Estella Conwill Májozo, Ph.D.

 

      Estella Conwill Májozo is a Professor of English at the University of Louisville. Her books include Jiva Telling Rites (Third World Press, 1991); Libation: A Literary Pilgrimage through the African American Soul (Harlem River Press, 1991); Come Out the Wilderness: Memoir by a Black Woman Artist (The Feminist Press at CUNY, 1999); and Middle Passage: 105 Days (Africa World Press, 2002).  Her plays include Freedom Clothes: The Saga of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn on the Underground Railroad (Kentucky Heritage Council/Kentucky African Heritage Commission Grant 2002); and Ringshout the Route which has been developed into a National Rite of Initiation into African American Culture. 

 

Her commissioned public art monuments (with her Brother, Houston Conwill, and architect Joseph DePace) include Revelation: Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Memorial at Yerba Buena Garden, San Francisco (cited by  Ebony Magazine as the most unique of all the King Monuments); Rivers: Langston Hughes Memorial at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture--a Cosmogram under which lies the ashes of poet, Langston Hughes (recognized by the Excellence in Design Award, Art Commission of New York);  The Stations Project at The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University (selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of the best projects in the nation 1993);  and The New Ringshout: Memorial Tribute to African Burial Ground in the Federal Building, New York City.

 

Honors also include “Salute to the Seven Sisters, Pleiades Award” (2006); J. T. Stewart Literary Award at Hedgebrook (2000).  Distinguished Alumni Fellow, University of Louisville, (1999).

 

 

My Vitae

 

 

Books:

                                                               

 

                                                Come On Up to Bright Glory. Notre Dame: Cross Cultural Publications, 2001.

 

Come Out The Wilderness.  New York: The Feminist Press, 1999.  

                               

Jiva Telling Rites. Chicago: Third World Press, 1991.

 

Libation: A Literary Pilgrimage through the African- American Soul.

New York: Readers and Writers Press, 1991.

 

Middle Passage: 105 Days, Africa World Press, 2002.

 

 

 

 

Selected Plays and Performances:  

                                    

                                    1.         “Freedom Clothes:  The Saga of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn on the Underground

                                                            Railroad” (Kentucky Heritage Council/Kentucky African Heritage Commission Grant 2002)

                 

2.         “Litany for Langston Hughes” (Opening Performance by Toni Morrison and Chorus at the dedication of “Rivers”         at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City).

 

3.         “Little Africa Traveling Exhibit Performed as part of the 30th year anniversary                                                                  

                                                            Celebration of Pan-African Studies—at Central High School 2004.

                                                           

                        ---.Performed as part of the 50th Anniversary of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  (written and performed)                                     2003.

                                                                       

                                    4.         “Middle Passage : 105 Days” Performed by Lundeana Thomas, with discussion by Majozo                                                                                          at African Literature Association 28th Annual Conference, University of California –

                                                            San Diego, April 3-7, 2002.

                             

                                                ---.Performed by Lundeana Thomas at the African American Theatre Program’s 6th Juneteenth Festival at the                                                             University of Louisville, Kentucky. 2002.

 

                                                ---.Performed by Estella Conwill Majozo at the University of South Carolina, Columbia                                                                                                       South Carolina, March 2003.

 

5.                  “Purgatory” (Choreographed by Urban Bush Women’s Robin Wilson) at the Kentucky Theatre   

                                                          (Kentucky Arts Council and Kentucky Foundation for Woman Grants).

 

                                                ---.(Stage Reading by Next Stage, Boston Massachusetts).

 

                                     6.        “Ringshout the Route: A National Rite of Initiation into African American Culture”                                            

                                                            Xavier University’s Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Notre Dame University

                                                            Summer, 2006.

 

                                                ---.“Ringshout the Route” National Black Family Conference, (University of Louisville) March 2004.

 

                                                ---.Performed by Lundeana Thomas at the African American Theatre Program’s 5th Juneteenth Festival,                                                                       University of Louisville, Summer 2000.

 

             7.        “Steps to The City: Rite of Peace” in collaboration with Priscilla Hancock Cooper at the historical Sixteenth Street                           

                                    Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama, September, 2002.  

 

8.                  “The Dance Goes On.” Performed with Amelia Blossom Pegram, Earbie Johnson, and Patrice Sales Lowe at

The University of Ohio, The University of Kentucky, Centre College, and other sites. (Kentucky Humanities Council Grant and Kentucky Arts Council Grant).