In Memory of Professor Locksley Edmondson

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Friday, August 21, 2026—The University of the West Indies (UWI) mourns the passing of Professor Locksley Edmondson, a son of the Caribbean and a luminous scholar whose wisdom and warmth have inspired generations of students, colleagues, and communities across the globe. From 1983 onward, Professor Edmondson illuminated the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University, distinguishing himself as a political scientist deeply engaged with international relations, especially the vital connections between Africa and the Caribbean, and the intricate patterns of race relations throughout the Black World.

Born in Jamaica, Professor Edmondson’s academic journey reflected his boundless curiosity and steadfast dedication to uplifting others. His distinguished path included seven transformative years at the Mona Campus in Jamaica and a significant tenure at the Institute of International Relations at the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad & Tobago. At The UWI, his leadership and mentorship became a guiding light for faculty and students, weaving new threads into the Caribbean’s academic and intellectual tapestry. His administrative brilliance radiated during his time as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mona (1976–1978) and as University Dean of Social Sciences (1978–1980), where he steered academic programmes across Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Bahamas. As Dean, he co-chaired the International Symposium at the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados in 1983 with the late Dr. Perry Mars, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana, which sparked the creation of the Consortium Graduate School for the Social Sciences in the Caribbean in 1985. Led by renowned scholars, Professors Raymond Smith, Donald Harris and Norman Girvan, the school later evolved into the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies in the late 1990s. Through his visionary leadership, Professor Edmondson not only elevated academic standards but also fostered a spirit of regional unity and intellectual exchange that continues to enrich the University today.

Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Edmondson championed Caribbean scholarship with unwavering passion. As a founding member and leader in the Caribbean Studies Association and as President of the African Studies Association of the West Indies, he amplified the region’s voices and perspectives on the global stage. His legacy continues to spark inspiration in Caribbean scholars and advocates everywhere.

Professor Edward Greene, Emeritus Professor, former UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, and colleague, noted: “Professor Locksley Edmondson has left a legacy of path breaking scholarship on Pan African connections—the exact title of a 2017 symposium at Cornell University held in his honour, which attracted a vast array of his former students alongside African, Caribbean and transatlantic scholars. Besides highlighting his profound advocacy for intellectual curiosity and the creative leadership that defines the Caribbean intellectual tradition, the event beautifully portrayed how these attributes converged with his international endeavours in Haiti, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and South Africa.”

Professor Edmondson’s achievements garnered international acclaim, including numerous honours such as the “Distinguished Africanist Award” from the New York African Studies Association. Yet, it is his mentorship, humility, and unwavering belief in the potential of Caribbean and African peoples that The University of the West Indies community will cherish most deeply.

Professor Densil A. Williams, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus, shared: “The UWI and our region have lost an intellectual giant. His legacy of scholarship will remain as his major contribution to advancing our development as a people. Our Mona Campus is proud to have been associated with this brilliant mind.”

Expressing condolences on behalf of the university community, The UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, said, “The great Professor Locksley Edmondson was a powerful pedagogical force in the intellectual decolonisation of the region and The UWI. He was a leader in the curriculum transformation of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mona and beyond. An outstanding scholar in the Pan-African pantheon, he was one of UWI's greatest orators in both classrooms and communities. He was an inspiring intellectual who guided the younger generation, including me as a Mona member. We celebrate his life and legacy as we send blessings to his wife, Elizabeth and all his family.”