Archive of the Spoken Word Poetry Movement
in Trinidad and Tobago
Journal Special Issues
Paula Morgan and Amílcar Sanatan. 2021. Creating a Caribbean Sense of Place: Calypso, Spoken Word and the Oral Tradition. Tout Moun: Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies 6 (1)
Journal Articles
Delaney, Kelsi and Gabrielle Jamela Hosein. 2024. “Spoken Word and Gender-based Violence Education among Adolescent Girls in Trinidad and Tobago.” Caribbean Quarterly 70 (3-4): 350-370
Evans, Lucy and Gabrielle Hosein. 2025. “Using Spoken Word and Theatre in Gender-based Violence Education with Adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago.” Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance: 1-18
Kerrigan, Dylan. 2019. “She Look for It: Young Men, Community Violence, and Gender in Urban Trinidad.” Caribbean Journal of Criminology 1 (4): 29-59
Miranda, Katherine C. 2012. “Spread the Word: Synergia and Trinidad and Tobago’s Re-versed Poetics.” Anthurium 9 (1): 1-6
Neigh, Janet. 2016. “Digitizing the ‘Sound Explosions’ of Caribbean Performance Poetry.” sx archipelagos: 1-20
Sanatan, Amílcar. 2021. “High Time to Break Up the Boys’ Club: The Gendered Politics of Spoken Word and Open Mic Spaces in Trinidad and Tobago.” Caribbean Journal of Education 43 (1): 109-128. 2021
Essays and Commentaries
Lamsee, Akilah. 2024. “Gender-based Violence and Activism in Spoken Word Spaces.” Caribbean Quarterly 70 (3-4): 411-428
sanatan, amílcar. 2026. “Big Speech, Small Island: Tobago’s Speech Band in Spoken Word and Oral Traditions.” IYARIC Journal 3: 78-86
sanatan, amílcar peter with Fayth Seaton, Sean Singh, Deneka Thomas and Zariel Thomas. 2026. “Anthro-poets from East Port-of-Spain’s Yards: Spoken Word as Arts-based Methodology for Ethnography in Urban Trinidad and Tobago.” IYARIC Journal 3: 17-28
sanatan, amílcar. 2025. “Errata of Memory: A Tribute to Anson Gonzales and the Power of Spoken Word.” Magma Poetry 93: 30-32
Sanatan, Amílcar. 2021. “A World of Poetry & Spoken Word.” Tout Moun: Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies 6 (1): 1-5
Interviews
Television Interviews
Tobago Updates. 2026. “Borderlines Spoken Word Workshop.” [Interview with Derron Sandy]. June 2, 2026
Trinidad and Tobago Television. 2026. “The Power of Spoken Word” [Interview with Deneka Thomas and Anjali Khan]. March 13, 2026
Trinidad and Tobago Television. 2025. “ROOTS Foundation – Roots Poetry Slam “I Have Something to Say.” [Interview with Emmanuel Villafana and Isaiah Wayne John]. July 15, 2026
Trinidad and Tobago Television. 2019. “Tobago Poetry Slam and First Mic.” January 16, 2019
Print Interviews
Adisa, Opal Palmer. 2019. “Amilcar Peter Sanatan.” Interviewing the Caribbean 4 (2): 112-11
Postgraduate and Undergraduate Student Research Projects
Lamsee, Akilah. 2021. “The Spoken Word Movement in Trinidad: In this Community, Everyone has a Voice?” Master of Arts in Cultural Studies Research Project, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Weekes, Kwame. 2015. “The History and Evolution of Spoken Word Poetry in Trinidad and Tobago.” Undergraduate Research Project, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Toolkits
Warner, Zahra, Amílcar Sanatan, Gabrielle Hosein, Dylan Kerrigan and Jade Trim. 2023. Gender-based Violence Education for Youth: A Caribbean Arts-based Facilitation Guide. UK Arts and Humanities Research Council
Curated Blogs, Magazine Articles and Features
Allen-Agostini, Lisa. 2006. “Words from underground: Trinidad’s open-mike performance circuit thrives outside the limelight.” Caribbean Beat 81 (September/October 2006)
Herbert, Ariana. 2017. “Poetry grand slam | Word of mouth.” Caribbean Beat 144 (March/April 2017)
Muller, Nazma. 2015. “Say It Loud.” Caribbean Beat 132 (March/April 2015)
