Organisers want African Liberation Day declared public holiday

Organisers of this year’s African Liberation Day commemoration on May 25th want the day declared a public holiday.

They also intend shining the spotlight on south city Grand Bay, “in recognition of Grand Bay’s central role in the retention and the exhibition of African culture and the liberation of black people in Dominica”.

This year’s events are being organized by the House of Nyaibinghi in association with the Grand Bay Village Council.

“Grand Bay’s role must be highlighted as we aim to make African Liberation Day (ALD) Africa Day as a national (holi)day focused on our Africaness, things African and the business of Africa,” a release from the organisers states.

“Now more than ever it is extremely important that people in  the Caribbean and specifically those of us in Waitukubuli put Africa in the centre of their awareness,” the release states further.

This year’s theme is “Africa Now”, and efforts are being made to focus on the country’s youths “to indelibly impress upon them the critical importance and credibility of African as a major actor that is central to current world economics and culture”.

Planned activities include one lecture per week on Africa at the secondary school (GrandBay), an exhibition on Africa at the Grand Bay Primary School, a Film on Africa in Lah Lay every Friday night during May, and a Special Drum workshop with Ras Mo once a week at the Youth Centre on Grand Bay.

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41 Comments

  1. Donald
    May 3, 2012

    We already have too many holidays ; of course you can always combine it with another or replace one of those religious holidays. Our roots originate from all over. There is nothing wrong with an observance today.

  2. April 29, 2012

    The House of Naya Bingi should understand that their time and effort would be well spent in helping Africa to be a united Continent thereby helping them to become stable. While our Rasta brethren is shouting back to Africa they are heading to AMERICA the USA.

  3. North side Possi
    April 26, 2012

    I am a proud Dominican and yes I know the history where my ansesters come from,I belive most Dominicans already know that.I think our greatest charlenge now is liberating ourselves from mental slavery that is what we should start telling each other and the youth not talking adout no African liberation holiday, for what. We are now proud Dominicans and we live in Dominica not Africa.

  4. DPM
    April 25, 2012

    When Africa is truly liberated then you guys can come back and ask for holiday.

  5. Whale Watcher
    April 25, 2012

    What can these rastas do. Last year was the 30th Anniversary of Bob Marley’s death – and they did nothing to celebrate the man’s life of great music and vibes… Lazy sets of rasta’s just beating drums and smoking weed and parasiting on women.

  6. no name
    April 25, 2012

    If we are so liberated from Africa why celebrate liberation day when all those who want to celebrate it say that they are from africa?

  7. sela si
    April 24, 2012

    Well Skerrit gave dem 30 thousand last year and now they want a holiday. Wat next ? Tickets to Africa maybe. PJ gave dem land in Terre Fem and dey still on holiday. Get real Wah , Kasati , Imani et al. DA youth need WORK not Holidays.

    • Malatete
      April 25, 2012

      Yes, would like to know that happened to that thirty thousand dollars of people’s money? Did you send , even one of your spiritual representatives to Africa? Can those guys calling for a holiday give account of that?

  8. nigel
    April 24, 2012

    like we dont have enough holidays already. i’m beginning to think Dominicans are very lazy with all these damn holidays. unproductive. bad for businesses and really bad for the economy. i say no to the national holiday. you dont need a holiday to recognize something.

  9. observant
    April 24, 2012

    What they liberating? Africa from Mugabe another black man? Those guys just chanting. Tell them speak the truth. Chanting is they that that more like white woman. NO HOLIDAY!

  10. Reals
    April 24, 2012

    I support your comments. There are too many holidays in Dominica. We need to work more to build our country than to depend on handouts. I am not african i`m a Dominican. :lol:

  11. Who cares?
    April 24, 2012

    Celebration of African liberation Day in Dominica has been hijacked. How many times, how many of those chanting African liberation strongly condemn that new kind of colonialism as we are witnessing in Dominica? Many of them have buried their heads, closed their eyes, blocked their ears, and now they just would not see or hear about the truth, righteousness and respect for our laws. They side with those corrupt among us in the hope for a few dollars more.

