PROFESSOR Emeritus Gordon Rohlehr, 80, died on Sunday, provoking a flood of tributes from many sectors of society hailing his scholarship of West Indian popular culture, especially calypso music.
Judy Raymond, Newsday editorial consultant, in an online tribute said, "RIP, Professor Gordon Rohlehr. Calypso scholar, critic, essayist, teacher, lovely man."
Gillian Moor, singer, said, "Farewell to the beautiful Dr Gordon Rohlehr. Thank you for your genius, your vision, your conversation, laughter, and your heart.
"Our deepest sympathies to the Rohlehr family. People, we've lost a giant."
Last September, when Rohlehr received a Chaconia silver medal for his teaching West Indian Literature at UWI, the Office of the President of the Republic of TT hailed his work.
“He pioneered the academic study of calypso and traced its historical development and social relevance,” the President’s office said. “He has researched and authored many ground-breaking publications on the social, historical, linguistic and political currents under girding Caribbean reality and is considered to be a leading authority on calypso and Caribbean culture.”
President Paula-Mae Weekes, as Chancellor of UWI, on Monday extended her condolences, recalling his 2022 national award in the spheres of Literature, Culture, History and Education.
Weekes, in her condolences, said Rohlehr had designed and taught UWI's first course in West Indian Literature.
She quoted his national award citation.
"His conviction was that literature had a fundamental role to play in developing adequate self-awareness, without prejudice to the requirements of the wider world. His publications demonstrate insight, critical awareness and consciousness of the integration of the many social, historical, linguistic and political currents undergirding Caribbean reality.
"He has traced calypso's historical development and social relevance and has explored issues such as masculinity and gender long before these terms gained currency."
UWI Prof Emeritus Kenneth Ramchand in an online tribute said, "Shocking and grievous. I am trembling. We had a long and impactful working relationship in The Department of Literatures in English." Ramchand recalled their mutual respect and the meshing of their different skills.
"He was cool. In the English corridors we had epic conversations, balancing securely on humour, irony and despair, about life, literature, calypso, politics and cricket.
"Condolences to his family, his friends and colleagues, and to the thousands of students, teachers, and professors who loved and enjoyed his teaching and writing, and were warmed by his embracing presence. I already miss your being at the other end, Gordon. It never crossed my mind that either of us could lose our wicket."
UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor and principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, in a release, remarked that Rohlehr's “legacy is carried in the students he nurtured at the St Augustine Campus through conversation and intense enquiry. His former students and those who thronged
