In honour of World Poetry Day, let’s shed some light on the Poets Laureate of Jamaica.

A Poet Laureate is a poet who is honoured for their achievements in the literary art form. They are officially honoured by a government or conferring institution with the title and usually given tasks to fulfill their throughout their tenure over a period of time. 

Every three years, since 2014, one such person is selected to represent the art of poetry in Jamaica.

As indicated by the National Library of Jamaica, the Poet Laureate is often tasked with “stimulating a greater appreciation for Jamaican poetry, while trying to develop mass appeal for poetry as an art and medium for developing and disseminating our cultural heritage”. 

They are also responsible for creating avenues for public involvement in the spoken arts by stimulating the writing of poetry and improving youth appreciation for poetry. Additionally, they are expected to help strengthen the resources of the National Library of Jamaica by creating a publication related to Jamaican poetry.

Olive Senior is the current Poet Laureate of Jamaica. She was selected in 2021 and will serve until 2024. Senior is preceded by Lorna Goodison who served from 2017 to 2020, and Professor Mervyn Morris who served from 2014 – 2017.

Prior to April 2014, there were two Poets Laureate who were selected by the Poetry League of Jamaica.

Thomas MacDermot (Tom Redcam), the first, was posthumously proclaimed the first Poet Laureate of Jamaica for the 1910 to 1933 period. John Ebenezer Clare McFarlane, was robed as Poet Laureate in 1953. McFarlane was the founder of the Poetry League Society of Jamaica where he also served as president. He maintained his role of Poet Laureate of Jamaica until his death in 1962.

This is part one of an informational three-part series highlighting the Poets Laureate of Jamaica. Parts two and three will be linked below.

A look at the Poets Laureate of Jamaica

A look at the pre-Independence Poets Laureate of Jamaica

Read more:

World Poetry Day and literary devices used in poetry

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