    Liberated from whom or from what? How much have we heard any of the organisers advocating against corruption in public office,or against controversial sales of our passports or diplomatic immunity? Are they speaking in solidarity with the hard-working farmers who have been neglected? What kind of outcomes do we expect from the loudness of the silence of those who profess to be against modern slavery, corruption and rule showing dictatorial tendencies?

    How comes no expression of views against the “elite class’, who are getting richer while the majority are getting pooerer and poorer?
    The struggles of the African peoples, all over the world, must be an everyday struggle against oppression, exploitation and bad governance.

    The struggle must be for equality, fighting for economic independence instead of that beggar mentality. What impact has the ever more Low-keyed celebration had on the minds, attitudes of our people after all those years? They side more with the monied and property classes, with selfish, greedy individuals who see only dollars, not the sufferings poor people go through day after day.

    Black people are Black people’s worse enemies. The immoral, unethical, corrupt system so many support in these times is baffling.
    Which Govt. in the caribbean including ours would seriously entertain patriots expressing their views about Liberation of the masses, equality, respect for human rights, and regard for the Constitution and laws of the land?

  12. Anoushah Alie
    April 24, 2012

    What about an ‘African/Kalinago’ day to commemorate our ancestry? or maybe not, I mean, we are all descendants of both, and our presence on the island should be enough to remind us of our history. In my Dominican tongue; “but we already have independence wee; gassou we have too much holiday already, we just giving those shops more reason to sell rum.”
    Note: we received our independence not only from Britain, but also, the hindrances that kept us from moving forward. Now, we just have to teach(at home/school) the importance of our origin.

  13. Gee
    April 24, 2012

    ENOUGHHHHH OF THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!

    Let’s get to work to build our country!!

  14. amethyst
    April 24, 2012

    We display our freedom from slavery our liberation come Carnival time enough..we do not need another holiday.The day can be observed,but it does not have to be a holiday.

  15. Anonymous
    April 24, 2012

    Really good idea, one of the main problems in the black community in general is our disaasociation with our roots… We need to reclaim our identity and this is a good start… I do question however, how many youths would actually be interested in the activities mentioned above… Times have changed, get in touch with current African culture and make this something our youths would actually want to engage with… just a thought

  16. Malatete
    April 24, 2012

    How about a Lebanese holiday, an English one (…oh I forget, we have Independence day to remind us of our liberation). Surely we must also have a China day now and, in order not to upset our Venezuelan friends a Simon Bolivar day. But above all else we definitely must have a Kalinago day.
    Make them all public holidays ….funny, how the bars, DJ’s, sound systems or road stall vendors never take a holiday on these occasions! Who the hell wants to work anyway? let’s celebrate.

    • hope
      April 24, 2012

      do i sense sarcasm? :-D

      • April 29, 2012

        a lot of those RASTAS are self righteous, FRAUDS, corrupters of women especially minors and lovers of money drugs and BLING BLING.

  17. April 24, 2012

    Good move to see where the consciousness of our leaders are.
    lets hope they show some respect to the concept of Africa,
    They declear holiday for anything they wish,now this is a holiday that should be observed,lets see where their heads at A or C.
    Doe matter where you come from, as long as you are a black man you are an African.

    • sistren
      April 24, 2012

      Yes I

    • Anonymous
      April 24, 2012

      I will never forget one of my Bajan teachers telling us about the time that 2 African princes were to visit Barbados. This big welcome was planned with locals dressed in African dresses, women’s heads were wrapped, the men in their colorful man dresses or whatever they are called. African dances were practiced with the music to go with it. The day came and the 2 princes stepped from their planes in suits and sunglasses. The Bajans looked more African than the Africans. Just saying.

  18. Fairplay
    April 24, 2012

    Dominica has enough holidays already. We could move the celebration of ALD to May Day or August Monday. :?:

  19. Agree
    April 24, 2012

    I am in agreement with recognizing African Liberation Day. Africa is part of our culture intertwined with other cultures that are also a part of us; the Caribbean People. One must know their roots to know themselves, and so must a Nation.

