R.I.P. Ian Ali
Nico on Aug 19 2007 at 9:00 am | Filed under: R.I.P.
Ian Ali, Trinidadian television personality, artist and teacher, has died at the age of 70.
VETERAN local television personality, artist and teacher Ian Ali has died. The 70-year-old Ali who was known to many people as “Uncle Ian†on the now defunct Rikki Tikki show which was aired locally during the 1980s, died of heart failure yesterday at Westshore Medical Centre in, Cocorite.
… In a statement yesterday, Ali’s family said, he had been “a vital part of the canvas of Trinidad and Tobago’s art and culture†for the last 40 years.
Ali was best known for his work on TTT’s Rikki Tikki show for his unique form of story-telling through sketches on large blackboards. Rikki Tikki was one of the very first local children’s televison shows.
…His disciplines included painting, sculpture, design, fabric work, jewelry, pottery, commercial art and illustrating. Ali lectured at the Government Training College for teachers, UWI summer schools and the Ministry of Culture. He was a teacher at the Point Fortin Secondary and St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School. Ali’s work was also evident in the development of Carnival designs over the years.
Ian Ali was the father of Tammy Ali-Burrows and father-in-law of our President, David Burrows. Members of Ringplay got the chance to meet him last fall at CARIFESTA IX, when he attended our production of You Can Lead a Horse to Water. Raw footage of an interview with him about the show remains in our files.
Tammy is currently in Trinidad and Tobago with her family.
Our condolences go out Tammy, David and Liam, and to all the Ali family in TT.
[...] Ringplay Productions and Now is Wow acknowledge the passing of television personality, artist and educator, Ian Ali. Share This [...]
Remembering TTT’s Rikki Tikki show brings back fond memories of my childhood. It was my favourite program and Ian Ali was a brilliant presenter. He captivated my attention and I can honestly say I learned a thing or two from the program, to which I can remember to this day. He is now off to a better place, may God bless his soul and his family.