the UWI

UWI graduate Dr Archie Hudson Phillips had a simple answer to how carnival emerged at the University College of the West Indies (UCWI), now UWI, in the mid-1950s: It was coming up to Ash Wednesday and the southern Caribbean students said – “Le’ Wi Play Mas!”
And that is the title of our new cameo exhibition, mounted now in honour of UWI Carnival which has migrated into the Lenten period and is this year celebrated at the UWI’s founding Mona campus from March 10 – 14. At Cave Hill, the dates are March 20 – 26.

The month of February has attracted many designations, Black History Month not the least. So perhaps it’s appropriate that this is the month when the University of the West Indies (UWI), whose motto proclaims it ‘A Light Rising in the West’, commemorates its existence. The university opened its doors to students from across the Caribbean region, in 1948.
UWI Commemoration Day has been February 16 since the then University College installed its first Chancellor on that day in 1950. Recently, the celebration has grown to a Homecoming Week, this year celebrated early February.