RE: Efebo

2013-Jan-31-0916Hrs

My Fellow Mausicans,

Have a good day. Talk with you later.

Rodney Foster

"EFEBO

It’s a pleasure to recommend Lester Efebo Wilkinson as a Mausican graduate whose life has influenced significantly his community. From Tunapuna, his birth place, Malabar RC,  Mausica  Village, the Caricom  countries, Cuba and the United States, Efebo has been a cultural ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago.

I first met Lester in 1966 when we were students at Mausica Teachers College, a residential, teacher-training institution in Mausica, Trinidad. There were two hundred and twenty students on campus.

Back then it was quite common for someone to have several nicknames. The Principal, Harry Joseph,  “De Joe”, called Lester, “Wilkie”;  some fellas called him “Blondie” because of a gold patch, the size of a fifty-cent piece, that he had in his reddish hair; the girls, with music in their voices, called him “Lester”. All three names were words of endearment because he was a favorite.  Lester excelled in all areas of campus life: academics and extra-curricula activities: football, basketball, music and “chess”. In 1967, he won the Road March competition with ”Ten Dollar Fine”. In 1968, his rendition of “Play Mas”  earned him the Calypso King crown. Upon graduating he lived the Mausica motto:  “ Moulding A Nation Through Service”.

Today, my Havenite Brother is widely known as “Efebo”. In 1970, during the Black Power revolution in Trinidad, Lester was detained, incarcerated for six months. A transformation occurred. His Black Brothers called him Mwalimu Efebo. Mwalimu means “teacher”. Not even a temporary detention on Nelson Island could deter Teacher Efebo from his life’s mission or obscure his vision for his beloved Trinidad and Tobago. He longed to showcase the culture of TNT. Efebo is a poet, playwright, stage director, dramaturge, mentor, diplomat and Lecturer in Theatre Arts at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  In December 2011, while lecturing part-time, Efebo completed his doctoral thesis: “Public Policy and Management and Culture and The Arts In Post-Independent Trinidad and Tobago: A Crisis of Concept, Value and Incremental Indifference”.

I asked Efebo, “What is your greatest accomplishment?”

After reflecting for a few moments, Efebo  responded, “ My wife, Lucille, and I have raised two beautiful, successful, well-mannered,  decent and God-fearing daughters, Karma-Leigh and Dara-Makida.”

Space does not permit me to list all of Efebo’s achievements, awards and his contributions to the communities he has touched. Therefore, I encourage you to google “Lester Efebo Wilkinson” and discover what great things he has done. Then you too will shout, “Well done Dr. Efebo, My Mausican Brother.”

Rodney Foster, 1966-68."