On Thursday, July 10th, 2025, PoeTree Barbados, in collaboration with Bean N Bagel 2.0, hosted the highly anticipated Under The PoeTree: The Battle Royale a thrilling night of spoken word that brought together emerging voices, powerful storytelling, and a buzzing audience of over 200 patrons. Fourteen spoken word artists competed for cash prizes totaling $700 BDS, sponsored by Cupid Productionsand Bean N Bagel 2.0.
The evening began with a series of captivating guest performances that set the stage for the poetic battles to come. Malachi Hope, NIFCA Silver Awardee and the inaugural PoeTree Barbados Buss Ah Rhyme Champion, opened the show with his rousing piece “Welcome to the Battle,” instantly energizing the crowd. He was followed by Ashley Serieux, who had the audience in stitches with her hilariously sharp piece “Bajan Customer Service”, poking fun at everyday island life.
The performances continued with Zoe Sunshine, who delivered a soulful musical interlude with her rendition of “Poor Original Souls,” displaying her vocal range and emotional depth. Wrapping up the opening acts was Stonedwithcupid, Poet of the Year and 3X NIFCA Gold Awardee, whose riveting pieces “If You See Something” and “Prayer Chant” drew thunderous applause and set a high standard for the night.
With the crowd fully warmed up, it was time for the main event-The Battle Royale. Competing under pressure, the 14 poets had just three days to write and memorize their original pieces. The challengers included:
Mark Yearwood, Lafonn Millar, Raquon ‘Negus Knots’Hinds, Joshua Moore, Joshua ‘Jay The Sage’ Thomas (USA), Theo ‘Deo The Poet’ Greenidge, Ebonee Carter, Brittany Gill-Denny, Lui The Bajan, Antonio ‘Iyah Badd’ Corbin, Jabari ‘BVR’ Corbin, Shamona Forrester, Timon Howard, and Ramone ‘Rae’ Blackman.
Organizer La Shawna Griffith, Founder of PoeTree Barbados, described the evening as a powerful reminder of the appetite for spoken word in Barbados:
“Tonight is heartwarming, as it shows that persons want to hear positive messaging and experience the beauty that is spoken word poetry. We created the battle format to make it fun and engaging, while also pushing our poets to think and create quickly. Judging by the audience’s reactions, they loved it and that’s what spoken word should be.”
The intense matchups were judged by PoeTree Barbados Griot Awardees DJ Simmons and Nailah Imoja, who ultimately announced the following winners:
• Mark Yearwood defeated Lafonn Millar
• Lui The Bajan defeated Jabari ‘BVR’ Corbin
• Deo The Poet defeated Jay The Sage
• Ebonee Carter defeated Brittany Gill-Denny
• Iyah Badd defeated Joshua Moore
• Timon Howard defeated Shamona Forrester
• Raquon Hinds and Rae Blackman ended in the event’s only tie
To close the evening, all participants received certificates of participation a meaningful gesture recognizing their courage and creative expression.
“We want every poet to leave feeling proud,” Griffith added. “Win or lose, performing your own work in front of a crowd is a big accomplishment. PoeTree Barbados is about growth, empowerment, and creating fun, supportive spaces for development.”
The Battle Royale was more than a competition it was a celebration of Caribbean voices, creative expression, and the vibrant spoken word culture thriving in Barbados.
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