BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ISLAND XPRESSIONS (IX) will be celebrating their fourth anniversary today (Mar. 29) at Ma Pau from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
According to Samal Duggins, creator of IX, this special event would celebrate four years of special moments at the once monthly poetry event under the theme ‘Celebrating the Moment’.
“Looking back at four years we’ve seen poets being created and we’ve had some wonderful moments,” said Duggins.
He said that over the years he has seen poetry grown in the Federation and become an entity that everyone enjoys and appreciates.
IX has also bred some wonderful poets including Jihan Williams and Patrick Walters.
Duggins said that poetry has grown where it has now become side performances for events and that some of the poets, including Williams who had travelled to Antigua to recite her poetry.
“Four years ago, she mentioned to me that she never muscled the courage to come out and perform. She always wanted to perform. Gnerally, she wanted to sing and I invited her to Island Xpressions, and now everybody knows of Jihan and her powerful poems,” he said.
One of the memorable moments of the event during past years was the ‘Speechless’ performance, an original song by Charles Emmanuel and Mikeila Armstrong.
“We have been communicating with the artistes and we’re trying to get most of them who had graced the stage in the past. We can’t do all, as it will be an endless night, but we’re expecting to have 20-plus artistes who ever graced the stage including Jihan, Patrick, LOV, Range, Queen Kibi, Ras Khalid, Even-3, Salsa Dancers, Fire Man…all the different acts that we’ve seen.
“It will be almost like four years of Island Xpressions in one night,” he said.
National Carnival Queen contestants have also been hosted at Island Xpressions over the past four years, where they too went onstage and shared poetry.
He said that persons have performed at the intimate atmosphere has described it as “the most awesome thing ever”, which motivates him to keep the event going and the art form alive.
Duggins extended gratitude to persons who have been instrumental in making the event a success over the past four years, and also to those who have contributed to its growth including various media houses and everyone who has helped. “We’ve benefitted a lot”.
