Caldwell – As part of efforts to enhance creativity among young people in the country, a Liberian writers’ group “We Write Liberia” is organizing a one-day competition featuring poetry and creative arts.
The event, which is slated for September 16, 2018, will be held at the St Maria Goretti School in Upper Caldwell.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa Thursday, September 6, the program coordinator Androvish G Berrian said the competition will attract young Liberians who are making an impact on the society through poetry and creative arts.
Berrian added that the poetry writing competition would include activities like drama of famous Liberia novel Murder in the Cassava Patch by Bai T. Moore, music and dances performances.
According to the program coordinator, the deadline for sending entries is the 13th of September. Along with the entries, participants are asked to send clear photographs of themselves, their full name, and current level of education and what they intend to be in the future, Berrian says.
Participants are to be from grades 10 to students in their second years in any University. The program coordinator calls on participants to forward their entries to [email protected] or Androvish Berrian through Facebook messenger.
He said: “Writing has always been one of the ways people find comfort in expressing themselves. Liberians are very talented, especially looking at the many young Liberians that have made impact and are still making much impact on the society through creative arts.”
Berrian added: “Participants for the competition are encouraged to write only a single poem of their own from any angle and strive to know the words and interpretations off-head.”
The program is being supported by the Liberian Poetry Society, the Wonseh’s Designs, the Liberian Association of Writers, Sis Mary Laurene Browne and Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Berrian.
He said: “It is very special coming up with this initiative with the aim of inviting young Liberians to feel recognized and to be empowered to make a lot of contributions to the society.”
“The poems will, however, be forwarded to the judges for screening. The best out of six poems will be selected”.
He furthers that the names of the six finalists will be called on the day of the program where they will be given the opportunity to declaim their poems. With suited gesture, judges will have the chance to select three winners.
The program coordinator said the first winner will be awarded with a trophy and LD$16, 000 and has his or her poem appears in one of the local daily newspaper.
Also, the Second winner’s poem will appear in one of the local daily newspaper and the person will be awarded a trophy. The third winner will receive only a trophy, while the rest of the participants will be awarded a certificate, he concluded.