Leonie Forbes: What a journey!

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Precious few people are conscious enough to realise where they are, when they are. And that is true at this juncture of Jamaica's unfolding history, as there are those who, rather than embrace their roles as witnesses to our history, or as players in that unfolding history, are too busy looking elsewhere for solutions to appreciate where we are as a people, and the impact of national, international events, on our nationals, in our continuing trek in carving out our unique pride of place in the pantheons of great nations and people.

This generation has been particularly blessed in that it has had the rare privilege of living in an era when history is not only been made, but also and more important, this generation is witnessing and sharing in building that foundation, as well as having the distinct privilege of being friends and/or neighbours with some of our trailblazers, charting that path, that when the history of this period shall have been written, some would have earned a footnote rather than being invisible bystanders.

Indeed, while some are unwitting bystanders, there are many who have dedicated their lives to honing their particular craft and or skill, that has so set them apart from their fellow travellers, as they by their own effort and commitment have not only excelled in their chosen fields, but in excelling have earned the respect and admiration of their countrymen, and brought fame and recognition to their homeland because of their individual effort, have earned the moniker of legend.

My dears, to say there are indeed legends, living among us, is perhaps the most under-reported truth of our era. Indeed, as a people, we have come to take each other and our accomplishments for granted, and where we do not, we are busy actively seeking to undermine and/or diminish the import and/or contribution of nation builders and/or contributors due to our own insecurities and/or social and or political malfeasance.

Alas, there's no denying the contribution of those who have distinguished themselves and one such Jamaican - a living legend - is the iconic Leonie Forbes, first lady of stage, screen, theatre, radio, television and elocutionist of the exemplary order who, for decades, was synonymous with professional distinction and service.

Well after a life spent in front of the camera and/or on stage perfecting her art form, Leonie Forbes Harvey has, in more recent years, opted for a life away from the spotlight. She did not, however, go silently into the night to wilt. Instead, she opted to do what very few of our leading personalities have done, and that is the recording of her journey into posterity,
for others to be able to absorb, dissect, and use either as a teaching
module and/or individual inspiration!

Indeed, Leonie
Forbes has been the quintessential trailblazer, the little girl from the
country who has gone where no other country girl dared go before -
professionally, intellectually, and socially - daring to be different
along the way, but yet remaining true to herself and her core values,
and in so doing, maintaining her status as a torch-bearing exemplar and
icon. And failure by her and/or her coterie of friends and/or supporters
to record her journey would have been tantamount to an act of cultural
matricide.

Mercifully my dears, this was not to be, as
the erudite Professor Mervyn Morris, and Member of Parliament Mike
Henry and wife Dawn Chambers Henry of LMH Publishers stepped in as
author and publishers, in that order, to bring to fruition the story of
Leonie Forbes Harvey, in a fabulous paperback, titled Leonie:
Her Autobiography, Leonie Forbes as told to Mervyn
Morris.

Dears, a timely and spirited
literary intervention that is as easy on the eye in its beautiful full
colour portrait of the media and stage doyenne that makes for an equally
interesting read, serving as part chronicler of a journey
well-travelled and anecdotal reveries providing an insight into an era, a
cultural introspective and compendium that is a delight in which to
participate by way of reading.

Indeed, the launch,
hosted last Sunday, fittingly a the Little Theatre, over there on Tom
Redcam Avenue after being postponed from the previous Sunday due to the
threat of severe inclement weather. And it was quite the do, as it was a
cultural odyssey of the finest order, with readings, songs, drumming,
dance and drama and a video montage in tribute, with Elaine Wint being
the compère, and luvs, she "took it to them".

Dears,
talk about a beautiful Sunday morning. Well this was one, made that much
more fab, as this was an occasion to laud and celebrate one of our
living legends and icons at Jamaica's centre for artistic, cultural and
literary excellence, and what better place to launch the autobiography
of the esteemed Leonie Forbes!

Among those out
celebrating the launch were the custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller; the
esteemed Alma Mock-Yen; Mrs Muriel Amiel, a few months shy of her
hundredth birthday; MP Mike Henry and wife Mrs Dawn Chambers Henry; MP
Babsy Grange; Former Senator and Security Minister Dwight Nelson;
Ambassador Cliff Stone and his lovely wife, Mrs Joan Stone; Seragh and
Effie Lakasingh; Eddie Shoucair; Jennifer Lim; legal luminary Harold
Brady; Bindley Sangster; the regal Moveta Munroe; Evon Williams; style
maven Carmen Brown; Lennie Little-White; the fab Pauline Stone-Myrie;
Tony Patel; Soprano Carole Reid; Alwyn Scott and his fab wife Donna
Duncan-Scott and their children; Colin Leslie; R. Christene King; Dr
Hopeton Dunn and wife, Dr Leith Dunn; Wayne Chen and wife, Dr Diana
Thorburn Chen and their children; the charmingly lovely Jean Jones;
Clyde McKenzie; the fabulous Neita girls siblings, Karen and Michelle
Neita; Owen and Denise James; Jasmine Coley; Arthur McKenley; the
fabulously preggers, Reneé Rattary, who according to the vine, is
expecting twins; Joel Williams; Kenneth Davis; Kay. Sean Harris; the
charming Daphney Taylor; Enid Harrow; Andrew Henry; the fab Charl Baker,
out on her birthday; Audrey Martin; Yvette Chambers-Anderson; Clement
Watson; Nicole Chamberlain; Kim Walcott; Yvonne Coke; leading theatre
and media personalities: Ed Wallace; King of Comedy Oliver Samuels; Fae
Ellington; Trevor Nairne; Ruth Ho-Shing; Basil Dawkins; the exciting
Deon Silvera; Glen Campbell; Michael Nicholson; Cecile Burrowes; Aston
Cooke; the fab Nadean Rawlings; Christopher Daley; Ainsley White; and
the stunning Mijanne Webster; plus several scores of
others.