Oriki for Robert Farris Thompson

When Henry John Drewal was invited to write a praise piece for university professor Robert Farris Thompson for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of African Arts, he soon realized it was beyond his body-mind-heart, because Bob himself is larger than life, a person who has touched and inspired so many folks in so many walks of life and thought. So Drewal contacted his dear friend and colleague C. Daniel Dawson, who may know Bob better than anyone, as well as Bob's immense circle of admirers. Drewal proposed that they solicit a variety of perspectives from the worldwide Master T "posse" and create a "posse praise poem" in his honor. Here, Drewal shares his tribute to Thompson.