ACDA promises bigger Emancipation Day celebrations today

Aug 01, 2009 News

---

(By Mondale Smith)
Today all roads lead to the National Park, as Guyanese join their afro-centric brothers and sisters to celebrate Emancipation day 2009 and the African Cultural Development Association is promising a bigger, more variety filled event this year.

Violet Jean-Baptiste, Public Relations Officer, while advising all of Guyana to “come out early for an excellent emancipation experience”, said that the event starts from 6:00hrs today with a sunrise service conducted by the African Mystical Council.  Then the doors open to the largest Black festival in Guyana.
The programme will feature bigger groups from abroad as well as local Shanto competitions and performances from various dances and folk groups’ drawn from across Guyana.
The international acts include the snake dancers from Dominica, the Israel Lovell group from Barbados, the Dareti Pasi Band and dance group from Suriname, the Cedar Bonne Magicians from Cayenne, the Ogun Masqueraders from Nigeria, Capoera performances from Brazil and fashion displays featuring designs from London Legacy collection done by Guyanese Anita Daniels.
While offering various African influenced cuisines, there are booths dedicated to educational that offer insights and displays on African history, the African presence in the Bible and village movements.
Patrons to the event will be offered insights and hands on demonstrations on hair braiding and as is traditional, the village in focus this year will be Agricola. There is also some focus on famous African persons and their contributions as well as on the world of Africa with a main focus on Kenya from which Barrack Obama, America’s first Black President’s roots are.
The organising committee said that there will also be a session dubbed the African naming ceremony as well as story time of tales of Anancy.
The children will not be left out as there is a children’s activity center where they can participate in folk games, story telling, and magical acts from Suriname.
For the gamesters, there is a Konkey eating contest open to the public as well as folks games, including the egg and spoon, bag race, and three legged races.
Form 10:00hrs a series of sporting activities sponsored by Digicel will be staged. There will be dominoes, Five-a-side football, cricket, volley ball and boxing exhibitions.
The drumming competitions start at 11:00hrs and the backstage events will also commence at that time featuring the various ACDA Children’s groups from across the country on showcase in fashion, drumming and dancing.
Added entertainment include Masqueraders from local groups along the East Coast then at noon on the National park center stage the main drumming competition will be staged until 14:00hrs when the Yoruba singers will take the stage.
The main show begins at 15:00hrs and the Guyanese line up include Alabama, the Buxton Divine Starz, the Enzinga dancers, the Berbice Sunflowers group, Flame of the hearts and groups from Vergenogen, as well as Mocha.
Last night scores gathered at Square of the Revolution for the pouring of the libation: a drink offering to the African ancestors that included strong rum, water, olive oil, milk and honey as a form of respect to nature. And Bishop Andre Irving is adamant that the African culture teaches how to live in harmony with all the elements.
A mystical emancipation experience
From a night of the air to the land to the fire to one dedicated to ring games, it has become traditional for hundreds to flock to the Demico House, Stabroek environs for several days of pre- emancipation ceremonies and this year it was no different. While focused on the Afro-centric traditions and influences, Thursday proved the most inclusive of the six nights of Libations.
Over the past seven nights the African Mystical Council led by Bishop Andrew Benthic staged its 16th annual pre-emancipation showcasing of the African Culture.
Hundreds gathered outside Demico House area for some of the eerily enlightening pre-emancipation unfolding. Many had gone there before but kept their distance for fear of the worst things, including being possessed by demons and the like because of the various stories of long ago.
Armed with the knowledge that the location was used in the days of slavery as a holding area for human cargo and that many had died there, people of all ages gathered to see and experience everything good or bad in their quest for a better understanding of the African Mystical Culture.
The sweet smelling aroma of combined incense, flowers and spices, teased the nasal cavity creating a sometimes eerie atmosphere that causes goose bumps.
Dressed in mostly African influenced attire, many, including women and children danced in a circle as if they were preparing for a feast of some sort. For six nights the showcase featured infectious drumming, singing and dancing, sometimes taking the form of animal antics.
They danced around a neatly decked out square that featured nightly offerings of Calabash, lit Candles, strong rum, fruits, flowers, fragrances in containers and incense, a cutlass , ‘manicrole’ broom and a pointer broom as well as eggs and grains.
Several moved from observing to becoming participants under an influence of some kind that made them lose touch with reality.
Some mimicked the happenings in the ring and before they knew it they were overcome by the influences amidst whispers of “they wukkin Obeah” and “is we culture” while some joined in the revelry prancing to the drumming.
Last night the celebrations culminated with a candle light vigil along D’Urban Street to Square of the Revolution followed by a cultural display and eventual libation ceremony aback of the 1763 monument.

---

---