Dominicans will receive the opportunity to get in touch with their African heritage as plans to celebrate Africa Week fall in place.
The island will begin celebrations from May 19th to May 25th, 2014 under the theme “Youth Embracing African Heritage.”
Speaking at the official launch of the celebrations on Thursday, organizer and Cultural Officer Delmont “Ras Mo” Moses, explained that the Government of Dominica has partnered with the House of Nyabinghi for the staging of African Liberation Celebrations in an effort to broaden the involvement of the population in these celebrations.
“This year the Division of Culture, the House of Nyabinghi and the National Youth Council (NYC) held several meetings to review the nature of the celebrations and to develop a programme of activities for this year’s celebrations,” he explained.
According to him, the main focus of this year’s celebration is the youth and in reviewing the celebrations from a strategic perspective, it was agreed that the celebrations should be rebranded to make them more in line with the African Union’s current formulation.
“As you know African Liberation Day is usually celebrated here. The week will now be known as Africa Week and African Liberation Day will be known as Africa Day,” he explained. “This was also deemed necessary in order to shift the focus from liberation to solidarity and celebrating the elements of our African heritage.”
In the meantime representative of the House of Nyabinghi, Peter Alleyne, added that it has been a long struggle for the African diaspora to accept its African roots and to encourage the study and appreciation of its positive contribution to world civilization.
“We recognize the negative actions reported daily with respect to the socio economic and political situation on the continent of Africa but we maintain that we in the Caribbean can set a standard and example of human development through cooperation and respect for each other, rather than strife,” he said.
Activities for Africa Week will begin with an opening ceremony and concert along with the opening of an Art and Craft Fair, Africa Village at the Harlem Plaza on Monday 19th May, 2014.
This will be followed by a panel discussion organized by the NYC on Tuesday.
Other activities include African Dress day on May 23rd and a football match on the Newtown Savannah on Saturday May 24th.
An African Solidarity March on Sunday, May 25th, will wrap up the week.
in this day and age negative comments need be erased from the positive areas here we have no space for these peoples who do nothing but just act as leeches always trying to make good seem to be useless.
its time they look themselves in the mirror before they jump on a moving train that has its next stop already booked INI are not goin be strayed by these wanna be’s just looking for t he next comment to create up raws
Until the color of a mans skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes… Haile Selassie I
Raising awareness of not only I and I African heritage but of current affairs on the continent should be one of the high points of Africa Day.
Furthermore, the Rastafari movement in Dominica needs to lobby the government to build meaningful trade, cultural and humanitarian links with their counterparts in Africa.
In addition, the educational institutions in not only Dominica, but throughout the Caribbean, should introduce subjects that teach African languages and customs so that social interaction can become a platform where I and I people’s can share each others hopes and dreams and learn from each other.
I Man could go on and on, but The I will stop here wishing the Idren have a successful event and that the Most High add his blessings to their efforts.
Rastafari lives
Why not just move to Africa, you can then settle and enjoy all that Africa has on offer.
monkey talking
That is the plan, I. Then the Black – I – story will have gone full circle. The I must over stand that repatriation is a must, but it is not like rain. Everything happen in Jah time, still. Meantime, Ones and Ones need to prepare One’s self for what is a most epic journey.
Remember, Destrot. Now known as Kabinda? The repatriated to I-tiopia 20 years now. This is what you call commitment to the Rastafari movement. Enough Idren sing the song, but only a few mean what them say.
I and I tell you, Dread. Many are called: but only few chose to answer.
Look Out ! Careful Now!
The Youth, Let Them Be What And Who They Were Called To Be. For This Is The Time They Were Asked To: Remember Their CREATOR In The Days of Their Youth. And Let no man despise You Of Your Youth.
Let Us Help The Youth Focus So They Can Grow Complete , To Be Man and Woman. Rewards That Are Good Will Be Seen and Shared. Excellent Cycle.
According to him, the main focus of this year’s celebration is the youth and in reviewing the celebrations from a strategic perspective, it was agreed that the celebrations should be rebranded to make them more in line with the African Union’s current formulation.
Therefore We ask what is africa? Where did this originate from and what purpose?
THE LORD’S People Are Royal Kings And Priests, a Holy Nation.
Africa is the motherland. repatriation is a MUST.
that’s a great gesture. i think we should embrace it. however not all of african customs/culture are worthy of immitating. africa is the “richest” continent on planet earth, with every resource known to man, however the people are strongly influenced by the higher colour skins of the world. this culture of being easily manipulated….we will omitt. we although are direct descendants of african heritage, however we are caribbean people, the ones (like in jamaica) who fought against the slave masters. so we won’t be easily intimidated to do foolish things just because someone of a different colour tone asks us.
When carnival is around, go see those rastas in all bacchanal behind semi nude women with poom poom shorts wining
what are u doing when u see those rastas?
