ACDA launches Emancipation 2015 activities

Jul 02, 2015 News

The African Culture and Development Association (ACDA) yesterday launched its official list of activities for Emancipation (Freedom) Day 2015. There will be activities in and around Georgetown.

Models of the mini fashion Show, showcasing their African attire.

This year ACDA will be celebrating its 21st year of Emancipation Day festival in Guyana which will be held on 1st August at the National Park.
ACDA deems this year very important since it’s the first Emancipation Day celebration during the International Decade for people of African Descent (IDPAD) which began in January 2015 and will conclude on December 31, 2024.
The 2015 theme “Rekindling our past glory through youth innovation”, was chosen in recognition of the importance of youths knowing their history and legacy of their ancestors.
Yesterday’s programme focused mainly on this, with youths of the ACDA dominating the line-up. The stage was graced with the presence of Lisa Punch, Mystique Dance School, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts, the children cultural group, the Young drummers of ACDA amongst others.
Master of the ceremony, Mrs Aisha Haynes, left no stone unturned, with a packed agenda that sprung excitement for all ages. There were dances, poems, singing, drumming and a mini fashion show which featured professional model Yolanda Ker and Miss Guyana UK 2014.
Every year ACDA takes the time to honour African countries, local villages of ancestral background and African heroes.
As a constant reminder and because of the fact that most Guyanese cannot track their ancestral roots to a particular African nation ACDA chooses to do this every year. This year’s country in focus is Niger/ The Republic of Niger which is located west of the African Sahara region.
Prior to French Colonization, Niger played a valuable part in prehistoric history especially considering the fact it was a part of four major Empires and Kingdoms namely, The Songhai Empire (600-1591), The Hausa Kingdoms (mid-14th century-1808), The Mali Empire (1230-1600) and The Kanem-Bornu Empire (early 9th century-1900).
For Emancipation 2015 ACDA honours the village of Wakenaam in the Essequibo River. This Island is located in the mouth of the mighty Essequibo River and is said to be one of the largest Islands in Guyana.
Wakenaam has multiple villages including Good Success, San Souci, Melville, Eagles Rust, New Belle Plaine, Sarah, Caledonia, Zeelandia, Meerzorg, Fredericksburg and Maria Johanna.
The global African leaders/ Heroes being celebrated this year are Luzia, the African woman’s remains that was found in Brazil in 1975, King Tutankhamen or better known as the “boy king”. His tomb revealed the richness and creativity of ancient Egypt. Marcus Garvey founder of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and Imhotep who was born in ancient Egypt in 2649 BC, the world’s first multi-genius, were also.
Emancipation 2015 will kick off with an African Street Bazaar which will be held on Main Street, Georgetown in the later part of July, followed by soiree activities in Hopetown and Mocha.
Between July 20 and August 20, next, ACDA promises to bring their A-game especially with the well anticipated Freedom Day celebrations in the National Park on August 1 with other traditional activities such as the candle lighting ritual, barn fire, storytelling, respect of the elderly and other ancestral mixes at the square of the revelation which is open to the public.