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| REX NETTLEFORD TO GIVE LECTURE IN ST. KITTS |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (9TH MAY 2007) - The St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture is in the process of implementing its programme to commemorate the Bi-centennial Anniversary of the Abolition of the British Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
As part of its programme of activities a Cry Freedom Lecture Series has been organized under the theme "Black Enlightenment and Self Mastery: A 21st Century Imperative".
The opening lecture will have as the featured speaker the Honourable Professor Rex Nettleford, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. Professor Nettleford will deliver on the topic "The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery: The Psychic Inheritance".
Mr. Antonio Maynard, Secretary General of the UNESCO National Commission has remarked that "[t]he celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is an important milestone in the history of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis".
He is inviting the entire general public "to come out and hear a message about the history of our people and the dynamic legacy of strength and resilience that our ancestors have passed on to us.
Given Professor Nettleford's incisive mind on the African reality in the Americas, along with his vibrant character and open, affable personality we are confident that the audience will leave the forum enlightened, motivated and inspired".
The Lecture will be held at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank on 23rd May 2007 at 7:30 pm.
About Professor Rex Nettleford, O.M. F.I.J.
Hon. Rex Nettleford is a well-known Caribbean scholar, trade union educator, social and cultural historian and political analyst. A former Rhodes Scholar, his is a Vice Chancellor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. After taking an undergraduate degree in History at the UWI he pursued post-graduate studies in Politics at Oxford. He is also the founder, artistic director and principal choreographer of the internationally acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica and is regarded as a leading Caribbean authority in the performing arts.
Outside of the Caribbean he has served in various capacities on several international bodies having to do with development and intercultural learning including, but not limited to the Canada "based International Development Research Centre (IDRC); the AFS Intercultural (USA); the Commonwealth Arts Organization; the UNESCO and ILO. As an authority on development and cultural dynamics, he has lectured in many countries of the world including the USA, Canada, UK, India, Israel and South Africa.
.~~adz:Left~~He is editor of Caribbean Quarterly and the author of "The Rastafarians in Kingston, Jamaica" (with F R Augier and M G Smith); "Mirror, Mirror: Identity, Race and Protest in Jamaica", "Manley and the New Jamaica", "Roots and Rhythms"; "Caribbean Cultural Identity"; "Dance Jamaica: Self-Definition and Artistic Discovery"; "The University of the West Indies: A Caribbean Response to the Challenge of Change" (with Sir Philip Sherlock); and "Inward Stretch, Outward Reach; A Voice from the Caribbean".
Professor Nettleford is the recipient of the high national honour of Order of Merit, the Gold Musgrave Medal (from the Institute of Jamaica), the Living Legend Award (Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, USA) and the Pelican Award (of the UWI Guild of Graduates), the Zora Neale Hurston-Paul Robeson Award (from the National Council for Black Studies, USA), the Pinnacle Award from the National Coalition on Caribbean Affairs (NCOCA), the Second Annual Honor Award from the Jamaican-American Chamber of Commerce in 1999 and was made Fellow of the Institute of Jamaica in 1991.
"One unifying force in the Caribbean heritage is undoubtedly the African Presence. We may as well admit to ourselves the great moral strength that would accrue to Caribbean civilisation were we to eschew once and for all the lingering plantation and colonial assumptions about the natural inferiority of those of its inhabitants who carry the 'stain' of Africa in their blood." - Hon. Rex Nettleford
