Kwame Dawes Jamaica’s next Poet Laureate says Culture Minister

Internationally acclaimed poet, Professor Kwame Dawes, will be the next Poet Laureate of Jamaica.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, disclosed that Professor Dawes emerged as the most suitable person for the distinction after a public nomination process, which was followed by a seven-member committee vote administered by the National Library of Jamaica. His investiture of as the Poet Laureate of Jamaica for 2024 to 2027 comes next.

“The Poet Laureate of Jamaica is given a three-year tenure with the responsibility of developing and executing a programme of activities which support the reading, writing and promotion of Jamaican poetry," Minister Grange said.

“I am pleased with the selection of Professor Dawes. He is deserving of this honour given his years of foundational work and contributions made to the literary landscape of Jamaica. Professor Dawes is a naturalised citizen of Jamaica, having grown up here, and in 2004 was awarded the Musgrave Silver Medal for Literature. In 2022, he was awarded National Honours, the Order of Distinction Commander class,” Grange added.

Kwame Dawes, who was born in Ghana, is a widely acclaimed poet, editor, critic, and musician whose work has brought him global recognition exploring themes such as identity, migration, and the human experience. His achievements span multiple genres, including poetry collections such as Progeny of Air and City of Bones: A Testament, which have received critical acclaim for their lyrical depth and social commentary. He is the author of 35 books of poetry with numerous other books of fiction as well as essays.

The National Library of Jamaica celebrates 10 years of the Poet Laureate of Jamaica Programme, post-Independent Jamaica. During this time the institution has seen to the investiture of three Laureates, Professors Mervyn Morris, Lorna Goodison and Olive Senior.