Emancipation Day celebrations launched

The 2019 Emancipation Day Celebrations have been launched.

The event being organized by the Cultural Division and the Cultural Council in collaborations with other partners was launched at the Old Mill Cultural Centre on Wednesday.

This year’s celebration is scheduled to run from Friday, July 26th to Saturday, August 3rd. with the theme: “Promoting a Culture of Excellence”

Chief Cultural Officer, Raymond Lawrence  who was addressing the ceremony said a series of events will be held to highlight the occasion.

“The first event this year is scheduled to take place from Friday, July 26th and that is the Emancipation Arts & Craft Exhibition,” he said. “On that day, the craft segment of the exhibition will be held downstairs of the Government Headquarters from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.”

Lawrence continued, “The art exhibition segment will be held here, at the Old Mill Cultural Centre, on the same day but in the evening from 6:00 pm.”

According to him, the works of several local artists and craft persons will be on display.

He mentioned further that the following day on Saturday, July 27th the Cultural Division will be staging an Emancipation Community Showcase at the Pierre Charles Secondary School in Granddbay from 6:00pm.

“This event in Grandbay is a tribute to outstanding women in culture in Dominica, both from the South of the island…,” Lawrence noted.

Performances are expected to come from the Petite Savanne Cultural Group and Dubique bélé Group among others.

He said that on Thursday, August 1st, the cultural division is planning to have an Emancipation Day Fashion Extravaganza with song, poetry and dance at the Alliance Francaise from 7:00pm.

“The fashion show will feature modern creations of our local designers in addition to African and Creole Wear,” Lawrence revealed. “The show will also highlight some of our 2019 Domfesta song participants…”

He said the final event for the Emancipation Day celebrations this year will be the annual Golden Drum Awards ceremony and concert to be held on Saturday 3rd August 2019, at Alliance Francaise from 8:00pm.

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8 Comments

  1. out of south city
    July 27, 2019

    Do we read books to enlighten us concerning our heritage or do we continue to believe the christopher columbus lies? Do we eat from the ground or do we continue to import so-called foods that contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failures etc.,? Are we leaving an African legacy for our children or do we ignore the truth as to who we are as a Great African people? Our ancestors came from the greatest continent, yet we are ashamed of our thick lips, broad nose and coiled hair. We have come so far from ourselves that we cover our natural hair with fake hair, bleach our melanated skin, while those who enslaved our fore-parents want our features.
    I believe that Emancipation Day should be one where we learn about our African heritage and that we should not celebrate that day once a year. We should not be ashamed to be who we are as African people. We have the class system still alive and well in Waitukubuli and I don’t think that we are ready to change.

  2. out of south city
    July 27, 2019

    Let me ask, what is it that we are emancipated from? Don’t we still worship a white image that the slave owners and masters gave us? Are we still celebrating our African Spirituality instead of the christian religion which was forced on our ancestors? Do we still care for each other the way that our fore-parents taught us? Are we united as one nation, or have we allowed politics to divide us in middle? Do we still practice the village concept which our fore-parents established among us or have we become so conceited that we treat each other with bullets instead of using our words to negotiate our matters? Are we continuing to eat from the ground or are we allowing ourselves to be eaten away by foods that are not natural, filled with pesticides, additives and preservatives? Do we clothe ourselves or are we showing to the world our private parts that should be covered? Do we meditate about the good or do we listen to songs that demoralise each other?

  3. NKRUMAH KWAME
    July 22, 2019

    Why is it that during ALL our important celebrations like Independence and Emancipation, there is NOT any activity of an INTELLECTUAL nature?? Always a fete and siwo. Is it a policy decision or have we VOLONTARILY agreed to kill our brains?
    HOTEP!

  4. Ibo france
    July 21, 2019

    Our ancestors worked for centuries on the white man’s sugar plantations for free. They were beaten, starved, spat upon, and many were even murdered. The indignities and pains they suffered were unbearable, yet they survived. Black people are most resilient. Today, most particularly in Dominica, the complexion of the slave owners has changed but oppression, victimization and enslavement is still alive. The government practises Plantation Politics. They have condemned the vast majority of the people to a life of abject poverty. The people are enslaved by Skerrit and his spineless apostles via the Red Clinic, NEP, starvation wages and salaries. While so many of the citizens have to turn to mendicancy to live, Skerrit, his wife, children and his chosen few, live in exquisite affluence. Modern day slavery is alive and well in Dominica. There isn’t much to celebrate until the oppressors are booted from public office.

  5. Not yet
    July 19, 2019

    I wonder if we understand the true meaning of emancipation, do we understand the sacrifice that was made? If we understand it, then why turn right around and walk back into slavery? Slavery was forced upon our people by European slave traders and slave owners. When our fore fathers could no longer bear the shame, the beatings, the manipulations, the humiliation they chose to fight back. They were willing to die so that we could live as free men and women. Now…we have voluntarily re-enslaved ourselves under the DLP. We are “spitting in the faces” of our ancestors by our actions. Our next emancipation day will be on elections night when it is announced that the UWP is victorious. I for one will dance until dawn. 💃 💃 💃…

    • Joseph John
      July 22, 2019

      @not yet,…The ones spitting in the face of our ancestors are the UWP gangbangers who display the attributes of the big plantation owners . those who do not support them are called country bookee and prostitutes. And senior ladies are referred to as old handbags and witches. These unreasonable wicked people (uwp) want people to call them boss-la and refer to their sons as masa. Well masa day done and we shall not turn back time. We will not return to the pre E O Leblanc era when our children could not attend secondary schools which was reserved for the children of the plantation masters. ( Among other issues). Today our children are attending college free RIGHT AT HOMEA and houses are being built for those below the poverty line. If that is not freedom and emancipation I must be walking with my mind closed holding a 5 grader certificate.

  6. Casio
    July 19, 2019

    they put a new statue man. maria had send the last one flying

    • Toto
      July 21, 2019

      Yes, that cheap nasty glassfiber thing always trouble me. It always make me think of advertising for Dickies workwear. Whoever put that status there, a poor copy of the one in Barbados, have no taste. Even Disneyland do a better job than that. It also in the wrong place and a traffic hazard. Put a proper memorial in a place like Peebles park, made out of local stone make it look rugged and though like our people to honor our forefathers and remind us every day where we come from and manage to survive , to inpire us.

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