OAaSIS International Foundation (Jamaica)

He achieved the three score years and ten promised by the Bible, but just 4 hours before his 77th birthday, Professor Alston Miller “Rex Nettleford” died in the Washington Hospital where he lay.

His vision though of Jamaicans being free from mental slavery and realising their identity to live on through instituions such as the OAaSIS International Foundation. After all, his discussions with its founder was one influence of its creation.

OAaSIS Founder remembers the culture icon always reiterating that a country’s progress is mirrored by how it treats its artirtist(es).

She was once a creative writing’ student ofthe Professor, and remembers he always being warm even when he would extol disciplinary measures to the unsettled. She also will never forget his words etched in her heart that artists(es) should be among the leaders of society as they are the ones who can observe, interpret, translate, mirror what’s happening in society. Only then do some persons actually understand what is going on.
These words should present challenge to any member of the creative industry, especially as they were among the many last warning-filled words of one so greatly honoured as a Caribbean National.
His life, no matter what he did as both a culture icon and as a colourful intellect was dedicated to exposing Jamaicans and challenging them to realise their own identity and setting internationally.
Many are his writings which will be sought out, published and circulated. Even if its in capsulated forms, these well researched, and put together messages of encouraging wisdom will be useful.

Well done Rex Nettleford (February 3, 1933 - February 2, 2010)! CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Vice-chancellor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies, Professor Rex Nettleford died late Tuesday evening at the George Washington Hospital in the United States six days after collapsing in a US hotel. He was there at the Hospital on visit for a fundraising gala for the UWI.

The Jamaica Observer reported through its webpage that “Nettleford, who reportedly suffered a massive heart attack and was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, never regained consciousness and finally passed at 8:00 pm.”

The achievements of Rex Nettleford in the arts, culture and academia are innumerable and well revered.
His greatest achievement so far is his co-founding of the National Dance Theatre Company(NDTC), along with several others including Bert Rose. Added to that his work and contributions to the Company, which include director, dancer, co-director.
Professor Nettleford is the recipient of Jamaica’s third highest honour – the Order of Merit, and, is a cultural advisor to the prime minister. He graduated from the University of the West Indies with History (honors).
He is a Rhode Scholar who attended Oxford University with postgraduate studies in Politics. Ironically, he also has a created word which he has contributed to the Oxford dictionary.

He’s also the author of several publications including, “Manley and the New Jamaica”, “The African Connexion”, and “In Our Heritage”. His latest published book is “Caribbean Cultural Identity, the case of Jamaica”.

Professor Nettleford is also a member of the Inter-American Committee on Culture, founding governor of the Canada-based International Development Research Centre, and had acted as expert/consultant to the government of Ghana, FESTAC, CARIFESTA and UNESCO. Professor Nettleford is a radio and television commentator and has lectured in many countries including India, the Phillipines and Israel.

Up to his death he remained prolific in his expressions – visual, performing, literary and as a highly respected intellect. All Jamaica will be affected by his death in one way or another. Still although he will no longer be physically seen nor heard, his visions will live on, as many will strive to carry on the baton.

JAMAICA LEADERS REACT

See “Icon lost – Golding, Simpson Miller mourn Nettleford”:

Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller have great memories of the Professor, but are agreed that his passing is a great loss for Jamaica.

PRIME MINISTER BRUCE GOLDING said he was deeply saddened at the news of Nettleford’s death.

“Jamaica and the entire world have lost an intellectual and creative genius, a man whose contribution to shaping and projecting the cultural landscape of the entire Caribbean region is unquestionable,” Golding said.

“Rex Nettleford was an international icon, a quintessential Caribbean man, the professor, writer, dancer, manager, orator, critic and mentor. He has left a void in our world that will be a challenge to fill.”

Olivia Grange

MINISTER OLIVIA GRANGE (minister of youth, sports and culture): Nettleford, who had been in the intensive care unit at the hospital since last Wednesday with catastrophic brain injury following a cardiac arrest, died at 8 p.m., four hours before his birthday.

“The nation, the wider Caribbean and beyond mourn the loss of this great Caribbean icon,” Grange said.

OPPOSITION LEADER PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER (president of the People’s National Party and opposition leader): expressed con-dolences to Nettleford’s family, friends and colleagues.

“I am very deeply saddened by the news of Professor Nettleford’s passing. This is a national loss and one that I feel personally. Words are inadequate to capture the extent of the grief I feel,” Simpson Miller said.

Simpson Miller hailed Nettleford as a son of rural Jamaica whose life’s trajectory testifies to the success that is possible through grit, determination, resilience and ’smadification’ – local parlance for self-actualisation – within the Jamaican cultural environment, of which he wrote so eloquently.

Anthony Johnson

AMBASSADOR ANTHONY JOHNSON (Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States): Nettleford never regained consciousness.

Edward Seaga still honourable

FORMER JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER, EDWARD SEAGA (who first met Nettleford in the early 1960s): Nettleford was the “quintessential Caribbean man”.

“There was a strong willingness on his part to absorb Jamaican culture, which I believe is his greatest contribution. It’s on that basis that the NDTC became such a force,” Seaga said.

THE PEOPLE:
Many tributes have come in for the Trelawny-born Nettleford, who excelled as an academic, cultural activist, historian and remained an unapologetic regionalist.

ART COMMUNITY:
More on Professor Rex Nettleford can be seen in the Alexander Cooper Gallery and Museum, Coopers Hill Kingston. Both master painter Alexander Cooper and the Rex Nettleford were close and culture icons together.