Jamaicans around the world – from Kingston to Notting Hill to Crown Heights – mourned the loss of Jamaican luminary, Rex Nettleford.  Dr. Nettleford transitioned on February 2nd after a sudden collapse a few days earlier.

Rex Nettleford Performing in 1965; Photo by Maria LaYacona by way of Antilles.blogspot.com

From the Jamaica Gleaner News: “Jamaica lost one of its most revered cultural figures last night when Professor Rex Nettleford, vice-chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and founder of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), died, just hours before he would have celebrated his 77th birthday.”

It was Gary Fray, owner of the 1158Dean Gallery, a contemporary African diaspora art gallery in the neighborhood, who first shared the news with us.  ”I have no hesitation in saying that Professor Nettleford’s brilliance as aesthete, historian, trade unionist, intellectual is peerless among Caribbean nationals of any generation.   He belongs in the Jamaican pantheon of outstanding leaders, right up there with Michael Manley, Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley.”

Read this article from the Jamaica Observer entitled Dancing to Caribbean Drums: An Appreciation of the Life of Rex Nettleford for a little more insight on Professor Nettleford’s contributions, not just to Jamaica, but to the world.

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