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Jamaica’s biennial, leading literary festival, Calabash, took place in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, over the last weekend.
At the last staging in 2023, movie star Angelina Jolie was seen amongst the crowd, enjoying the festival along with patrons. This year, the spotlight was on Emmy Award-winning Jamaican American actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who headlined a session titled REASONINGS Presents: A Conversation with Sheryl Lee Ralph. She sat down with Kwame Dawes, renowned Ghanaian Jamaican poet and festival co-founder, to discuss her memoir DIVA 2.0: 12 Life Lessons from Me for You. The discussion explored Ralph’s journey through fame, activism, and self-discovery, drawing a standing ovation from the audience.
Ralph, known for her role in the hit series Abbott Elementary, was also on the island in service, delivering the keynote speech at the Sagicor Foundation Scholars Luncheon on May 21, where she encouraged the young scholars to dream boldly and work hard.
Calabash, which describes itself as “the best likkle festival in the best likkle district in the best likkle country in the world,” spans the weekend from Friday to Sunday. It featured readings by celebrated authors such as Ishion Hutchinson, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Olive Senior, and international voices like Diana Evans and Teju Cole. The weekend had something for everyone and also included interactive panels, open mic sessions, musical interludes, and opportunities for new voices to be heard in a supportive and scenic environment.