Muller, Nazma. 2015. “2 Cents for Change.” Commonwealth Foundation (Blog). April 29, 2015
Muller, Nazma. 2012. “Muhammad Muwakil: A World to Change.” Caribbean Beat 117 (September/October 2012)
Newspaper Commentary
Hosein, Gabrielle Jamela. 2018. “Lyrical journey with powerful voices.” Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. May 2, 2018
Robinson, Colin. 2018. “Where calypso gone?” Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. April 29, 2018
Related Publications on the Oral Traditions, Performance Poetry and the Caribbean Spoken Word Poetry Movement
Brown, Stewart, Mervyn Morris and Gordon Rohlehr. 1989. Voice Print: An Anthology of Oral and Related Poetry from the Caribbean. England, Trinidad and Jamaica: Longman
Honoré, Fédon. 2021. “A Retrospective on Brian Honoré, the Midnight Robber.“Tout Moun: Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies 6 (1): 1-10
Kunheim, Jill S. 2008. “Performing Poetry, Race, and the Caribbean: Eusebia Cosme and Luise Palés Matos.” Revisita Hispánica Moderna 61 (2): 135-147
Lucien, Vladimir. 2017. “New Caribbean Editorial.” Cordite Poetry Review 81
McKenzie, Stephanie May. 2015. “The Importance of Preserving Guyana’s Literary Heritage and Contemporary Literary Scene: An Interview with Yaphet Jackman.” Postcolonial Text 10 (2): 1-9
Murrell, Matthew. 2021. “Adrian Green Wielding Spoken Word as Weapon: The Making of an Artiste.” Tout Moun: Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies 6 (1): 1-10
Pearn, Julie. 1985. “Poetry as a Performing Art in the English-speaking Caribbean.” PhD dissertation, University of Sheffield
Sanatan, Amílcar. 2021. “Writing and Performing the Nation: An Interview with Paul Keens-Douglas on Orality and Caribbean Literature.” Tout Moun: Caribbean Journal of Cultural Studies 6 (1): 1-17
Podcasts
Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival, “Episode 58 | Spoken Word” (Road March Ready), amílcar peter sanatan, February 11, 2026
Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival, “Episode 50 | Derron Sandy Reads from The Chaos,” Derron Sandy, November 12, 2025
Spoken Word Poetry-based Films
Denith McNicolls: U.WE SPEAK One Caribbean (dir.) (film, 9:59, 2010)
Dominic DeBourg: P.O.S: Point of Synergy (dir.) (film, 7:37, 2010)
Kleon McPherson: Back In Times (dir.) (film, 4:22, 2021)
Websites of Spoken Word Poets, Artists and Researchers
Alexandra C Stewart: alexandracstewart.com
Derron Sandy – Performance Poet: derronsandy.com
Freetown Collective – We are Freetown: wearefreetown.love
Gabrielle Jamela Hosein – Grrl Scene: grrlscene.wordpress.com
Isaiah Mc Lean: isaiahmcclean.com
Lisa Allen-Agostini: lisaallen-agostini.com
Spoken Word Organisations and Arts-based Communities
Bacano Leaf, founded and led by Deneka Thomas: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Girl Be Heard Trinidad and Tobago: Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Quays Foundation, founded by Derron Sandy and led by Jenna Roxborough: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
ROOTS Foundation TT, founded and led by Mtima Solwazi: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
The 2 Cents Movement, founded by Jean-Claude Cournand and Mickel Alexander: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Key Contributors to the Development of the Spoken Word Poetry Movement: a recognition of key individuals who either emerged from the spoken word poetry movement or were closely affiliated with performing in and developing its spaces
Organisational Leadership and Space-making
