Wolmer's Boys, Ardenne top Rita Marley essay contest
Published:Sunday | July 1, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Earlier this year, budding writers from high schools across Jamaica were invited to participate in the fifth annual Rita Marley Foundation (JA) Essay Competition. On Friday, the winners were announced and David Salmon of Wolmer's Boys' School emerged the top essayist. Ardenne High School's Ruwenzori Ra and Adjaynae Billings copped second and third places, respectively.
The winning essay will be published in the foundation's quarterly newsletter, Harambe. In addition, the winner will also receive $25,000, tour of the Bob Marley Museum and the National Library of Jamaica. as well as Royal Rita products and Bob Marley merchandise. The second and third placed writers will receive the tour and merchandise, as well as $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The topic for this year's competition requested participants to dig deep to figure out the essence of what Rita Marley meant when she said, "Every man thinks his burden is the heaviest because they feel the pain. Who feels it knows it. But, don't sit by the window gazing at the moon. Get right up and move." The lyrics were taken from Rita Marley's song Who Feels It, Knows It. Each essay submitted had a 1,000 word limit. Entries closed out on June 4.
Rosemary Duncan, manager at the Rita Marley Foundation, said this year's batch of entrants lived up to expectations and submitted original pieces of work that made it difficult for the judges to make their final decision. She expressed satisfaction at the level of growth the competition has seen throughout its five years, pointing out that each year the participants come stronger than the year before. Last year saw Wolmer's Girls' School claiming all three top spots in a historic win.