THE African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) newly-constructed  Akwaaba Centre at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, came alive yesterday with a culturally rich and

inspirational  forum – the launch of  Emancipation 2013 observances, being held under the theme:  “Honouring our Heroes of 1823”.
The forum, staged by ACDA, brought together a large gathering of  enthusiastic and culturally conscious people, with a commitment to, not only making  Emancipation observances a success, but also raising the level of consciousness of Pre-and Post-Emancipation issues.
ACDA is proud to announce that it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and will also be hosting its 19th Emancipation  Day Festival  at the National Park on Freedom Day, August 1, 2013.

SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARIES
ACDA’s Eric Phillips, addressing the forum, noted that  Emancipation 2013 is a very special event, since it coincides with the 175th anniversary of Emancipation in 1838, while also being the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Rebellion which gave Guyana its national hero, Cuffy.
Moreover, it is significant that Emancipation 2013 falls on the 190th anniversary of the Demerara Rebellion which was staged in 1823.
Of the Emancipation 2013 theme, Phillips said, “The theme was chosen  in recognition of the indomitable spirit of  our ancestors to demand justice and their human rights by any means possible.”

HONOURING AN AFRICAN COUNTRY
As is traditional, he said, ACDA honours an African country at  every Emancipation Day Festival, by building an educational booth for that country. The country to be honoured this year is Mali, West Africa, home of the world famous Timbuktu Libraries and Africa’s most mystical tribe, the Dogons.
ACDA has undertaken to celebrate an African country each year, because most Guyanese of African descent cannot trace their ancestral roots to a particular African nation.  Through the educational booth, young and old are educated about  African countries, a timely reminder to them that Africa has 54 countries and is not a single country such as China or India or the United States of  America.

HONOURING AFRICAN-GUYANESE VILLAGE
Meanwhile, the African-Guyanese village to be honoured  by ACDA  for African Emancipation this year is Farm Village, East Bank Essequibo, bought by 23 freed men and women. Purchased in 1887, it was the last African Village bought by the freed people.  ACDA has been able to identify an elder citizen at Farm, who speaks Congolese, Mr. Phillips said, indicating that the village was bought by Africans who had roots in the Congo.
He alluded to what was referred to as the ‘Village Movement’, which started in 1839, and is considered one of the greatest entrepreneurial acts by freed Africans.  Under this movement, Africans combined their resources to buy villages so that they did not have to one day return to plantation life and cheap punitive labour, he said.  In effect, it gave them a sense of independence, and moreover contributed in no small measure to their feelings of dignity and self-worth.

EMANCIPATION  FESTIVAL  2013
Phillips, who confidently stated  that this year’s Emancipation Festival will be celebrated in a big way, unveiled an exciting programme of activities leading up to the festival which is expected to attract thousands, drawn from all regions of Guyana as well as other  countries.
Meanwhile, Executive member Mrs. Violette Jean-Baptiste indicated that efforts are being made by ACDA to bring in artistes from as far as Ethiopia, to be part of the festivities.
Other speakers included at the launching forum included  Sister Penda Guyana; Mr. Johnny Barnwell who gave an outline of sporting activities to be undertaken throughout the season; Dr. Rudi Guyan and representatives of both DIGICEL and GT&T – proud sponsors of the 2013 Emancipation Festival.   Prayers were offered by Bishop Andrew Irving.
The programme was also spiced with spirited African drumming and dancing and poems by young sisters and brothers of the African Diaspora.