THE LEGACY OF LORNA C. HILL

LORNA PHOTO sepia (1).jpg — **Lorna C. Hill**

**Founder and Artistic Director, Ujima Company, Inc.**
Lorna C. Hill (June 25, 1951 – June 30, 2020) was a visionary artist, director, playwright, poet, and activist whose extraordinary contributions to Buffalo’s cultural landscape continue to inspire and uplift the community. As the founder and Artistic Director of **Ujima Theatre Company**, she dedicated over 41 years to cultivating a dynamic space for the artistic expression and empowerment of African American voices, both on stage and in the community.
Born in Mount Vernon, NY, and raised in a family deeply rooted in cultural pride and social justice, Lorna's artistic journey was shaped by her unwavering commitment to storytelling as a means of provoking thought, inciting change, and fostering connection. In 1978, she founded Ujima Theatre Company with a clear mission: to create a thriving environment that celebrated diversity, nurtured emerging artists, and brought socially relevant and transformative theater to Buffalo’s audiences. Under her leadership, Ujima became a pillar of the city's artistic community, recognized locally and nationally for its innovative and thought-provoking productions.
Lorna’s commitment to the principles of **Ujima**—"collective work and responsibility"—was evident not only in her artistic leadership but also in her dedication to mentorship and the advancement of young, diverse talent. Her work inspired countless artists, including actors, directors, and playwrights, who continue to carry her legacy forward. She built Ujima into a place where creativity and activism converged, where theater was used as a tool for community empowerment and social justice.
Her accolades are a testament to her artistry and impact. Lorna received numerous awards, including the prestigious **Associated Press Award** for her production of *Uncrowned Queens: Voices of African American Women* and the **Otto Award** for her innovative contributions to socially challenging theater. She was known for pushing creative boundaries, cultivating inclusive spaces for performance, and addressing crucial societal issues through powerful storytelling.
Beyond her artistic accomplishments, Lorna was a beloved figure in the Buffalo community. Her work transcended the theater, touching lives through her activism, mentorship, and commitment to social equity. She was a cherished mother to Amilcar Hill and Curtis Lovell, a doting grandmother to Asa Hill and Solace Hill, and a beloved sister, aunt, and friend. Lorna’s enduring relationships with individuals such as Rahwa Ghirmatzion, Bob Ball, and the Ujima Company members, who remained close to her from 1978 until her passing, reflected the depth of her care and the sense of family she built within the theater community.
Through her profound impact on Ujima Theatre and the Buffalo arts scene, Lorna C. Hill’s legacy lives on, not only in the work of the artists she mentored but in the transformative power of theater itself. Her unwavering dedication to social justice, creative expression, and community engagement continues to inspire all who had the privilege of working with her. Ujima Theatre Company remains a living testament to her vision of collective creativity and the power of art to change lives.

09.10.2024

Lorna is inducted into WNY Entertainment Hall of Fame

Watch the 2024 Induction Ceremony

Lorna’s legacy is honored in her induction into the WNY Entertainment Hall of Fame alongside Patrick Fagan, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Albert Nocciolino for their contributions to the arts.

The WNY Entertainment Hall of Fame was first established by the Shea’s Board of Trustees in 1987, inducting sixteen iconic Western New York performers between 1989 and 2003, and was reintroduced after a 21-year hiatus.

"...and everyone in my world loved me despite the fact that I was not truly of them. I was rich."

This is the last line of “Geronimo”, from Lorna’s one-woman show, Yalla Bitch. A line that is quintessentially Lorna C. Hill, a beacon of love and light for the 69 years she shared the grounds of this earth with us, that love, that light was reflected right back to her.

Lorna had an amazing talent of deeply and purposefully connecting with people. When she cared for you as a member of her community, a member of her family, you created a bond that was unique to just the two of you. As those who remain to steward our communities, we must hold on to this simple but powerful tool of deep and purposeful connection. Lorna left us all with the charge to take care of one another and that is what Ujima Company is doing.

We will put love and justice at the forefront of all that we do. We will build our beloved community. We will utilize the powerful and beautiful tool that is the performing arts to tell the stories that need to be told.

It is no surprise that Lorna’s impact has rippled out far and wide. She will always be a force in our lives.

~ The Ujima Family