Jason Arthur (Lyrical Lounge); Mickel Alexander (The 2 Cents Movement); Kyle “Skeeto” Amos (One Mic/Second Stage); Jamol Benjamin (U.WE SPEAK); Ashlee Burnett (U.SC Speak); Rachael Collymore (Synergia); Jean-Claude Cournand (The 2 Cents Movement/U.SC Speak/National Poetry Slam); Nku Davis (U.WE SPEAK); Hans Des Vignes (Second Stage); Atiya Douglas (The 2 Cents Movement); Carol Hosein (Bamboo Talk Press); Arielle John (Girl Be Heard Trinidad and Tobago); Sterling “Gamma Ghost” Kent (Ink Quest); Oswald “Ozy Magiq” Merrique (Flying Galvanize); Gillian Moore (Songshine); Yvan “Navy” Mendoza (True Talk No Lie); Ronaldo Mohammed (U.WE SPEAK); Muhammad Muwakil (U.WE SPEAK); Darrion Narine (U.WE SPEAK); Paula Obé (Ten Sisters/Bamboo Talk Press); Brandon O’Brien (Jingay Spoken Word Poetry Group/Wordsmiths); Brendon O’Brien (Wordsmiths); Junior Prout (U.WE SPEAK); Feli Renwick-Brunswick (OPEN UP!); Tyron Rhamanohar (U.WE SPEAK); Nadella Riley/Oya (Speak! A Poetry Revolution for Television); Jensen Samaroo (U.WE SPEAK); amílcar peter sanatan (BATCE Culture Club/Jingay Spoken Word Poetry Group/U.WE SPEAK); Derron Sandy (My Microphone/Quays Foundation/Borderlines); Mtima Solwazi (ROOTS Foundation/Cascadoo International Festival of Spoken Word); Nicholas Sosa (Circle of Poets of Trinidad and Tobago); Kevan St. Brice (U.WE SPEAK); Blaine Thomas (U.WE SPEAK); Deneka Thomas (Bacano Leaf); Aneisha Vieira (U.WE SPEAK); Kheston Walkins (Writer’s Block)
Musical Artists
Ataklan; Collis Duranty and the Unlimited Soul Project; David “Da Face” Hamilton; Freetown Collective; Gazette; John Francis; Ruth Osman; Mistah Shak; Shakeela; Terrenaissance; 3 Canal; Til Shiloh; UWI Afrikan Society; Washikong; Word Sound and Power
Visual Artists
Joshua Brizan (Photography); Dominic DeBourg (Fashion, “Ref. U.G”/Graphic Design/Photography/Videography); Joanna De Silva (Photography); Anastazia Hamilton (Graphic Design/Photography); Ivory Hayes (Fashion, “Empressive Designs”); Curtis Henry (Photography); Arnaldo James (Photography); Isaiah McLean (Graphic Design/Photography); Denith McNicolls (Photography/Videography); Vincent O’Neil (Photography/Videography)
Print and Multimedia Literary Publications by Spoken Word Poets
Gary Acosta: Uncut, Unplugged and UNTITLED (DVD, self-published, 2010)
Lisa Allen-Agostini: Trinidad Noir (ed.) (fiction, Akashic Books, 2008); The Chalice Project (fiction, Macmillan Caribbean, 2008); Swallowing the Sky (poetry, Cane Arrow Press, 2017); Home, Home (fiction, Papilotte Press, 2018/Delacorte Press, 2020); The Bread the Devil Knead (fiction, Myriad Editions, 2021); Death in the Dry River (fiction, 1000Volt Press, 2024)
Carol Hosein: She Sex: Prose & Poetry. SEX & the Caribbean Woman (eds.) (poetry and prose, Bamboo Talk Press, 2013)
Arielle John: Songs in a Strange Land (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2014); Containing in Itself All Sweetness (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2019)
Ronaldo Mohammed: What Happens at the Edge of the World (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2023)
Muhammad Muwakil: Forgetful Road (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2016)
Paula Obé: She Sex: Prose & Poetry. SEX & the Caribbean Woman (eds.) (poetry and prose, Bamboo Talk Press, 2013)
Brandon O’Brien: Can You Sign My Tentacle? (poetry, Interstellar Flight Press, 2021)
Brendon O’Brien: Monster Parts (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2019)
Taharqa Obika: Caribbean Poet: Expressions from the Islands (poetry, self-published, 2010/2022)
amílcar peter sanatan: About Kingston (poetry pamphlet, Peekash, 2025); The Black Flâneur: Diary of Dizains, Anthropology of Hurt (poetry pamphlet, Ethel Zine & Micro-press, 2025)
Derron Sandy: The Chaos (poetry pamphlet, New Walk Editions, 2023)
Mtima Solwazi: Reflections: A Compilation of Poems (poetry, self-published, 1996)
Alexandra Stewart: Off Stage (poetry pamphlet, self-published 2020); Seconds (poetry pamphlet, self-published, 2024)