Mervyn Morris for Last Sundays

The National Gallery of Jamaica will present a varied Last Sundays programme for May 25. In addition to the opening of the new exhibition Anything with Nothing: Art from the Streets of Urban Jamaica, the programme will feature a poetry reading by Jamaica's new Poet Laureate, Professor Mervyn Morris, OM.

There will also be musical performances by Pentateuch Band and the deejay duo Ackee & Saltfish.

Morris, poet and literary scholar, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and studied at the University College of the West Indies and as a Rhodes Scholar at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He has taught at the University of the West Indies since the 1960s and is now Professor Emeritus of creative writing & West Indian literature.

Publications

Morris has published several volumes of poetry, including Examination Centre (1992), On Holy Week (a sequence of poems for radio, 1993), The Pond (revised edition, 1997), Shadowboxing (1979) and I Been There, Sort of: New and Selected Poems (2006).

In 2009, Morris was awarded the Order of Merit and in 2014, he was appointed the Poet Laureate of Jamaica - the first Jamaican poet to be so honoured since Independence in 1962.

On Sunday, Professor Morris will read a selection from his poetry inspired by the street art represented in the 'Anything with Nothing' exhibition.

Pentateuch, which was formed in 2009 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, has emerged as a major new voice on the roots revival scene. Engaging songs such as Black Face have provided them with an enthusiastic and rapidly growing following.

The name Pentateuch

The name Pentateuch is given collectively to the first five chapters of the Bible and was also chosen to symbolise the band's five members - Kevor 'Vor' Williams on lead vocals, Brady 'Jah Bradez' Robinson on drums, Andrew 'Worm' Ayre on bass, Andrade 'Dradi' Bowen on keyboards, and Garth 'Duckie' Forester on guitar.

Japanese deejay duo

The Japanese twin brothers and dancehall deejay duo Ackee & Saltfish, which recently rocked the stage at Rebel Salute 2014, through their music illustrate that reggae is a universal language. Ackee & Saltfish also demonstrate the unique and very productive cultural dialogues that are taking place between Jamaica and Japan.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the recently opened 'Japan: Kingdom of Characters' exhibition, which serves as another illustration of these dialogues. 'Kingdom of Characters' showcases anime and manga characters such as Hello Kitty, Gundam and Pokemon, and their role in Japanese daily life.

As is now customary, admission will be free on Sunday. Donations will be accepted to help support the National Gallery's exhibitions and programmes.