Alliouagana Festival of the Word To Feature Record Breaking Child Author

The 14th Alliouagana Festival of the Word returns in November with a focus on children’s literature and language as protest and for nation building.

Coryn Ayana Clarke of Trinidad & Tobago, who has published seven books by her seventh birthday, will be this year’s guest author.

Her first book Chronicles of Coryn: 7 Days of Fun, was written and published in 2020, when she was just four years old.

It was named one of the most popular children's books in the world.

Festival coordinator Nerissa Golden says the Festival is delighted to welcome Coryn to Montserrat as the first guest author since the Covid pandemic.

The literary festival slated for November 17 to 19, 2022 remains a hybrid experience with some sessions streamed live on Facebook and in person events around the island.

On day one, the Ministry of Education will host the popular Book Parade for primary schools.

In the evening, there will be a Movie Night showing the short comedy The Fab 4 and the Silent Retreat.

Golden says Montserrat will also get a special advanced screening of the feature Deep Blue by HAMAFilms Antigua.

The Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell Memorial Lecture Series will be streamed on Friday November 18.

The interactive event will feature a panel of local and regional experts discussing Language as Protest - How does preserving our dialects serve as a tool for nation building?

The final day will celebrate children and imagination with the book launch of Chronicles of Coryn with young Ms Clarke and Cassava Kids by first time Montserratian author Roydenn Silcott.

The works of other authors will also feature during the Family Fun Day at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory will announce the winners of its creative writing competition and children will exchange old and new books at the Book Swap sponsored by the Public Library.

Returning as a key partner for the festival is the Montserrat Arts Council. The Montserrat Tourism Division is also co-sponsoring this year’s event.