– Junior Kelly to perform in virtual concert

Given the ongoing conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the customary August 1 activities at the National Park which commemorate the Emancipation of Africans from slavery, will not be held as planned.
However, with the global advancement in technology, the very activities will be brought to the public virtually, and will be celebrated under the theme “Overcoming Challenges Through Innovation”.

These activities will be organised by the African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA). ACDA has been organising the main Emancipation activities in Guyana for 26 years. This year will mark 27 years since the organisation has been making significant contributions in keeping the African culture and history alive.
This is also ACDA’s sixth Emancipation during the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) which began January 2015 and will end 31st December 2024.

The virtual experience will be highlighting local acts, international recording artistes, fire dancers, drummers, fashion displays, parades and much more.
Detailing some of the plans, Emancipation Coordinator, Aisha Haynes told the Buzz that several pre-Emancipation activities will lead up to the August 1 main event and these start from tomorrow, right through to September 1.

She said that there is an exhibition tomorrow, July 25 at ACDA’s Akwaaba Centre, with strict social distancing rules – no mask, no entry, and only five people will be admitted at a time. There will also be online video and photo presentations of past Emancipation Festivals on ACDA’s Facebook Page and website acda.org, and they will also be airing never released footage of their most popular Emancipation concerts. All of this, she said, patrons will enjoy from the comfort of their homes.
For August 1, the organisation plans to have an interactive Emancipation Day as the planning committee has organised an exciting LIVE programme.
Haynes said the programme will be on Facebook and Instagram LIVE throughout the entire day, with many attractions.

Persons can send out Emancipation Day greetings on the live video to all their friends and family. There will be a segment during the midday titled “Wha deh in your pot this Emancipation?” where persons will share their photos, videos and go LIVE with their cook-up, metemgee, etc, and get a chance to win prizes for best presentation.
Also, for young creatives, there is an “Emancipate Yourself” Challenge using the hashtags ‘#covidcantstopweculture and #acdaemancipationfestival2020’ to win prizes. In this challenge, persons can share photos, videos, or go LIVE, with a 1-3 minute presentation on what Emancipation means to them, and it can be said in a photo, artwork, song, poem, dance, drum rendition or spoken word piece.

The final two virtual activities set for August 1 include a fashion competition, and end the night with a festival concert, featuring Yoruba Singers and international guest artiste, Junior Kelly.