Gente Brava Foundation inaugurates its 2026 Season with a profound analysis of Dominican literary identity
The Gente Brava Foundation kicked off its 2026 Season with the discussion “Verse and prose: Who writes the island today?”, an event that brought together various figures from the cultural sphere at Cuesta Libros. Moderated by Pedro Castellanos Hernández, the institution’s editorial director, the meeting raised fundamental questions about contemporary narrative and who holds the legitimacy to recount our island reality.
The panel, composed of prominent voices such as Miguel Yarull, Arlene Sabaris, and Minerva del Risco, agreed that the essence of narrating the island transcends geography. For Yarull, the key lies in sincerity when approaching stories, regardless of whether the author resides in the country or abroad. For her part, Sabaris highlighted a paradigm shift, noting that the island is no longer just the object of study, but the starting point from which current literature is built.
Whoever feels and approaches with sincerity has the right to tell the story of the island.
Miguel Yarull, writer and screenwriter
Challenges and silences in national literature
During the debate, Minerva del Risco was emphatic in pointing out the existing gaps in Dominican literary production, especially on sensitive topics such as the relationship with Haiti, warning that the fear of silence is one of the greatest dangers for the local intelligentsia. Likewise, the panel analyzed the gender disparity in the publishing market, where Arlene Sabaris explained that, in a recent selection of the 100 most relevant books, the presence of female authors remains worryingly low.
- Historical memory: The lack of memory exercises regarding the Trujillo dictatorship in comparison to other nations in the region was debated.
- Caribbean identity: It was explored how new generations use narrative as an act of cultural resistance.
- Legacy: Minerva del Risco highlighted the importance of keeping the literary references of the past alive, citing the figure of her father, René del Risco Bermúdez.
Next steps for the Gente Brava Foundation
This event marks the beginning of a series of three meetings scheduled for this 2026 cycle. The next appointment, titled “You’re not leaving without me putting something on for you,” will be a listening circle led by illustrator and DJ Poteleche, scheduled for November 1st at Swing Records. Laura Castellanos Hernández, cultural director of the organization, emphasized that these spaces seek to document musical and literary archives that define the essence of our culture.
For more information about the free events, interested parties can access the official web platform or consult the organization’s social media:
Instagram: Gente Brava Foundation
The Gente Brava Foundation is a non-profit entity focused on the research and dissemination of Caribbean art, establishing itself since 2019 as a benchmark through its curatorial work and its eponymous podcast.
