Hundreds celebrate African culture THE African Cultural and Development Association’s (ACDA) continued its efforts to promote and preserve the African culture, with its annual Emancipation Day festival in the National Park, which attracted hundreds of persons.

This year’s festival was celebrated under the broad theme, “highlighting the connection of all peoples through African culture as we strive to build a world where all our children are loved and protected.”

Held at the National Park, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, ACDA’s festival promised headlining acts such as Grammy awarded reggae artist Maxi Priest; international gospel saxophonist, Jesse D. Schultz and cultural performances by Surinamese Maroon artists.
This is in addition to over 50 local talents who performed with poets, dancers and live bands. Despite the heat of the sun, families came out to celebrate and support ACDA’s ventures.

Sharing her feedback, Karen said this is the first Emancipation festival she has been to in around 10 years.
Karen shared, “I thought it was amazing; He [son] just wanted to go on the different rides and exercise and eat. But what I’m impressed about is that I’m seeing a whole lot more people involved in it at this time.”

Another Guyanese, Ezan Phillips said it has been 16-years since he attended the festival. In his comments, Phillips said the festival has been great, adding that he has seen a lot more faces and more activities since he last attended.
Natasha David, owner of Tasha’s Creative Design, said she has been participating in the activity itself for around 10 years.
Displaying her handmade jewellery, crafted from beads and other materials, costumes and headwraps, Natasha pointed out that she looks forward to Emancipation Day every year.
The Guyana Reparations Committee also had an educational booth in place, where persons found information on Africa before slavery, paintings, and history and culture books.
Esther Gittens, the Secretary of the Committee said, “Most people seem to think that African history begins with slavery. But we tried to show that Africa’s slavery actually interrupted our history. So here what we have is showing what Africa was before slavery.”

She continued to share that Africans were the first landowners in Guyana, buying over 200 plantations, which have since become villages. These include Buxton, Queenstown, Victoria, Rose Hall among others.
Persons can visit the Museum of African Heritage in Barima Avenue, Bel Air for more insight. Additionally, the Committee hosts a fortnightly television programme called “Reparations Now”, which is broadcasted on NCN 11.