President of Konmité Pou Etid Kwéyol (KEK) and former Chief Cultural Officer, Raymond Lawrence, has expressed deep sadness following the death of cultural icon, Sonia Lloyd.
Lloyd, a resident of Kingshill who recently passed away, was described as a true cultural icon and an outstanding folklorist and cultural personality.
“She had a great passion and love for Dominica’s culture, especially folk music and our beautiful Creole wear,” Lawrence said.
Lloyd was also described as a “very prolific” composer of Dominica folk songs and she won the Independence Creole Song competition on more than one occasion.
He said she was known in the cultural arena as a composer of Dominican folk music and promoter of Dominican cultural wear.
“Sonia was very instrumental in the research and documentation of Dominica’s first Creole dictionary spearheaded by KEK,” he stated. “She also helped with the ongoing compilation work for KEK’s new Creole dictionary.”
According to Lawrence, with the assistance of the cultural division, Lloyd recorded an album of about eight of her folk songs.
He also remembers her as being a deeply spiritual person, a very staunch Catholic with a kind, friendly and easy-going disposition and personality.
On behalf of the Konmité Pou Etid Kwéyol, Lawrence expressed heartfelt condolences to Lloyd’s family, friends and the cultural community in Dominica.
“Sonia Lloyd will definitely be missed, but her music, her teaching career and important contribution to Creole language development will always remain part of her wonderful and outstanding legacy,” Lawrence noted. “May her soul rest in eternal peace.”
The late Sonia Lloyd received the Cultural Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the preservation and promotion of Dominica’s folk music and language on November 3rd, 2014
She had been involved in culture from the 1960’s; she made her debut as a folk singer, in the National Day Creole Song category. In 1999, the Division of Culture funded the production of a compact disc with a number of Lloyd’s songs from the National Creole Song competitions.
In 1999, she received a special recognition award from the National Cultural Council for her contribution to cultural development in the field of folk music. In 2004, Lloyd was the recipient of the prestigious Golden Drum Award for her contribution to culture in Dominica.
She was also a teacher at the St. Martin’s Primary School for a number of years. While there, she formed a Creole song group of children who went on to win several Creole song competitions.
She was a member of KEK from its inception in 1981 up until her passing.
My sincere condolences to the Lloyd family and her extended family. Sonia taught us all in one way or the other; teaching songs, teaching in school or teaching us to be kind to each other. But always done with a smile. She will be missed indeed.
I am just learning Of Ms Sonia Lloyds Passing.. Great Lady through and through,,.
I remember her as being one of the BESTEST teachers in St martin School, caring, supportive but strict. I had the privilege of being one of her students,..
Rest in Eternal Peace Ms Lloyd.. such a sweet Soul..
Rest in paradise Sonia
My condolences to Ms. Lloyd’s family. She was such an icon in Dominica. She will be missed but her beautiful songs will live on.
It would be fantastic if Sonia Lloyd could be named after one of our cultural building for her exceptional and successful contribution to Dominica cultural heritage 😉.
Would be great then consider Olivacee who contributed so much and the Calderon and more even Lennox Honeychurch and Raymond Lawrence….they all are great.
I’ve always found Miss Lloyd a fascinating person. I always enjoyed listening to her creole songs . Her contribution to Creole culture was indubitably extraordinary. May her bereaved loved ones find peace comfort and strength in Jesus.
You meant it the other way around I suppose:: that a cultural building be named after her.