Saint Lucia will host acclaimed poet and scholar Canisia Lubrin for the 2026 Sir Derek Walcott Memorial Lecture on January 20, as the country honours the enduring literary legacy of Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Walcott.
Lubrin, who has strong ties to Saint Lucia, has been selected to deliver the prestigious lecture, which is organised by the Cultural Development Foundation.
CDF Communications Director Kendal John highlighted her achievements and background while announcing her participation.
“She hails from Jacmel and is a writer in Saint Lucia, but now she is a professor School of Theatre, English and Creative Writing in Canada,” John said.
He added that Lubrin has distinguished herself internationally through her work. “She has released a number of poems, she has won a number of awards and she is the chosen one to represent at the Derek Walcott Lecture. We are looking forward to her insight,” he stated.
The event will also feature Walcott Expressions, a creative initiative designed to engage the wider public, particularly young people, in reinterpreting Walcott’s celebrated poem “Love After Love” through various artistic forms.
According to John, the initiative encourages broad and imaginative participation. “An activity especially for the younger ones and for different individuals to participate, where we take one poem from Derek Walcott, “Love After Love”, and you are allowed to create any artistic piece,” he explained.
Participants may submit works across a wide range of artistic media. “You can do a fine art piece, you can do a graphic, you can do a video, you could add dance, a song, anything that captures the theme of “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott, and you can submit that to our platforms and we will judge it,” John said.
He noted that the winning entry will be recognised on the night of the lecture. “Of course, on the night, the 20th of January, we will be presenting the winner,” he added.
The Sir Derek Walcott Memorial Lecture and accompanying creative initiative form part of ongoing efforts to celebrate Walcott’s contribution to literature and to inspire new generations to engage with his work in meaningful and creative ways.