Poet Laureate of Jamaica

Poet Laureate of Jamaica
Incumbent
Kwame Dawes
since 2024
AppointerNational Library of Jamaica
Term lengthThree years
Formation1933; re-established 2014
Websitenlj.gov.jm/poetlaureate/

The Poet Laureateship of Jamaica is an honorary position in Jamaica, used from 1933 to 1962 and again since 2014, when it was re-established.

History

The first poet laureateship of Jamaica was established when the honour was posthumously awarded to Thomas MacDermot in October 1933. The title was initially bestowed by the Poetry League Society of Jamaica, founded by J. E. Clare McFarlane (later the second laureate) in September 1923 as a branch of the British Empire Poetry League.[1] The National Poetry Society of Jamaica named only two poets laureate before the title fell into disuse in 1962 with Jamaica's independence. Claude McKay was also styled a poet laureate before 1962, though according to the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) this was an unofficial designation.[2]

The award was re-established in April 2014 with the inauguration of Mervyn Morris,[2] and the position has since been occupied by three other Jamaican poets, each serving for a period of three years.[3] Lorna Goodison served in the post from 2017 to 2020,[4] succeeded in 2021 by Olive Senior[5] and, as of 2024, Kwame Dawes.[6][7]

Selection

Poets laureate since 2014 have been selected by blind ballots cast by members of a nine person committee, these are: the chair of the Board of Management of the NLJ, the National Librarian of the NLJ, representative of the Department of Literatures in English of the University of the West Indies, Mona, a representative of the Poetry Society of Jamaica, an executive director of the Institute of Jamaica, a representative of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, a representative of the Entertainment Advisory Board, a representative of the Book Industry Association of Jamaica and a representative of the Creative Industries Commission.[3]

Insignia and ceremony

In its first incarnation, poets laureate were crowned with a wreath of Guaiacum officinale leaves as well as robed at their inaugurations, which were held at the Ward Theatre in Kingston.[8]

In its current form, laureates are bestowed with a breast star of sterling silver decorated with gold plating and green enamel, depicting a ring of breadfruit leaves. In the centre is Jamaica's coat of arms in gold surrounded by the words "Poet Laureate of Jamaica" in gold lettering upon black enamel. The star is accompanied by a black sash, which is edged with thin gold and green comparisons. A miniature order in the style of the breast star with a ribbon like that of the sash is also bestowed upon the recipient for wear with white tie.[2]

Poets laureate

Poet laureate Birth and death Dates of laureateship Awarded by Ref.
Thomas MacDermot 1870–1933 October 1933 [9]
J. E. Clare McFarlane 1894–1962 April 7, 1953 – October, 13 1962 [1]
Mervyn Morris 1937– May 22, 2014 – 2017 Wykeham McNeill [2]
Lorna Goodison 1947– May 17, 2017 – 2020 Sir Patrick Allen [10][11]
Olive Senior 1941– March 17, 2021 – 2024 [12]
Kwame Dawes 1962– January 22, 2024 – 2027 Steadman Fuller [13][14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 "J. E. Clare Mcfarlane". National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ceremony of Investiture of The Poet Laureate of Jamaica (PDF) (Programme for the ceremony of Mervyn Morris).
  3. 1 2 "Poet Laureate of Jamaica – Programme (FAQ)". National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Williams, Rochelle (19 May 2017). "Lorna Goodison is Jamaica's First Female Poet Laureate". Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Olive Senior officially becomes Poet Laureate of Jamaica today". Radio Jamaica News Online. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Kwame Dawes is Jamaica's next Poet Laureate". CaribbeanNationalWeekly.com. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Professor Kwame Dawes is Jamaica's fourth poet laureate". Jamaica Observer. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "McFarlane crowned second poet laureate in Jamaica's history". The Gleaner. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Tom Redcam (Thomas MacDermot)". National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Presenting Lorna Goodison, Poet Laureate of Jamaica". National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lorna Goodison is Jamaica's first female poet laureate". Jamaica Observer. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Murphy, Judana (18 March 2021). "Poet Laureate Olive Senior to inspire love of the land". The Gleaner. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Poet Laureate of Jamaica – Home". National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Fedderson, Troy (10 April 2024). "Dawes named Jamaica's next Poet Laureate". Nebraska Today. Lincoln NE: University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Kwame Dawes is new poet laureate". Jamaica Observer. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
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