Out Of The Caribbean: Write-Tukubuli Virtual Literary Festival
Bridging Dominica and Diaspora through Words … In September, the Write-Tukubuli Virtual Literary Festival lit up screens across the Caribbean and beyond, connecting Dominican and diaspora voices through storytelling, panels, workshops, and contests. A Virtual Home for Dominican Expression Organised by Waitukubuli Writers in partnership with the Piton Noire Collective, Nature Isle Literary Festival, and […]
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Bridging Dominica and Diaspora through Words …
In September, the Write-Tukubuli Virtual Literary Festival lit up screens across the Caribbean and beyond, connecting Dominican and diaspora voices through storytelling, panels, workshops, and contests.
A Virtual Home for Dominican Expression
Organised by Waitukubuli Writers in partnership with the Piton Noire Collective, Nature Isle Literary Festival, and Domnichen Poetic Circle, Write-Tukubuli sent a bold statement: that an island’s literary life need not be constrained by geography. Over six days, the festival leveraged social media and streaming platforms for the first time ever to host writers’ workshops, podcast episodes, short story and spoken word contests, #WriteTukubuli challenges (on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, etc.), and live panel discussions.
One of the festival’s signature features was a daily “LitVibes” evening livestream, featuring conversations on topics including self-publishing, marketing, the future of storytelling, and the intersection of AI and creative writing. The festival culminated in a six-hour broadcast combining interviews, open mic sessions, DJ sets, and author showcases.
Voices from Across the Diaspora
Write-Tukubuli invited both published and emerging writers to submit audio or visual excerpts of their work, or to join live panels and conversations. Over seventy writers from Dominica and the diaspora took part in the inaugural edition, which gave the audience a lively blend of voices, genres, and perspectives.
The festival team describes its mission as “claiming space in the global literary conversation, digitally, boldly, and authentically.”  Through collaborations with Dominican media outlets (in particular TDN Network) and with widespread social media outreach, Write-Tukubuli aims to amplify local storytelling while strengthening connections with wider Caribbean and international literary communities. 
Significance and Legacy
For Dominica, Write-Tukubuli arrives at an important moment. The island’s literary culture is gaining more attention, and digital tools make possible a reach that transcends borders. The festival not only spotlights Dominican talent but also nurtures new voices in genres such as speculative fiction, folklore, and hybrid writing forms.
By streaming events and archiving them on YouTube, the festival ensures that the conversations live on well after its scheduled days.  More importantly, Write-Tukubuli models a viable, accessible template for small islands to host vibrant literary gatherings that are global in reach but rooted in local identity.
As the Caribbean literary world continues to evolve, this virtual festival is an invitation to write, to listen, to connect. For Dominica and its storytellers, it may well be the start of a new chapter.
Watch festival coverage here:
*Waitukubuli is the original indigenous name for the island Dominica.
