The first chapter of the NGC Children’s Bocas Lit Fest began at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, as several schools entertained with live readings, poetry, and sing-alongs.
Eight-year-old Coryn Anaya Clarke, who is the youngest published writer in T&T, hosted the event while also reading from a book which is part of her children’s series, Chronicles of Coryn: Meet My Heroes, in which she describes what she likes about local trailblazers, including David Rudder and Nailah Blackman.
“Brian Charles Lara is one of heroes because he shares my passion for cricket, actually he inspired my love for cricket. David Rudder is one of the best calypsonians in the world—don’t argue with me, that’s my opinion. He is one of my musical heroes,” Clarke said.
Author Mary Cuffy also read from her book, Road Trip Adventure with Lola & Dawson. Students were engaged to sing along to what was read.
But it was when the Dame Lorraine came out, that the children began to laugh, with some heard saying, “Oh, Jesus!” and “Ey ey!”
The character was played by Gennalee Griffith, a pupil of St Gabriel’s Girls’ RC School, who did a rendition of her NGC Sanfest winning speech, The French and Spanish Influence In Trinidad and Tobago.
However, the happy expressions of the children on seeing someone their age playing the Trinbagonian folklore character turned serious, when the sombre topic of slavery came to the forefront.
“Oh gosh, allyuh, it’s me! And look how I make myself pretty. I is Dame Lorraine. I am the epitome of slavery. When we used to like to mock them French aristocrats, oh gosh, look at me, so beautiful with meh broad hat. I like to exaggerate my features and my dress ‘cuz when I step out in the backyard, I does fete fuh so!” Griffith said on stage.
The NGC Children’s Bocas Lit Fest includes workshops, live readings and other activities for the nation’s youth and runs until Sunday.
