The highly anticipated auditions for the 2025 First Citizens National Poetry Slam have wrapped up, with fierce competition taking place over the last two weekends in Port of Spain, Marabella, Arima, and Tobago.
Thirty talented semifinalists, plus four wild cards, have earned their place in the next round, in an announcement made on Wednesday 26 February.
This year’s auditions showcased an impressive mix of new and returning talent, proving that the spoken word championship continues to attract fresh voices while keeping seasoned veterans engaged. The competition welcomed a wave of first-time performers who brought bold perspectives and fresh energy, while several poets made their return to the Slam scene, eager to reclaim their place in the spotlight. As always, the lineup includes past winners and finalists, demonstrating that interest in the championship — and the coveted cash prize of $50,000 from First Citizens — remains strong.
Almost 100 poets delivered powerful performances in front of a panel of esteemed judges, including head judge Arielle M. John, Richard “Chromatics” Rajkumar, Patti-Anne Ali, Nicholas Sosa, and Yvan Mendoza. With a diversity of topics and voices, the 2025 Slam is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic yet. The Slam will retain its crowd-pleaser staple, the Wild Card face-off, where four poets who narrowly missed qualification will battle in pairs for a second chance. The top two performers from this round will earn a place in the Grand Slam finals, adding to the high-stakes excitement of the competition.
All contenders will vie for a chance to dethrone defending champion Shakira Burton.
The 2025 Slam carries the theme Bring It Home, tying into the overall theme of the 15th Bocas Lit Fest, Always Coming Home. This year’s Slam will encourage poets to delve into their journeys of growth, transition, and self-actualisation to bring their truths, struggles, and triumphs to the stage.
Semifinals will take place at the Cipriani College of Labour & Co-Operative Studies in Valsayn on 22 and 23 March. Tickets are priced at $100 and can be purchased at bocaslitfest.com/poetry-slam.
The semifinalists are:
The First Citizens National Poetry Slam is a flagship event of the Bocas Lit Fest and is sponsored by First Citizens.
