– as this year’s host of now annual Mega Emancipation celebrations

ON August 1 when Guyana joins the African diaspora the world over in celebrating the 180th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery, the East Berbice community of Union will be the toast of the Ancient County.
And that’s because, like the village of Gibraltar last year, it has been earmarked this time around to be the venue of a mega event to mark the occasion, simply called a Mega Emancipation Celebration.

Now officially known as Number 53 Village with the advent of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), the name Union was reportedly derived from the word unity, in honour of those slaves who came together and pooled their resources to buy the community, which was once a cotton estate.

According to the hosts, the final touches are currently being put in place to accommodate the thousands of patrons, both local and foreign, who are expected to descend on the Number 53 Sports Complex, where a packed schedule of events is expected to unfold.
Word is that the guest of honour, as always, is President David Granger, whose knowledge of his country’s history is known far and wide. The occasion, the event’s hosts said, will be used to showcase a number of the president’s publications and other scholarly works.
Chairman of the event’s organising committee, Mr Kirk Fraser, told the Guyana Chronicle that patrons will be treated to a fun-filled day of African songs, dance, drumming, foods and culture in addition to art and craft.

The event is expected to kick off at 09:00hrs with what is called, understandably so, a ‘Freedom March’ from Number 49 Village to the Number 53 Sports complex, the venue of the mega event.

The Sports Complex, which was originally built by self-help, has since undergone a number of massive rehabilitative changes.

The march, Mr Fraser said, represents the migration of the slaves from Number 49 Village, where they were previously held captive, to Union, where they relocated after obtaining their freedom.

In addition to the cultural aspect of the programme, the event will see over 65 booths showcasing a number of art and craftwork commonly associated with the African presence, and African-oriented foods, such as your fufu, metemgee, konki, cook-up rice and cassava pone,as well as black pudding and white pudding, among other other delicacies.
Patrons, Mr Fraser said, will have the opportunity to purchase and sample the various mouth-watering fare while being entertained by live African drumming.

The villagers of Union, loosely known as “Congas” because of the assumption that their country of origin is today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa, are said to be the ones who introduced Conga drumming here. The village itself is also regarded as home of the acclaimed ‘Congo Nya Drummers.’
Interestingly enough, the word “Conga” also refers to a type of drum used in Cuba to play folk music.

Said Mr Fraser, “I want to encourage everyone to bring out the entire family, as the day will have something in store for everyone.
“And it is a great opportunity for the youths, especially to learn about our history and culture.”

Union is among few villages in East Berbice-Corentyne with a rich African history and tradition that has been preserved over the years.
In anticipation of the mega event, which is hoped to be used to showcase this to the entire country, massive rehabilitation works were done in the community that will see lots of long-term benefits for the villagers, especially the youths.

Mr Vibert Welch, Chairman of the Number 53 Complex Committee and a resident of the village, said he is proud of what they have been able to put together with grants from the government and assistance from the RDC.

Upgrades were done to the multi-purpose building that houses an ICT hub, library, women’s skills training centre, and is utilised all year round for meetings and entertainment.

Plus, the youths have a place in which to engage in recreational activities and get off the streets, Mr Welch said.
Rehabilitation was also done to the access
road leading to the complex, as well as upgrades to the fence and massive work to the grading, cleaning and levelling of the playfield.

Welch, too, is urging everyone to come out and experience first-hand, real African culture and traditions, and promises that no one will leave without having a great time, while being educated anout their history.