As their year of celebrations continues, Founder/Artistic Director fabian m thomas and Tribe Sankofa, a performing arts collective of multi-talented, vibrant and eclectic performers will hist the world premiere screening of their documentary Hair So: black hair, here in Jamaica on October 27, 2022. As part of their 10th anniversary commemorations, thomas and his Tribe decided to explore the recurring instances in Jamaican news and social media, regarding black bodies in general and the (in)appropriateness of natural black hair in particular. Directed by thomas, the screening will take the form of an 80-person face-to-face screening and a private virtual one via the Tribe Sankofa YouTube channel. Tickets for both can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Tribe Sankofa was founded in 2012 by its Artistic Director fabian m thomas, who describes their niche as “…. borrowed and original spoken word/poetry, soulful song-styling uniquely blended with other visual and performing arts”. The collective, since its inception, has sought to introduce a new dynamic to Jamaica’s theatre arts landscape and the world at large. They have shared their interpretations of works by critically acclaimed poets and writers such as Lorna Goodison, Derrick Walcott, Olive Senior, Mervyn Morris, Oku Onuora, Claude McKay, Toni Morrison, Sunni Patterson, Rudy Francisco and Paul Laurence Dunbar. They have also presented unflinching examinations of issues such as police killings/brutality, gender-based violence, racism, blackness and self-discovery.
They have shared their distinctive style and repertoire in various spaces including the Lignum Vitae Awards, Gungo Walk Alternative Music and Arts Festival, Arts in the Park and the Investiture of the Poet Laureate of Jamaica. The collective proved their determination to their mission in 2017 when they performed at CARIFESTA 2017 despite having funding issues and not being part Jamaica’s official contingent. Their resilience has further been proven through their quick adaptation to the changes brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. The collective overcame the obstacles posed, pivoted and presented its first virtual/online season via Zoom in August 2020.
The year-long celebration to mark their tenth anniversary has included launch of their first chapbook of original writings, a 10th Anniversary Go Fund Me initiative (which is still active), the World Premieres of Lionheart: a love letta and an assortment of performances, tributes and recollections.
