She Right Collective presents a celebration to honour the life and work of the legendary and beloved folklorist Al Ramsawack. The virtual event will take place today from 6 pm to 8 pm. It will be moderated by author and cultural activist Amanda T McIntyre, with veteran media practitioner Hansley Ajodha presenting the main address.
In a prolific career spanning over 50 years, Al Ramsawack collected, published and broadcasted folklore stories in over 300 newspaper articles, ten books, several television shows, radio broadcasts, drawings and paintings.
Ramsawack’s stories gave extensive life to the details of Jumbies, Papa Bois, Soucouyant, Lagahoo, Mama D’Lo, Douens, Jins, Bhutes, La Diablesse and other characters that populate the region’s folk tales and oral histories. He also published fictional narratives that include the much-cherished Monkey Polo and Sly Mongoose.
His work continues to inspire generations of writers, academics, artists and cultural activists, locally and internationally. In this way, he significantly reconstructed the collective memories of T&T, and shaped the country’s national imagination while also contributing substantially to the preservation of the Caribbean’s cultural heritage. For his outstanding achievements, Ramsawack received numerous awards, including the President’s Humming Bird Silver Medal in 2004.
“In Memoriam” will feature an international selection of scholars, writers, performers and cultural advocates, including: Dr Jean Antoine-Dunne, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Louris Martin Lee-Sing, Dr des Jarula M I Wegner, Dr Keith McNeal, Nyugen E Smith, Rubadiri Victor, Motilal Boodoosingh, Toni Lima, Theodora Gittens-Uleri, Conrad Paris and Alethea Beharry.
They will offer tributes as well as readings from Ramsawack’s literary work and performances honouring this Caribbean icon and his lasting impact on the cultural heritage of the Caribbean. Discussions will shed light on contemporary folklore as well as Ramsawack’s inter-generational influence. Most honoured guests scheduled to appear are Papa Bois, Compé Anansi and Miss Esmie.
For the link to this virtual event, please write to sherightcollective@gmail.com or WhatsApp Amanda T McIntyre at 868-491-1249.