The Cultural Division of Dominica has unveiled the winners of the 2025 Independence Literary Competition, a prestigious event that honors the island’s literary prowess across diverse genres and languages. Held annually as part of Dominica’s Independence festivities, the competition underscores the nation’s vibrant literary traditions and the profound impact of storytelling in English, Kwéyòl, and Kokoy.
In the English Poetry category, Blanch Athanaze Winston emerged victorious with her poignant piece titled ‘Mother.’ Leandra Lander secured second place with ‘Heaven Call Centre,’ while Netisha S. Durand’s ‘Pass We Passing’ claimed third place. The Short Story category saw Yahima Cuffy-Bazil take the top spot for ‘Names Too Numerous to Mention,’ with Vince Arnold Savarin’s ‘Summertime’ and Ian Jackson’s ‘Bamboo House’ earning second and third places, respectively.
The Kwéyòl Poetry division celebrated Iris André’s ‘Mwen Sé Donmnik’ as the first-place winner, followed by Blanch Athanaze Winston’s ‘Ou Sé’ in second place. Yahima Cuffy-Bazil also triumphed in the Kokoy Poetry category with ‘Behind Gad Back,’ while Ian Jackson’s ‘Dominican Soldier, Inna Merica’ secured second place.
The Cultural Division lauded all participants for their dedication to preserving and promoting Dominica’s linguistic and cultural heritage through their literary contributions. This year’s competition not only highlighted the creative talents of Dominican writers but also reinforced the enduring significance of storytelling in shaping the island’s cultural identity.