ACCLAIMED academic Maureen Warner-Lewis, professor emerita of African-Caribbean Language and orature in the Department of Literatures in English, University of the West Indies, was feted by her family with a dinner and dance in honour of her 70th birthday last week Saturday.

Her response to the many warm toasts and tributes was simply to give thanks — to God, her family and

her friends.

The Trinidad native, author of more than six books, as well as numerous academic papers, served the University of the West Indies for 33 years before retiring in 2003. Among her awards are the 2009 gold Musgrave Medal for her contribution to the field of literature; the 2004 and 2008 Gordon K and Sybil Lewis awards for her books Central Africa in the Caribbean: Transcending Time, Transforming Culture and Archibald Monteath Igbo, Jamaican, Moravian respectively; 2002 Vice Chancellor’s Award for excellence in research; Best Academic Book, 2004; and the Vice Chancellor’s Personal Award, UWI Press, 2008.

Her life and work have taken her all over the world, including Ghana; Nigeria where she taught from 1967 – 1970 and again from 1974 – 1975; Australia, the USA, UK and several countries in the Caribbean. She has served in many capacities including guild secretary; head of the English Department at UWI; and deputy chair of the African-Caribbean Institute of Jamaica.

Although retired, she guest lectures at conferences and is currently working on an intimate and intriguing research project.

She is married to Rupert Lewis, former professor of political thought at UWI, and is mother to Jide and Dr Yewande Lewis-Fokum. She is also the proud grandmother of Gianna, Tsenaye and Timothy and caring owner of Butterball, the family dog.