[17][18]

The 2023 festival took place from Friday, May 26, to Sunday, May 28, and participants included Kei Miller, Kevin Jared Hosein, Padma Lakshmi, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Margaret Busby, and Taiye Selasi.[19][20][21][22] As described in Town & Country magazine, it was "a spectacular, colorful three-day celebration of words, life, and endurance through literature, music, and conversation. The gathering of locals from across the island and international guests—Angelina Jolie was in the audience this year—is notable for the energizing and cleansing effect of storytelling; its programming emphasizes harmony, joy, and empathy in a place where stories, music, and laughter are mainstays even after centuries of deep-seated trauma."[23]

References
  1. "Info". Calabash International Literary Festival. The Calabash International Literary Festival Trust. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. "Info", Calabash.
  3. Annie Paul, "An Exemplary Resignation: Colin Channer and Calabash", Active Voice, 11 January 2013.
  4. Rory Daley, "Calabash breaks 'cover'", Jamaica Observer, 22 March 2014.
  5. Mel Cooke, "Calabash Come To Fruu-Ish-Aan", Jamaica Gleaner, 14 April 2016.
  6. "Booking round the islands: Caribbean literary festivals", Caribbean Beat, Issue 120 (March/April 2013).
  7. Olivia Cole, "Jamaica's literary side", The Spectator, 13 June 2015.
  8. Robert Beatty, "Calabash Literary Festival Seen as Tribute to Caribbean Creativity", South Florida Times, 12 June 2014.
  9. Emma Love, "Celebrating Literature, Jamaican Style", Condé Nast Traveller, October 2014.
  10. "Jamaica’s Calabash International Literary Festival 2014", ARC Magazine, 20 April 2014.
  11. Robert McCrum, "Sun, sand and a Booker winner as Jamaica revels in its literary festival", The Observer, 4 June 2016.
  12. Stefanie Seddon, "Calabash International Literary Festival: Readings, music and storytelling on Jamaica’s glorious Treasure Beach", The Independent, 14 June 2016.
  13. Boyd Tonkin, "Two big small islands make time for jubilation: different sides of a shared story|", The Independent, 7 June 2012.
  14. Braswell, Kristin (11 June 2018). "This Literary Festival in Jamaica Is the Island's Best-Kept Secret". Vogue.
  15. Geoffrey Philp, "10th Annual Calabash International Literary Festival", geoffreyphilp.blogspot, 22 April 2010.
  16. Korney, Stephanie (28 September 2021). "Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival to Be Honored with Award for Supporting Black Literature". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  17. "Calabash moves 'For Word' again for 2023". Jamaica Gleaner. 16 February 2023.
  18. "Calabash International Literary Festival". Jakes. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  19. "The Return Of Calabash: A Literary Gem On The Rock". Jamaica Observer. 4 June 2023.
  20. Tepper, Anderson (8 June 2023). "Sun, Sea and Books Make This Festival an Enticing Destination". The New York Times.
  21. Braswell, Kristin (9 June 2023). "Jamaica's Treasure Beach Is Home To Cove-Filled Black Sand Beaches — And The 'Best Likkle' Literary Festival In The World". Essence. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  22. Cooper, Carolyn (12 June 2023). "Calabash Festival lit up Jamaica". Jamaica Gleaner.
  23. Greaves, Jacqueline (16 June 2023). "Is This the World's Most Glamorous Book Club?". Town & Country. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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