Tribute to Julia Edwards

I am greatly saddened she passed far from her homeland, but it could not have been helped because she had been ailing for some time and her family took her where she could have better care.

Let us not have to lament that another icon has gone and there is no appreciation or care for their legacy.

Julia Edwards passed numerous milestones in her career. And she lived in the company of several other artistes who were important to TT . She was born in 1933 and by age 15 was dancing with Boscoe Holder, later on with his brother Geoffrey.

Holly Betaudier had a great influence on her life and it is said he was the first person to have encouraged her to dance.

After the Holders left Trinidad she started her own troupe, performing at the most popular shows and nightspots in Trinidad in those early years.

For those who may not know, she was engaged to perform in the 1957 American movie Fire Down Below after she was seen doing the limbo at the famous Miramar night club.

That movie was made in Trinidad and featured Rita Hayworth, Robert Mitchum and Jack Lemmon, as well as the great Trinidadian singer and actor Edric Connor. Julia did the choreography for Haywood’s dances and performed in scenes of the film.

People should try and see the movie because Edwards’ dancing was so infectious. She was later featured on the Ed Sullivan Show in the US. She got several offers to move overseas but made Trinidad her base. From here she travelled all over the world.

She developed the flaming limbo and included it in performances such as at the opening of Queen’s Hall. That particular type of performance put limbo on the map and made Trinidad “The Land of Calypso, Steel Pan and Limbo.” The late Chief Servant Makandal Daaga had said that “to recognise or honour the artist is in itself an act of national salvation.” And that is a position held by the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) from its inception. The list of awards (always with a financial component) that NJAC offered is an example of the regard the country should give to artistes.

In her earlier years Edwards received one of the first Pegasus Awards when Daaga (then Geddes Granger) was executive director.

She was one of the awardees together with Beryl Mc Burnie, Ellie Mannette, Derek Walcott, Slinger Francisco (Sparrow), Ken Morris, Carlisle Chang, Earl Lovelace, Errol Hill, and CLR James.

Up to that time there were no national awards given in TT .

Edwards appeared on several events promoted by NJAC and the National Action Cultural Committee (NACC).

She was also honoured at the Magnificent Seven, a NACC programme which presented accolades to seven artistes from different disciplines for their long-standing contributions to their respective art form. The first Magnificent Seven were Edwards, Hendren Boucaud, Frankie Francis, Fitzgerald Henry (Mighty Terror), Victor Springer (Mighty Viking), Clifton Ryan (Bomber), and Aldric Farrel (Pretender).

Now that Julia Edwards is no longer with us, may we honour her contribution to TT appropriately.

AIYEGORO OME Mt Lambert