  20. Da Woman
    April 24, 2012

    Do you people really think Dominica needs another holiday?
    Africans do not know where Dominica is much less to consider us Africans.
    How many people n Dominica celebrate ALD- what are we liberated from.

    I for one would not consider the day a holiday.

    • Enough holidays
      April 24, 2012

      I agree with you. I have nothing against african liberation day but really, how many people celebrate African Liberation Day. I think the day is recognised enough without it being a national holiday.
      We don’t need more holidays!

  21. over seas
    April 24, 2012

    Holiday!!! We are in Dominica not in Africa. You all want holiday for every thing. Way papa

  22. Cza
    April 24, 2012

    Well we want in Africa to 8) . Just dont want to see when we accepting every other residing here want there’s eeehhhhh na :-D

  23. Cza
    April 24, 2012

    We owe respect to African ancestors check not morden.

  24. Anonymous
    April 24, 2012

    ok i agree wi cause i am a true African

    • Malgraysa
      April 24, 2012

      Guess you were not born in Dominica then? What nationality do you have?

      • Muslim
        April 25, 2012

        Please get a hold of yourself, yes we were born in Dominica as well as every “black” person is of the African Diaspora. This is well noted in the African Union Laws.

        Secondly, do you hear Asians or Jews speaking this nonsense? Even if they were born in America or England they identify their homeland. Do you hear Chinese speaking like this? No my friend, it is the slave legacy that allows the African to be so detached from his homeland. http://www.africanholocaust.net.

  25. oj
    April 24, 2012

    As an african and attached with dominica at heart am happy and knowin that there is such a day makes me feel appreciated by my brothers and sisters in dominica.love u all…

  26. Anonymous
    April 24, 2012

    A day to celebrate Dominicans’ mental slavery and Africa’s so called liberation? Africa is ruled and controlled by whites whilst most of the black population live in poverty. How liberated are they? Africans were the ones who sold their own to slavery for copper and tin and handouts from the white man. Is this what we want to celebrate? I am proud to be Dominican and proud to be black but I shall not live in ignorance.

    • B-dawg
      April 24, 2012

      I see that you know your history quite well and I agree with you 100%. Where I now reside,they are scattered all over the place like angry wasps (guepes).And they have a brotherly hatred to the West Indians.(I am sure that the D/cans who want to celebrated don t know about that). And even before you say a word to them, they are quick to remind you that you were sold. They call the West Indians (VENDUS – SOLD). I was once a witness. Ofcourse let’s celebrate and do take the holiday to Africa to see their brother slaves in the cocoa fields on the Ivory Coast. Teachers, teach the pupils more of History and less Geography

    • north
      April 24, 2012

      I second that big time what holiday that,what just to have some of those same rastamen who terorised peolpe in the 70’s feel that all is well again.Most of them now insted of carrying their lucks proud and keep it nice and clean they keep i dirty and start thinking dred.NO HOLIDAY,WE have independence and carnival for that already.Most of these Nyaibinghi guys still think the babylon they against is our Police ,forgeting that it is the same white suprimercy that still exist in Africa.Tell them go Africa and demand their holiday lets see how long they will last.NO HOLIDAY.

      • north
        April 24, 2012

        NO HOLIDAY!! NO HOLIDAY!!NO HOLIDAY!!

    • Muslim
      April 25, 2012

      This statement shows that you are really uninformed. Are you saying that the blame should be placed on Africans? I recommend this site to you, http://www.africankingdoms.com.

  27. warma
    April 24, 2012

    Dominica doh have enough holiday? Is this another excuse not to work but sewo?

    • sistren
      April 24, 2012

      Am sure the people that would want this day to be a holiday would not use it to ¨sewo¨. Am more picturing a day to be humble, and to give thanks.

      • Fairplay
        April 25, 2012

        Give thanks to who? Haile Selasie I,Rastafari.

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