'Binta' Breeze for poetry fest

The fourth annual staging of the Jamaica Poetry Festival on August 10 at Louise Bennett Garden Theatre has something special this time around.

This year, the festival includes the return of Jean 'Binta' Breeze to the Jamaican stage after decades of absence due to her unprecedented international work and residence in the United Kingdom.

Breeze was recently honoured by the British for her work in poetry, which has taken her across the UK, Europe, Africa and the length and breath of the international community, working alongside Linton Kwesi Johnson, Benjamin Zephaniah, and other international stalwarts.

Breeze is to headline a formidable line-up of poets from several countries across the world, in addition to a very strong Jamaican contingent, along with a few guest artistes.

There will also be creative writing workshops at the festival, hosted by Steppa. The workshop component of the event takes place from 10 a.m., ending at 2 p.m.

The festival's showcase begins at 7 p.m., where several literary icons will be honoured.

Those to whom tributes will be paid include Mutabaruka, Johnson, Breeze, Oku Onuora, Zephaniah, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka and Una Marson.

Jamaica International Insurance Company, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, and Irie Life are the event's sponsors to date.