Performers of Soul Food for Sonia Suzette Williams
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS—On January 15, 2025, the Barbadian creative community gathered at The Terrace, Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), UWI Cave Hill Campus, for an unforgettable evening titled Soul Food for Sonia Suzette Williams: An Evening of Art, Love, and Legacy , organized by the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, UWI Cave Hill and GineOn?! This magical celebration was a heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Sonia Suzette Williams, a beloved master theatre practitioner and educator, mentor, and writer who joined the ancestral realm on January 6, 2024.
The evening was a tapestry of theatre, spoken word, poetry, dance, and ritual, reflecting Sonia’s immense creative impact on her students, colleagues, family, and friends. With performances infused with unbounded talent and high ancestral energy, attendees honored her artistic genius, innovative pedagogy, and abiding love for the arts and her community.
The programme began with by Iyalorisha OmiZaide Dr. Yanique Hume, who did a libation, lessons on African spirituality and brought remarks on behalf of the Faculty of Culture and Performing Arts at UWI Cave Hill. Adrian Green and Janelle Mitchell hosted the event and seamlessly guided the audience through this journey of creativity, remembrance and celebration.
Performances followed, weaving together voices and movements that echoed Sonia’s ethos of creativity and empowerment. Highlights included: Nia Haynes ’ poignant homage, Sonia ; Empress Zingha powerfully combined dance and ritual in One Should Know the Meaning of One’s Name; Carol Brathwaite, presented powerful and humorous pieces from In the Spirit , directed by Sonia, including Arthritis, This Body is Not Mine, and Dear Ancestors; Onika Best evocatively delivered You Belong ; Linda M. Deane and Kecia Branch, beautifully captured Sonia’s essence with Sea, Sista, Sonia. Michelle Barrow did a strong delivery of Letter to My Dead Sister; and Taitu Heron gave a powerful performance of Message From an Ancestor Named Olive.
Neil Waithe, ended the first half with an electric performance of an excerpt from MAN Child ,also directed by Sonia Williams;
Janelle and Adrian gracefully led the audience into the second half of the evening with La Shawna Griffith who delivered a searing critique with The Belch of Racism Has a Pungent Odour ; Ramone Blackman, performed I Am with conviction; while Damani Re passionately delivered his poem Libation , making way for DJ Simmon’s storytelling mastery in Last Saturday Night. Veteran poet, Winston Farrell, shared his heartfelt tribute, A Poem for Sonia. Cyndi Celeste tenderly guided the audience with her piece, If We Must. Adrian Green closed the night with his majestic performance of his poem Ancestors
This celebration of Sonia Suzette Williams’ life was more than an event; it was a call to honor her artistic legacy and an invitation to continue her mission of enriching lives through creativity and love. May the way be clear.