The First Citizens National Poetry Slam—the Caribbean’s premier spoken word championship—has officially announced the fourteen finalists who will go head-to-head for the prestigious title of Grand Slam Champion 2025.
The announcement was made on Thursday 27 March via the Slam’s official social media channels.
Now in its 14th year, the Slam has cemented its place as a world-class platform for bold, socially relevant poetry and performance. With a top prize of $50,000 cash, sponsored by First Citizens, the stakes remain as high as the calibre of talent on stage. Second and third place winners take home $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.
This year’s Grand Slam Final takes place at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Sunday 4 May at 6:30 PM, closing the curtain on the 2025 Bocas Lit Fest, which runs from 1–4 May.
Tickets are priced at $200 and can be purchased online at bocaslitfest.com/events/2025-first-citzens-national-poetry-slam-finals.
Nearly 100 poets registered to audition across four locations in north, east, and south Trinidad, and Scarborough, Tobago. From these, 30 semifinalists and four Wild Cards were selected to compete at the semi-finals, held on 22 and 23 March at the CLR James Auditorium, Cipriani Labour College, Valsayn. Fourteen poets have now emerged as finalists, joining defending champion Shakira Burton, who returns to protect her title.
The semi-final judging panel brought together a wealth of experience and cultural insight, including head judge Arielle M John, writer, performance poet, and community organizer; Abeo Jackson, actor, media personality and creative producer; Shivanee Ramlochan, poet, essayist, and book reviewer; Amílcar Peter Sanatan, artist, educator and activist; and Sterling ‘Gamma’ Kent, professional speaker and spoken word poet.
The 2025 Slam is anchored by the theme “Bring It Home”, a timely and resonant call that reflects personal journeys, reclaiming identity, and the transformative power of voice. The theme also complements the overarching concept of the 2025 Bocas Lit Fest: “Always Coming Home,” as the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary along with 15 years of the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.
The 2025 Finalists Are:
Alexandra Stewart
Alicia Psyche Haynes
Camryn Bruno
Deneka Thomas
Derron Sandy
Javaughn Forde
Keeron Isaac
Kevin Soyer
Michael Logie
Renaldo Briggs
Rochelle Rawlins
Seth Sylvester
Shakir Gray
Shaquille Warren
Shakira Burton | Defending Champion
The First Citizens National Poetry Slam Grand Finale is the signature closing event of the annual Bocas Lit Fest, which runs from 1–4 May 2025 at the National Library in Port of Spain. The Slam is sponsored by First Citizens.
