Fabian M Thomas and Tribe Sankofa Host Screening of Final Cut of ‘Hair So’ Documentary in Jamaica

Founder/Artistic Director Fabian M Thomas and Tribe Sankofa, a performing arts collective of multi-talented and eclectic performers will host the World Premiere screening of their documentary Hair So: Black Hair, here in Jamaica on April 22, 2024. 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 in-person screening will take place at Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (JAMPRO) Training Room on Trafalgar Road, Kingston. Tickets are available at Bookophilia.

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.

In addition to ‘going into my own pocket’, Thomas is grateful for supporters of Tribe Sankofa 10th Anniversary GoFundMe campaign and their main sponsor Locsanity, a Jamaican-owned loc and personal care brand in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He will be collaborating with The Advocates Network on a national tour later this year.