KEDISHA THOMAS is about to embark on an exciting new experience as an artist.
She’s been selected to perform at the Bridgetown International Arts Festival (TBIAF) in March, an annual event that not only celebrates Barbados' rich cultural heritage but also gives regional creatives a platform to showcase their talents.
An actor with the Tobago Performing Arts Company (TPAC), Thomas said the week-long event is also intended to promote meaningful cultural exchange and strengthen the artistic fabric of the Caribbean.
She said a key component of the festival is the Orator’s Experience, which focuses on oral performance artists, poets, theatre practitioners, storytellers and griots who embody the spoken word traditions.
“This space not only honours the power of the oral narrative but also amplifies voices that challenge, inspire, and transform,” Thomas, 30, told WMN on February 26.
At the TBIAF, the artist will present her original work of spoken word, which she describes as an “unapologetic, high-energy performance that speaks truth to power.”
[caption id="attachment_1143094" align="alignnone" width="640"] Kedisha Thomas fully embraced drama at her alma mater St Augustine Secondary School. -[/caption]
Thomas said for now the details of her presentation will be kept under wraps.
But she assured, “I’ll be spitting fire behind the mic, delivering a performance rooted in passion and cultural resonance.”
She said it was an honour to be chosen to perform in Bridgetown.
“It is a privilege to represent the depth and richness of Trinbagonian storytelling in a space that celebrates cultural expression.”
In the meantime, Thomas is focussed on refining her presentation.
“I believe there is always room for deeper exploration. My goal is to ensure that every moment on stage is intentional and powerful. As I continue fine-tuning my performance, I remain committed to delivering a spoken word that is polished, evocative and worthy of the platform I have been given.”
Thomas is best remembered for her compelling role as Justina, the dutiful, domesticated yet scorned wife of Samuel William Blondell, in the TPAC’s first major production of the acclaimed Dr Lester Efebo Wilkinson play, Bitter Cassava. It was held at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands, in April 2022.
Sharing the spotlight with Dwayne White Jr (who played her husband), Akinlabi Holder and other talented actors in the cast, Thomas said the role was one of her most fulfilling to date.
[caption id="attachment_1143093" align="alignnone" width="923"] Kedisha Thomas regards Tobago as being “a transformative chapter” in her artistic journey. -[/caption]
“It demanded emotional depth and raw authenticity. Justina embodied the silent struggles of many women, bearing the weight of community judgment while lacking its defence. Her journey forced her to confront a reality she long ignored, only acknowledging it when public humiliation made her the village’s focal point.”
Portraying Justina, she said, allowed her to unearth a deep messag
