Latest update February 19th, 2025 1:44 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

CELEBRATING EMANCIPATION DAY

Aug 01, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Guyana will observe Emancipation Day today, August 1, 2017 with celebrations across the country to commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1834. Emancipation Day is also observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States and Canada on various dates in honor of enslaved people of African descent and other forms of slavery.
The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which abolished slavery throughout most of the British Empire came into force the following year on 1 August 1834. But only slaves under the age of six were freed. Former slaves over the age of six were re-designated as apprentices and were required to work 40 hours per week without pay, as part of their compensation payment to their former owners. Full emancipation was finally achieved at midnight on July 31, 1838.
The commemoration of Emancipation Day on August 1, 1838 is an important day for Guyana. It is a day when Guyanese, mostly Afro-Guyanese, celebrate the freedom of their African ancestors and the beginning of the Guyanese nation. It ended an era of the dehumanization, brutalization and cultural destruction of man by man.
The institution of slavery lasted for more than 400 years. It was the most inhumane in the history of mankind. It was a phenomenon that spanned the globe.
Slavery was organized and executed by Europeans in pursuit of the accumulation of wealth and the development of Europe. Slavery brought affluence to the nations of Europe and North America; poverty and underdevelopment to the Caribbean, Africa, parts of Asia and other regions of the world. It resulted in the disparity in wealth between the rich and poor countries. Emancipation not only ended slavery in Guyana, it also sparked several radical changes in the social, political, economic and cultural life of the country. It was responsible for the arrival of the other racial groups who were brought to Guyana as indentured servants from India, China, Madeira (Portugal) and other parts of Europe to replace the African labour force on the sugar plantations.
Emancipation had a positive effect on the development of towns and villages in the country. It created the opportunity for the development of modern villages and towns inhabited by the majority of Guyanese today.
It was the dawn of a new era that gave birth to the trade union movement, the liberation of trade, the development and the opening of the hinterland by pork knockers.The civil service was born and the setting-up of artesian shops and small businesses created new communities. Many earned a living through the planting of cash crops while others with skills were employed.
Emancipation was once a week-long celebration of cultural activities, festivals, concerts, parades, galas and a wreath laying ceremony as a tribute to the ancestors. Today it is confined to a day. Most of the festivities are organized by the Africa Cultural and Development Organization (ACDA) and the Cuffy 250 group with the common goal of promoting African culture and to educate the nation about history of slavery and its impact on the country.
Every year, ACDA would choose a country from Africa as part of the festival since most Afro-Guyanese do not know their ancestral country. This year, it has chosen Guyana to showcase its glorious history with a focus on community development. The theme for this year celebration is ‘Moving Forward Building Guyana through Ujamaa (a political-economic model of development).
Emancipation Day is a holiday in Guyana. Thousands of Guyanese would deck out in African outfits and celebrations often take place in different areas of the country. However, the National Park will be the main venue for an all-day event and activities until nightfall.
Activities will include exhibitions, the display of African craftwork, artifacts, drawings and paintings, African and indigenous cuisine, colorful booths with posters, photographs, books and other printed materials that provide information on African history.Happy Emancipation Day to all.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Girls’ Hockey team selected for 2025 PAHF Jr Challenge

Girls’ Hockey team selected for 2025 PAHF Jr Challenge

Feb 19, 2025

The final 16 players of the Guyana Girls Under-21 hockey team have been selected to compete in the 2025 PAHF Junior Challenge scheduled for Bridgetown, Barbados from 8th to 16th March, 2025.  The...
Read More
Matthew Moore and Joshua John cop Best Lifters accolade; Jasmaine Assanah and Tisha McCalmon rock

Matthew Moore and Joshua John cop Best Lifters...

Feb 19, 2025

Imlach, Permaul among top 10 in batting/bowling for Harpy Eagles 

Imlach, Permaul among top 10 in batting/bowling...

Feb 19, 2025

GFF personnel participate in FIFA Concussion Awareness Workshop

GFF personnel participate in FIFA Concussion...

Feb 19, 2025

OVER-50s WORLD CUP – ROUND 6 ROUND-UP

OVER-50s WORLD CUP – ROUND 6 ROUND-UP

Feb 19, 2025

Pepsi/Michael Parris U16 Tournament returns on Saturday

Pepsi/Michael Parris U16 Tournament returns on...

Feb 19, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]