In recognition of National Poetry Day (usually observed annually on October 15), NALIS hosted its annual Verse Reading Festival for primary and secondary school students at the Audio Visual Room, National Library on October 17.

Participants in the competition were required to perform two poems; one of their choice and a test piece. In the morning session, participants from primary schools performed the test piece “God’s Child” written by Poet Laureate, Eintou Pearl Spinger. The afternoon session saw secondary school students performing the test piece, “Survivor” by the same author.

This competition, as many other programmes hosted by NALIS in 2011, celebrated the United Nation’s observance of the International Year for People of African Descent.

Winners of the Primary School Category
1st Place: Annalise Emmanuel, Sacred Heart Girls. “My Daddy” by Paul Keens Douglas
2nd Place: Alyssa Phillip, St Crispin’s AC. “I Rise” by Maya Angelou
3rd Place: Joshua Elcock, Moulton Hall Methodist. “I am an African” by Wayne Visser.

Winners of the Secondary School Category
1st Place: Natalya Pope, Servol. “The Cries of Mother Africa”.
2nd Place: Jonathan Alexander, St George’s College. “Banana Man” by Evan Jones