KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Book Festival’s inaugural Africa Caribbean Literary Exchange will culminate on Saturday February 28 with a dynamic festival day at the Confucius Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Headlining the exchange is an exceptional delegation of internationally recognised African and Caribbean authors and cultural leaders.

Among them is Namina Forna, the Sierra Leonean-American New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Ones series, whose work explores power, patriarchy and identity through bold feminist fantasy.

She will be joined by award-winning Kenyan writer and editor Troy Onyango, founder of the influential literary magazine Lolwe, as well as Ghanaian-born moderator and cultural commentator Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako, all of whom bring extensive experience shaping contemporary African literary ecosystems.

Festival director Latoya West-Blackwood described the exchange as a defining cultural moment.

“The Africa Caribbean Literary Exchange is about more than books. It is about reconnecting histories, building new partnerships and creating space for African and Caribbean voices to engage each other directly. This festival allows the public to witness and participate in these important conversations,” she said.

The day will feature keynote conversations, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive workshops, special author readings, a children’s story time hour and a vibrant vendor village celebrating literary and creative enterprise.

Caribbean literary excellence is equally represented, with contributions from Paulette A Ramsay, Research Fellow and Chief Operating Officer at the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy, Trinidad and Tobago creative Jeunanne Alkins, whose multidisciplinary practice spans storytelling and cultural engagement, and Nicole Dennis-Benn, Jamaican award-winning best-selling author of Patsy and Here Comes the Sun.

The festival’s programming promises compelling exchanges throughout the day, with sessions exploring pathways to publishing across Africa and the Caribbean, the building of sustainable Black arts ecosystems, language and translation within diaspora communities, and the evolving global influence of contemporary African and Caribbean storytelling. There will also be an audio lounge powered by Odiyo to kick- start the festival morning with “Books for Breakfast”.

Designed to engage audiences of all ages, the exchange also includes a dedicated children’s storytime session and a curated vendor village showcasing books, literary merchandise and creative products from local entrepreneurs.