Rastas, especially in Dominica have sold out big time and lost, especially those involved in that so-called African liberation. All black countries which were given political independence by the European colonialist, their black leaders has become dictators, criminals and thieves, treating their own worse than the white masters. We all had to run to the white masters countries for survival,while our black leaders has sold out to new colonial masters, in our case China. Most of those rastas illtreats their black sisters, giving them children and running to marry white women. Fire Burn!
I love it. the outline of the week’s programme is very encouraging. For so long we were saying … it’s not a Rasta ting and by extension an all inclusion.
Awesome know self
Hey, you people are creating tooo much trouble in our country the process of reparation has just began and start packing up your bags and go back to your mother land,
The mother land does not want them either.
Teach the youth, slavery was not the beginning of our history, slavery interrupted our history.
Africa belongs to the africans , dominica is not part of africa , you are very lucky not to live there , what are you going to celebrate the hardships african people face daily they are not liberated they are ruled and enslaved by despots , google zimbabwe ,ivory coast ect ect
African continent have the fastest growing economies in the world collectively surpassing India and China.Yes, there is poverty no different from Dominica ,govenerment corruption no different than Dominica stop being bamboozle by western propaganda. Africa vast resource and growing wealth make it a gold mine for investors and entrepreneurs. Black people in the diaspora should take advantage of these opportunities in Africa.
Africa does not need to be taken advantage by anyone and futhermore I doubt you have ever been to africa because if you had you would certainly compare africa to dominica .
Poverty no different from Dominica are you serious , dominica would be considered a paradise , do you actually read or listen or watch T.V. because if you did you might realise just how ludicrous your posting is .
Maybe so but I don’t see that wealth filtering through to the ordinary African. If that were so they would not be so desperate to flee particularly to W. Europe, by any means at the risk of their lives. Apart perhaps from S.Africa I do not see many Europeans emigrating to Africa, do you? Ask yourself why that is so.
The only comparison between africa and dominica is that the govt ments are allowing the chinese to move in and D4lyfe you need to educate yourself , embrassing
WHY are Dominicans so damn ignorant and so proud of it? Africa is indeed making great strides economically, and like all colonial survivors is working its way out of oppression and colonization. The 6 fastest growing economies in this world are in Africa. Fighting to get their land and resources back. You’re accusing others of not being informed but you seem to be less informed. Its a process, it will take time, just like how it will take lots of time to make Dominicans to become more politically mature. No one gets their freedom handed to them. As a tiny island in this world, we would benefit from a unified African Union. Our respect and survival in the world as African people in this world depends on it.. FREE THE LAND!!
Lets face it, every village in Africa has a chief for different tribes,they inherit the Title for being Slave Masters.Up to this present day they have sold 200 young ladies to be use as slaves. Some slaves escaped and landed in Dominica for safety and now you want to celebrate hardship, cruelty and sufferings of our forth fathers. If this is allow to go on,we can only say that,Labour is in power for too long and running out of ideas
Are you seriously suggesting that the reprehensible actions of Boko Haram terrorists are somehow representative of all Africans? That’s offensive and ridiculous.
Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world , they also have serious issues with regards to human rights and religion certainly not a shining light in Africa .
let’s face it Steve, we too have brothers that have adopted fake African names and embraced Islam for the sake of finding their roots. My roots are here in Dominica and we have enough work to do here in Dominica without spending too much time on a continent that has given us little but pain.
@jojo.How Africa cause you pain?Dominicans have a lot self-hate it’s sad.If it was holiday celebrating England and France heritage a lot people will be happy. Eve though neither of countries want black in them.
Do U realize that someone post here calling it’self Jojo called Africa a country. Tons of ignorance.
Let’s face it, you are the slave and choose to remain as such…
@ Efficatious,
For once, can’t people like you separate the affairs of government and private groups? Every single thing which happens is blamed on the government. It’s like Dominica never had any other government before Labor Party and Dominica was totally fine before Labor Party and now suddenly, there is something called government headed by the Labor Party and they are ruining everything? Dominicans like you with that kind of mentality are just too biased, prejudiced, pretentious and just plain ungrateful! Jesus Christ, for once, be unbiased and fair and give thanks to God for what we have. You people make me sick!
steve foerster in not even a person of color and his chastising you,i feel so a shame to be in the same race as you,dominica is a country same as africa is,the issue here is not about a country,it’s about a race,you people are so lost,that is why you all will never be satisfied or find a good government in dominica,it is the hand and doing of god to confuse dominican people,can’t you see,dominica has everything most countries and people in the world would die for,and yet still you all are still miserable.
LONG GONE, the days of african heritage. seems you are not aware of today’s culture. even the so called die hard rastas are involved. my take, ban that african heritage vibes. we’re in the election atmosphere now.
You may hate others but when you hate yourself – not even heaven can help you.
I’m just amazed at how much self loathing exists in my little island. But we will destroy that ignorance with knowledge and intelligence.. it may take a few generations, but its going to happen. thank god for the internet. Ignorance will end in Dominica some day and I’m working to end it. Celebrate Africa.