The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) yesterday launched its 16th annual Emancipation Day celebrations to mark the 174th anniversary of the end of slavery.
The celebrations will be observed under the theme “Reclaiming Our Rights through Unified Purpose,” with the feature event to mark the day taking place in the National Park on August 1st.
At the launch at ACDA’s headquarters at Thomas Lands, executive Eric Phillips explained that this year’s theme was chosen in recognition of the global theme used to celebrate the United Nations International Year for People of African Descent last year and the impending United Nations Decade for People of African Descent, running from 2013 to 2022.
ACDA’s Violet Jean-Baptiste noted that Emancipation Day is not only for African Guyanese, but for all Guyanese, who she encouraged to come out and be part of the celebrations.
A series of events around the country are planned as part of this year’s celebrations. Celebrations will commence on July 18 and run until August 1 and will feature international groups from Suriname, Jamaica and Barbados. Activities such as sports, face painting, food booths, a candlelight vigil, the Ms African Renaissance pageant and fashion displays are among those planned.
Hopetown, on the West Coast of Berbice, has been selected as this year’s Emancipation Village, where activities are planned to acknowledge the post-Emancipation entrepreneurial achievements of freed men and women.
In addition to recognising a local village, a country in Africa where slaves were brought from is also recognised to familiarise persons about the countries where their ancestors originated. This year, Uganda will be featured through information sessions and pictures.
