CULTURAL engineer Lenford Salmon was among three gold Musgrave Medal awardees at the 125th ceremony held at Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Tuesday evening.

A total of 10 Musgrave Medals were awarded.

Salmon, who has been part of the theatre and cultural industry for over three decades, said the honour came as a surprise.

“They kinda tricked me, because they asked me to help with the awards, not telling me anything about my being involved in it, and at the last minute after I planned everything, I heard,” the actor/producer told the Jamaica Observer.

Salmon is well-known for roles in 12 pantomimes, his work in television, most notably Oliver at Large and Royal Palm Estate, as well as films, including Third World Cop, Hit For Six, and Ghett’a Life.

Despite that track record, Salmon noted that his job is not done.

“The work continues. I don’t think I’m at the stage yet where I’m saying I’m leaving a legacy behind. I’m still building that legacy. I do recognise that I have to share with young people coming up and we’ll be doing much of that. So, to that extent, yes, I want to build on a legacy and I’m grateful for people who taught me much of what I know, like Trevor Nairne particularly with the Grand Gala, and I want to do the same for others that are coming behind me,” he said.

As Jamaica celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, Salmon believes the nation has surpassed expectations in the cultural and entertainment industries.

“We continue to strike above our weight class, in terms of our culture. I’m one who always says we are a cultural superpower in the world by what we’ve been able to achieve. When you have the greats like Michael Jackson, but yet Marley’s One Love was chosen as the Song of the Millennium, that tells you how powerful we are, because the entire world knows about Michael Jackson but yet none of his songs were chosen…Marley’s songs were chosen,” he said.

Playwright Patrick Brown, Salmon’s colleague in the Jambiz International production company, was awarded a bronze Musgrave Medal. He was unable to attend the occasion, while animator and lecturer Kevin Jackson received a silver medal.

Other gold recipients are author and environmental activist Diana McCaulay and chemist and master blender Joy Spence; silver recipients were entomologist and lecturer Dr Eric Garraway and author Geoffrey Philip; bronze recipients were author and lecturer Dr Safiya Sinclair and biologist Dr Susan Koenig.

Rhodes Scholar David Salmon is the 2022 recipient of the youth medal award for advocacy and leadership. He was also unable to attend.

The Musgrave Medals are awarded annually in recognition of achievement in art, science, and literature. Launched in 1889, it is named in memory of Sir Anthony Musgrave, a former governor of Jamaica and founder of the Institute of Jamaica.

The evening saw performances by La Musicación, Jamila Falak, Deon Silvera, and L’Acadco.