Emancipation, Education and Reflection

AUGUST 1 Emancipation festivities have been a constant on the Guyanese calendar for 31 years, with this year marking ACDA’s 32nd edition of the festival, which has become an integral part of Guyanese culture. Penda Guyan, more commonly known as Sister Penda, has been a part of ACDA for more than a decade.

“I became associated with ACDA in the early 2000s. And when I returned to Guyana from living abroad, which was at the end of 2010, I officially joined,” Sister Penda told Pepperpot Magazine.
Since then, she has been a vibrant player and a bold voice behind Emancipation festivities in Guyana, and says that this year, like many others, holds significance far beyond a festival.

Celebrated under the 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,” Emancipation 2025 marks various milestones for both Guyana and ACDA. It marks the 400th anniversary of Africans in Guyana, a major underlying theme for ACDA in this year’s celebration. Moreover, this is ACDA’s 11th Emancipation during the International Decade (Vicennium) for People of African Descent (IDPAD), which began in January 2015.

This is why Sister Penda says that Emancipation is more than meets the eye:
“Emancipation is always a big thing. But more so, it’s not just about celebration. Emancipation has a big importance. It is not just about dressing and dancing. It is more. Emancipation is a time when we were able to take control of our self-determination.”

Emancipation is also viewed as an opportunity for self-reflection on the significance of one’s identity. ACDA celebrates an African country annually because most Guyanese of African descent cannot trace their ancestral roots to a particular African nation. In choosing a specific country to highlight each year, ACDA seeks to educate both young and old about African nations—and to remind them that Africa is not a single country, like China, India, or the United States, but a continent comprising 54 countries that thrive with diversity.

Education, particularly on cultural history and tradition, is essential, says Sister Penda, in understanding the history of not just Afro-Guyanese, but Guyana as a whole:
“⁠People don’t really understand that we were only able to get to Emancipation because of the struggles of our foreparents that went before us. It started with Cuffy in 1763. We don’t educate ourselves and our children, so they don’t really understand.”

Traditionally, ACDA honours an African country each Emancipation Festival by building an educational booth for that country. For Emancipation 2025, the focus will be on Burkina Faso—a country with a rich African influence, history, and culture. Burkina Faso will be proudly showcased during the observance of this Emancipation, giving Guyanese the unique opportunity to explore the culture of another African nation.

Additionally, for Emancipation 2025, ACDA honours the village of Buxton, located on the East Coast of Demerara, which is primarily inhabited by people of African descent. It was founded in 1840 by 128 formerly enslaved Africans who pooled their resources to purchase the plantation “New Orange Nassau”. They named the village Buxton in honour of abolitionist Thomas Fowell Buxton. It is also where many prominent Guyanese have called home, including Bro. Eusi Kwayana, who officially became a centenarian this year.

Emancipation 2025: A Festival of Culture, Unity and Pride

This year’s festival promises to be one of the most vibrant yet, not only in spirit but in scale. Sister Penda recalled the early beginnings of what is now a national spectacle: the Emancipation Village on Main Street.

“That Main Street Bazaar, as it was known, started 20-something years ago. I mean, it was very small. You would go out there and you would probably see maybe four or five booths.”
She credited Sister Clementine Marshall for laying the foundation for what would become a cultural cornerstone:
“She’d cook, bring out the conkie and other African food, and over the years, it has grown. And it has grown so much that now we occupy not just the space, but we occupy the avenue from Church all the way to Main Street.”

The festivities will unfold at the National Park on Friday, August 1, from 10:00 hours to 20:00 hours beginning with a symbolic Sunrise Service at 5:30 hours. The day will include a mix of culture, education, entertainment, and food, each playing a role in keeping the spirit of Emancipation alive.

For the first time, ACDA is introducing a more structured marketplace experience:
“We also have some new features this year,” Sister Penda said. “For the first time, we’re having what we call a food mart—all the people that are selling food are together—and that is on the side of the promenade.”

Alongside the food mart, there will be a produce section offering organic items from communities like Mocha:
“You can see that we have a holistic marketplace out there for you this year,” she added.

The entertainment line-up will be nothing short of spectacular. International Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Maxi Priest is headlining the event, joined by international gospel saxophonist Jesse D. Schultz from the USA, as well as cultural drumming and fire-dancing groups from Suriname. The lineup also features performances from local stars such as First Born, Charmaine Blackman, Big Red, and many more.

More than 50 artistes, poets, and performers are expected to grace the stage, along with over 20 dance and cultural groups.
Educational booths will feature lessons on African heritage, the African Guyanese Village Movement, hairstyles, inventions, and more. The country being highlighted this year, Burkina Faso, gives Guyanese the chance to explore the rich history, resistance, and traditions of yet another African nation.

Children are not left out either. The Kids’ Fun Centre will run from 10:00 hours to 16:30 hours, and will include bouncy castles, folk games, storytelling, face painting, and a children’s parade.
Competitions for best African dress, drumming, group dance, spoken word, and even a cassava pone eating contest will bring energy and friendly rivalry to the day.
And of course, no Emancipation Day is complete without the famous Cook-Up Competition, sponsored by Ansa McAl, which will begin at noon.

As Guyana ushers in yet another Emancipation, it serves as a reminder that occasions like this are about more than just a day of fun and food. It is about honouring the strength and sacrifices of the ancestors, educating a new generation, and building unity through culture.