“If only…” is the theme for the 2021 Malliouhana Poetry Competition. According to the Organising Committee, this theme encourages poets to use their imagination to conjure realities of their choosing. “If only…” is a plaintive sigh that reflects the yearnings of our hearts, the Committee says. We live. We want. We yearn for more. Noting that even though our hopes may sometimes disintegrate like “once-upon-a-time,” and we are often unable to visualise the future, we can use “If only…” to fuel and ignite our tomorrows.
Now in its fourteenth year, the annual literary competition is organised by the University of the West Indies Open Campus Anguilla, in collaboration with the Anguilla Library Service, the Department of Youth and Culture and the Anguilla Community College. The goal is to encourage literacy and artistic expression, as well as to promote an ethos of social, cultural, and political awareness.
Popular among poets of all ages, the Malliouhana Poetry Competition also forms part of the annual Anguilla Day National Celebration activities. It is open to persons residing on Anguilla and features two categories: Poetry on the Page and Performance Poetry/Spoken Word. Junior poets (those in the 8-12 age range), Teens (aged 13 to 17), and Adults (ages 18 and up) are invited to submit their unpublished works for either or both categories.
Poets in the Performance Poetry/Spoken Word category will be required to perform their submissions for judging in front of a live audience at the annual Awards Ceremony scheduled for May 12, 2021. Winners of the Poetry on the Page category will be invited to read their submissions at the ceremony. All the Winners will also have the option of sharing their work at The Anguilla Lit Fest.
Entry forms, as well as the rules for the 2021 Competition may be obtained from the Anguilla Library Service and the UWI Open Campus Anguilla. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2021.
Persons seeking more information are invited to contact the Anguilla Public Library at 497-2441 or The University of the West Indies Open Campus at 497-8156 or email anguilla.mpc@gmail.com.
– Press Release
