[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#a5e3e2″ background_enable_image=”off” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://calabashfestival.org/Calabash2023/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Calabash_BlessUp25_Header_ink1400.jpg” title_text=”Calabash_BlessUp25_Header_ink1400″ admin_label=”Header Image” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#2c2c2c” header_font_size=”36px” header_letter_spacing=”6px” global_colors_info=”{}”]

2025 Festival Programme

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FRIDAY, MAY 23

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
TRUTH AND DARE
Memoir.. (re)claim your story
Alexandra Fuller
Safiya Sinclair

8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
WRITING A CONTINENT
Poetry from the African Poetry Book Fund
Mary-Alice Daniel
Thabile Makue
Mahtem Shiferraw

10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
TWO THE HARD WAY
Noir Fiction: The Secrets that lie in the heart
George Pelecanos
Harold Schechter

Midnight – 2:00 am
MIDNIGHT RAVERS
Live Concert featuring
Zac Jones
Jaz Elise
Mortimer

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SATURDAY, MAY 24

10:00 am – 11:00 am
LOVERS ROCK
Short stories long on love
Alexia Arthurs
Mateo Askaripour
Diana McCaulay

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
REASONING Presents:
a Conversation
Marlon James
with
Paul Holdengräber

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
OPEN MIC
Hosted by Prof Carolyn Cooper

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
CALABASH CAFÉ SERIES
Publishing in the Caribbean
Hosted by Tanya Batson Savage

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
ALL MEMORY IS FICTION
The past is present
Jason Allen-Paisant
Candice Carty-Williams
Tao Leigh Goffe

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
REASONINGS presents:
a Conversation
Ian McEwan
with
Decca Aitkenhead

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm 
OPEN MIC
Hosted by Prof Carolyn Cooper

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
LYRICAL FYAH
Poetry blazing & simmering
Caleb Femi
Kimiko Hahn
Danez Smith

10:00 pm – 11:30 pm
SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY
Fiction…Fantasy… Fact….
Hernan Diaz
Christopher John Farley
Shehan Karunatilaka

Midnight – 2:00 am
CALA-CLASH
DJ’s spinning under the stars by the sea
Bad Gyal Marie
ZJ Liquid

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SUNDAY, MAY 25

10:00 am – 11:30 am
Tribute reading of
ANNIE JOHN by
JAMAICA KINCAID
A Caribbean classic read by Jamaican notables from home and abroad on its 40th anniversary
Min. Dana Morris Dixon
Beverley East
Kei Miller
Maxine Walters

12noon – 1:00pm
REASONINGS presents:
a Conversation
Sheryl Lee Ralph
with
Kwame Dawes

1:00pm – 3:00pm
OPEN MIC
Hosted by Prof Carolyn Cooper

1:15pm – 2:15pm
CALABASH CAFÉ SERIES
Stories shared
Hosted by Johnny Temple

3:30pm – 5:00pm
THE CALABASH ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE
Musical Tribute
50th anniversary of
Burning Spear’s album
“MARCUS GARVEY”

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Your contribution is greatly appreciated!

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