Pearl Connor-Mogotsi

Pearl Connor-Mogotsi
Born
Pearl Cynthia Nunez

(1924-05-13)13 May 1924
Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago
Died11 February 2005(2005-02-11) (aged 80)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Other namesPearl Connor
Alma materRose Bruford College
Occupation(s)Theatrical and literary agent, actress and cultural activist
Spouse(s)Edric Connor (m. 1948; died 1968);
Joe Mogotsi
​
(m. 1971)​
ChildrenPeter Connor; Geraldine Connor

Pearl Connor-Mogotsi, née Nunez (13 May 1924 – 11 February 2005), was a Trinidadian-born theatrical and literary agent, actress and cultural activist, who was a pioneering campaigner for the recognition and promotion of African Caribbean arts.[1] In the UK, in the 1950s, she was the first agent to represent black and other minority ethnic actors, writers and film-makers, and during the early 1960s was instrumental in setting up one of Britain's first black theatre companies, the Negro Theatre Workshop.[1] In the words of John La Rose, who delivered a eulogy at her funeral on 26 February 2005: "Pearl Connor-Mogotsi was pivotal in the effort to remake the landscape for innovation and for the inclusion of African, Caribbean and Asian artists in shaping a new vision of consciousness for art and society."[2][3]

  1. ^ a b Stephen Bourne, "Pearl Connor-Mogotsi – Trailblazer for African Caribbean arts in the UK" (obituary), The Independent, 14 February 2005.
  2. ^ Quoted in Leela Ramdeen, "‘Last lap’ in London" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago), 4 October 2007.
  3. ^ John La Rose, "Eulogy for Pearl Connor-Mogotsi" Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Caribia Digest, 2005.