News
JAM | Jan 26, 2025

Professor Kwame Dawes installed as Jamaica’s new poet laureate

ABIGAIL BARRETT

ABIGAIL BARRETT / Our Today

author
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Professor Kwame Dawes speaking at his investiture ceremony, after becoming Jamaica’s newly appointed Poet Laureate at King’s House on January 22, 2025. (OUR TODAY photo/Oraine Meikle)

Professor Kwame Dawes was formally invested as Jamaica’s poet laureate for the 2025–2028 term in a grand celebration of his life’s work held last Wednesday (January 22), in the ballroom at King’s House.

Representing Sir Patrick Allen, deputy governor-general Steadman Fuller hosted the event attended by an assembly of dignitaries, cultural figures, and literary enthusiasts.

Organised by the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), the event celebrated Professor Dawes’ extensive contributions to the literary arts and highlighted poetry’s steadfast role in promoting Jamaican culture.

Born in Ghana in 1962, Professor Dawes relocated to Jamaica in 1971, where he attended Jamaica College for secondary education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the West Indies in 1983.

In pursuit of advanced studies, Dawes received a Commonwealth scholarship to New Brunswick, Canada, where he taught and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English in 1992 from the University of New Brunswick.

Fuller commended the contributions of the Poet Laureate programme, describing its influence as “immeasurable in shaping how Jamaicans view their history, identity, and aspirations.”

He hailed Dawes for continuing a remarkable tradition of nurturing and celebrating Jamaican poetry.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange celebrated Dawes for his unparalleled contributions as a poet, playwright, and novelist.

She noted, “Professor Dawes’ work, often delving skilfully into themes of identity, resilience, and the rich tapestry of Jamaican life, makes him a fitting ambassador for the nation’s literary voice.”

Professor Dawes has authored over 30 poetry books and numerous other works, including essays, criticism, and fiction. His poetry often reflects the cultural interplay of lives within the Caribbean, Africa, and North America.

A co-founder of the Calabash International Literary Festival alongside Colin Channer and Justine Henzell, Dawes has played a pivotal role in establishing Jamaica as a hub for literary dialogue and creative expression.

His awards include the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2022, the Musgrave Silver Medal for outstanding contribution to the arts in 2004, and the Forward Poetry Prize for Best First Collection in 1994 for Progeny of Air.

In his response, Professor Dawes spoke passionately about the role of poets as chroniclers of human imagination and emotion. He emphasized the importance of poetry in resisting societal erasure and creating spaces for expression.

“I consider my role one of affirming this nation’s desire to resist that erasure, to facilitate and make possible the room in which anyone caught in the dream and desire and compulsion to talk dem talk, to articulate experience with the beautiful execution of language,” he said.

As Poet Laureate, Professor Dawes will focus on broadening access to poetry and fostering public involvement in the art form. The NLJ announced plans to continue the Point Yard of Geneva programme, which nurtures local poetic talent and community engagement.

Currently, Dawes serves as a lecturer in the Master of Fine Arts programme at Pacific University, Oregon, and as a professor of Literary Arts at Brown University.

Professor Dawes joins a distinguished lineage of poets laureate, including Professor Emeritus Mervyn Morris (2014–2017), Lorna Goodison, CD (2017–2020), and Olive Senior (2021–2024). Each has made unique contributions to advancing Jamaica’s poetic heritage.

More photos from the event:

Comments

What To Read Next

News JAM Feb 13, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutesMinister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., announced in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, February 11, that Jamaica will commemorate the third anniversary of the Disabilities Act on Friday, February 14.

The Act, which came into effect on February 14th, 2022, provides a comprehensive framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in our country.