By Wendella Davidson

EVEN though Veronica Lacon and Maureen John were tired, having arrived in the country from the United States of America in the wee hours of Thursday, August 01, 2019, they just could not resist the temptation of trekking to the National Park for the Emancipation celebrations.

The Pepperpot Magazine caught up with Lacon and John, who are Guyanese residing in Atlanta, Georgia, as they were soaking up information about the African peoples and their different cultures, on display in a section of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) booth. Accompanying the ladies was Lacon’s niece, Gillian Edwards.
The women are part of a representative group from the Sanctuary of His Presence in Decatur, Georgia, and are here on a humanitarian mission in Linden, and to also celebrate with the Full Gospel Church of Linden their 50th anniversary.

Lacon, who last visited her home country in December 2018, said she was overwhelmed with the vast amount of information that was made available about how talented were the early African peoples.

Even though it was relatively early, a fair-sized crowd was already milling around with much more people streaming through the gates. Lacon, upon observing singles, couples, groups bedecked in fashionable African apparel, and some families who wore matching outfits, was overwhelmed as she remarked “Oh my goodness, this is awesome, this is culture and colours at its best. It is so nice to see all of our peoples enjoying themselves, as one people, one nation, [one destiny].”

One of the well-dressed young men Lacon admired as they walked by was the new Dynamic Force group, who were billed to perform an African Gospel song `Everything I desire’ and `By the River of Babylon’, later in the day.

She added that having read about the different tribes, it has now aroused her interest in finding out to which tribe she belongs.

Meanwhile, John expressed her happiness in seeing African Guyanese embracing their culture, adding that it has even transcended to others as well. “This is very enriching, to see this returning especially with our youths, and the togetherness.”

She recalled that as a teenage girl, there would be dressing up and dancing in the streets in Georgetown on `Freedom Day’, as it was popularly called then.
Both women vowed to enjoy every aspect of the activities.