TriniView.com Staff Article
Event Date: August 01, 2006
Article Posted: August 09, 2006
After the long procession down south from the Marabella Roundabout to Harris Promenade, the Southern Emancipation Committee in celebrating Emancipation Day, also celebrated the great achievements of many Africans in Trinidad and Tobago by awarding them with tokens of appreciation. This was a very creditable move by the organization to recognize Africans in the country in their first ceremonial production and should be continued in the years to come.
The newly formed Southern Emancipation Committee has attempted to show what people of the south have to offer and also to break away from the monopoly celebrations in the north. This inaugural event themed, 'Building Bridges to Unite African People' also represented one of the aims of the organization. Thus, members of the African community from all over Trinidad and Tobago were invited to partake in the south march. Although the procession was small, it should continue to grow if they remain consistent and perfect the organization of the south celebrations.
In this auspicious occasion, the following awardees were honoured:
Dr. Michael Anthony, Historian/Author, The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (accepted by Kes Gabri Esu), Mr. Robert Taylor, Ms. Susan Edwards, Mr. Alfred Graham, Brother Composer, Theophillus Nathaniel, Mr. Amon Hotep, Mr. Lloyd Gaye, Anthony Commissiong, Mr. Bertrand Kelman, Brother Kasala Kamara, Tambak Windi, Mrs. Joan Yuille-Williams, Patricia McLeod, Brother Valentino, Iya Amoye and Baba Franklyn.
After the award ceremony, attendees were treated to entertainment by artistes such as Calypsonians Kinte, Anthony Calender and Squibby, a dance presentation of an "Ancestral Celebration", Joseph Letts on the pan and poems by Temba Udjoe entitled, "African King" and "African People Going Astray".
Senator the Honourable Joan Yuille-Williams also made her way from the celebrations in the north to endorse the occasion in the south and to offer a short word advising Africans in the country to take advantage of the opportunities available.
In terms of the organization of the event, the Southern Emancipation Committee still has some way to go to get it right. However, it was a very enjoyable ceremony and was a pleasant addition to the Emancipation Day celebrations in the country.
San Fernando Emancipation Celebration in pictures
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