All set for Africa Day celebration

Members of the organizing committee of Africa Day
Members of the organizing committee of Africa Day

For close to two weeks a fully packed calendar of events is set to unfold as Dominica observes Africa Day.

From May 18 to the 31st Dominica’s second town, Portsmouth, the eastern village of Delices, as well as Roseau, will be buzzing with various activities in observance of the day when the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed in 1963.

Africa Day is normally observed every year on May 25.

It acknowledges the progress that Africans have made and at the same time reflecting upon the common challenges faced in the global environment.

The event this year will be held under the theme: The year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 63.

Cultural project Officer in the Ministry of Culture, Gregory Rabess, said the event has been broadened to include various stakeholders to make it more inclusive and less focused on the Rastafarian community or its “ghettoized” nature.

“A lot of people in Dominica did not want to associate themselves with an even organized or spearheaded by the Rastafarian Community,” he explained. “Hence the reason to bring other stakeholders on board that we can broaden the scope of the celebrations, broaden the scope of deliberations and the various agendas and not limited to one myopic agenda and bring the population on board in the various ways…”

He was speaking at a press conference to launch the event at the Old Mill Cultural Center on Thursday.

He opined that our task as independent people is to roll back the negative legacy of colonialism and events like Africa Day, DOMFESTA, Independence and Emancipation Celebrations all have a common thread –to shape and to build up the national identity and national cultural identity and build up a national Dominican, a Caribbean and a global consciousness.

“So it’s all interwoven and that is the strategic overview of all what we are doing here today and through the cultural calendar,” he noted.

The following are some of the activities during the month of May:

-Monday 18th -Nyabinghi night-Portsmouth
-Tuesday 19th –Radio Programmes on Health and Wellness
-Wednesday 20th –National Youth Council (NYC) Television programme- Marpin 2k4 ltd 8.30 pm
Reggae Concert-8.30 pm
-Thursday 21st –Official Opening of Africa Day Celebrations-5 pm at the Indian River Visitor Center
-Friday 22nd –Africa Village-Portsmouth 9 am -6pm
Poetry Night –Baracoon Bld, Roseau 8 pm
-Saturday 23rd –Organic Market and Health and Wellness Fair-Africa Village 9am-6pm
Talent Night at the Africa Village 8 pm
-Sunday 24th –Africa Village 9 am –boat rides all day and evening lime by the river and entertainment by Heartbeat band
-Monday 25th –Africa Village Open 9 am
Africa Day March (from Purple Turtle-Indian River 4-5pm
-Tuesday 26th –Lecture/Panel discussion-Dominica State College (DSC)
-Wednesday 27th –National Youth Council (NYC) television programme Marpin 2k4 8:30 pm
-Thursday 28th –African Cuisine competition
Africa movie night- Island wide
-Friday 29th –African dress day –Island wide
African food and decorations-Island wide
Saturday 30th –Drums in the city-Roseau 10 am-12 noon
Africa Day celebrations climax-Delices (Market fair and exhibition, cultural performances, African extravaganza)
-Sunday 31st-Football match-Benjamin’s park in Portsmouth

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2 Comments

  1. April 29, 2015

    This is a great initiative by the 2015 ALD committee. I and I wish much success on all the activities, and look forward to reading more reports on the events leading up to the day.
    One love, One heart One destiny. Africa for Africans, at home and aborad

  2. Dominican Beauty
    April 27, 2015

    I shall be participating on Friday 29th –African dress day for sure. My African wear is pressed and ready. #excited.

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