Soca Poet Maximus Dan headlines the Poetry for the People concert in Woodford Square

Soca Poet Maximus Dan, will electrify Woodford Square on Friday, March 20th as part of the National Poetry Festival 2009. The Soca artiste, known worldwide for his soulful and passionate song 'Fighter' written for the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors World Cup bid, will headline a host of highly acclaimed poets at the free concert.

Maximus is well known for his support of poetry and oral traditions and the need to incorporate these into formal education. He has spoken out on the issue of HIV and AIDS and the need to practice safe sexual behaviour and has developed a reputation over the course of his career as a serious and conscious artiste.

He will share a stage with others who are also serious about their craft – Sister Ava, the sister warrior of the Rapso Movement, Ivory, Eintou Pearl Springer, Poet Laureate of Port of Spain, Muhammad Muwakil and Brother Resistance. The event, which takes place from 11.30am-1.30pm will be hosted by National Extempo champion, Black Sage.

'Poetry for the People' takes place as part of the National Poetry Festival 2009, with the theme 'Defying the Disease through the Power of the Word: Resisting Stigma and Discrimination'. The National Aids Coordinating Committee is the main sponsor for the Festival, as it seeks innovative and interesting ways to deepen the impact of its messages amongst key target groups in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Poetry Festival has been taking poetry and the theme of ‘Resisting Stigma and Discrimination' directly to the people all week – from the Fish Depot in Charlotteville, to Nalis where young people spoke out, to school children in East and South Trinidad to Phase 11 panyard on Friday night.

The Festival which is jointly hosted by Idakeda and the Circle of Poets, runs from March 15th culminating on March 21st, World Poetry Day, with the installation of a new Poet Laureate of Port of Spain.