A cocktail reception was held on Tuesday June 7th at the Anguilla Great House for comedian, television and film actor Stogie Kenyatta, before he graced the stage on Wednesday June 8th to perform his award-winning One Man Broadway Show – “The World is My Home: The Life and Times of Paul Robeson”.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Mrs. Chanelle Petty Barrett, officially welcomed Mr. Kenyatta, his family and crew to Anguilla. She said: “On behalf of the people and Government of Anguilla, welcome to our shores. We believe that your presence here will serve as an inspiration to many others as we have many aspiring performers and a vast array of talent in this country”.
Kenyatta expressed profound gratitude to those gathered and for the opportunity to perform in Anguilla. He said: “It’s an honour because the show has toured 11 countries – over 350 performances. Robeson is proof that one person can make a tremendous difference”. He presented posters to Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Manager of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus British Overseas Territories (BOT) Sites, and to Mrs. Mona Fleming of Sunshine Theatre.
The play which was written and performed by Kenyatta is the number one touring One Man Show in the United States, the Caribbean and Central Africa. The show which depicts the life of the renowned human rights activist, singer, lawyer and athlete, Paul Robeson, showcases and highlights the friends and other associates of Robeson who contributed to the cultural movement known as the Harlem Renaissance. According to Kenyatta’s website, “the play is a tribute to the legacy of a tortured genius who was so ahead of his time, he lived several lives filled with triumph and tragedy”.
Kenyatta, who was born in Jamaica and raised in New York, has won several awards, including the NAACP’s Best One Person Show Award for the show. He recently performed in Antigua and Montserrat to sold out crowds.
The show’s staging in Anguilla was made possible through collaboration among the University of the West Indies Open Campus, Sunshine Theatre and the Department of Youth and Culture.
