Ezikel Alleyne started his journey as a storyteller during his primary school years. Much of his formative experiences were influenced by his time spent in Berbice and Essequibo, where he listened to oral folklore from his grandmother and other family members. Amidst the storytelling tradition, he found himself engaged in a friendly competition for attention with his seven siblings.
Reflecting on his childhood, Alleyne remembers using his storytelling as a means to capture his mother’s attention. In a bid to stand out among his siblings, he would craft imaginative stories and read them aloud to his mother daily. These stories, coupled with his earnest desire for approval as a young child, played a pivotal role in shaping his imagination. Now at the age of 21, Alleyne continues to write and read his work for his mother. “Til to this day, she [his mother] makes it feel as if it is the first time I am writing or the first time I am reading to her,” he said, while adding that she is a great confidence booster.
