Dawn-Marie Virtue-James receives her award for excellence in music from Rheima Scarlett, the principal of the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer PROFESSOR REX Nettleford, associate founder of the School of Dance, received a special award from the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts recently. He was one of five awardees on the occassion. The other awardees were Cecil Cooper (for his contribution to art), Dr. Nolma Coley-Agard (for her contribution to drama), Joseph Robinson (for his contribution to dance) and Dawn-Marie Virtue-James (for her contribution to music).
The awards were presented at the college's first 'Awards of Excellence Banquet' last weekend at the Ruins, University of the West Indies, Mona.
Professor Nettleford's citation was read by Reverend Easton Lee. The citation described Professor Nettleford as being born in cosmic anonymity, although this situation has changed.
"On Febuary 3, 1933, a boy was born in Falmouth in Trelawny, in Jamaica. It is reasonable to assume that on that day there was no sign that what had taken place had any special significance. 69 years later, Jamaica, the caribbean and the international councils of the world know differently," Rev. Lee read.
In essence, the citation highlighted that Professor Nettleford was being awarded for more than his contribution to any single area of the arts, but for his contribution to the field as well as the effect of his work. Professor Nettleford was further described as standing for: 'A deep committment to the Arts, a clear understanding of the importance which the creative process, as exhibited in all aspects of the Arts, can do for a people's pride in themselves, in building self-esteem, and an extraordinaty ability to articulate in the clearest possible way the feelings of a people, born into slavery and emerging from our colonial masters, who through the power of education, can become the creators of our own destiny.'
However far more important than the description given of Professor Nettleford, was his response upon receiving the award.
He began his delivery on a rather light note, and despite the gravity of his message would continue to sugar it with humour. He noted that despite his years he has been informed that "I somehow don't look so bad." However, he quickly turned his delivery to look at the importance of offering service in order to further build the nation. He noted that the Edna Manley College was created from four schools which had begun on a voluntary basis. "People of our generation went to school in order to serve." he stated, further arguing that that is a state of mind which cannot be abandoned in a country of our size.
Professor Nettleford also accorded the past government with some of the responsibility for the development of Jamaican culture. He noted that when the Cultural Training Centre was built "Jamaica was just entering its IMF days." He stated therefore that the government at the time should be commended for alloting money to what could have been viewed as 'minstrelry'.
"It's not by accident that we have produced a Bob Marley and a Jimmy Cliff," Professor Nettleford argued. He noted, however, that the pedigree of Jamaica does not seem to have been transmitted to the current crop of artistes and performers. He stated that present students need to realize that "they come from somew'ey too." As such, it is important to value our cultural expressions. "It isn't true that a knee-bend is better if it's called a plié," he stated.
The professor took the need for the recognition of our own even further by stating the he will 'commit' the University of the West Indies into recognizing the validity of the diplomas from the Edna Manley College. He said that many graduates of the college had left 'the bush' with their diplomas and pursued bachelors and masters degrees in the United States.
