In commemoration of Black History Month, which is celebrated in February, the University Dramatic Arts Society (UDAS) at The University of the West Indies, hosted NNEKA, a celebration of black artistry at Philip Sherlock Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 5.

Some 15 university students performed a range of items including dub poetry, songs, drama, skits, and spoken word.

The talent on display was impressive and appreciated by the audience, which comprised university students.

Jayson Lawrence, main organiser of the event and a second-year banking and finance student at The University of the West Indies, told the Jamaica Observer that NNEKA is one of the main events for UDAS.

“It’s an event that basically is one of our flagship events. This is held to honour black artistry, because the campus is known for parties and other events. We wanted to show a different side of the campus, while honouring that side of black artistry. So that’s the whole idea behind NNEKA,” said Lawrence, who is also the president of the UDAS.

Bob Marley’s Concrete Jungle was impressively sung by first-year biology student Vanni.

“Well, in the spirit of Black History Month, and the month celebrating my favourite genre which is reggae music, I thought that this song was very fitting, to celebrate reggae music and reggae culture. I really like the song, and it shows a different side, and the crowd just immersed itself into the performance,” Vanni, who performed at Reggae Sumfest in 2022, told the Jamaica Observer.

For first-year banking and finance student Abigale Morris, her dub poem, titled The Journey of a Thousand Miles, was inspired by a real-life scenario.

“The inspiration behind the piece came from a situation where a 15-year-old, who is motherless, is facing a lot of challenges. The remaining family members don’t treat her right and they live in what is called a big yard. It speaks about the struggles and their fight to see the light,” said Morris.

Her piece received rousing applause from the audience.

Another dub poem that got the green light from the audience was Jamaica 61 by Xaview Bryan, a first-year economics student at The UWI.

“I feel like the message in the poem was very strong, and I feel like the whole vibes around it would’ve gotten the crowd excited and engaged, and it did. The first time that I performed it at church it got a huge reception,” Bryan shared.

Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts third-year music education student Makalia Benjamin had the audience singing along to her interpretations of Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill’s Turn Your Lights Down and The Nightshift by The Commodores. But her original song Stand, performed with emotion and gusto, was what bowled the audience over.

“A friend of mine has lupus and sometimes she feels like giving up. But the song is an encouragement, telling her whatever she’s going through, just stand and never give up. I wrote this song to also inspire others, to just stand when you feel like you can’t be strong,” Benjamin told the Observer, while confiding that she felt nervous performing the song for the first time.

“I was very nervous and I wasn’t sure how they would react, but the audience loved it. I felt great about that.”

There were other creditable performances by the Rex Hall Drama Society, the Rex Hall Choir, the Chancellor Hall Performing Arts Society, Groovements and the Panoridim Steel Orchestra.

Abigale Morris impresses the audience with her dub poem titled The Journey of a Thousand Miles..

Makalia Benjamin of Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts delivers her original song Stand. 

Vanni gives the event the thumbs up.

Members of Rex Hall Choir entertain the audience.