Acting Chief Cultural Officer, Jacinta David has revealed that six persons will receive Golden Drum Awards, while another six will be presented with special recognition awards.
She made that announcement at the launched of the 2016 Emancipation Celebrations held at the Old Mill Cultural Centre on Tuesday.
This year’s Emancipation Celebrations will run from July 12 – July 30.
The Golden Drum Awards, one of the biggest aspects of the annual Emancipation Celebrations, is in its 34th year. It recognizes those who make significant contributions to the development of Dominica’s culture.
“This year six persons will receive Golden Drum Awards as six persons will receive special recognition awards,” she said. “Music, art, pageantry, dance, indigenous culture is some of the artistic disciplines being recognized this year at the Golden Drum Awards ceremony.”
According to David, the Golden Drum is a top culture award held in Dominica.
She stated further that the presentation of special recognition awards will be presented to those who made special contributions in culture for a period of under 20 years, “and to those who have achieved notable success in a particular field of art and culture.”
The ceremony is will take place at the Arawak House of Culture on July 30th, and will commence at 8:00PM.
The 2016 Emancipation Celebrations will kick off with Carré d’ Art de Guadeloupe to be held later today at the Old Mill Cultural Centre in Canefield. The exhibition, organized by the Alliance Francaise, features the work of various Guadeloupean artists, followed by a film on the Grenada Revolution- “Grenada, the Killing of a Revolution” produced by Trinidad and Tobago film maker Bruce Paddington to be hosted at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus on Thursday July 28th from 7.00 p.m. The film will be followed by a discussion.
On Friday July 29, the main event is an Emancipation Walk and Concert in Grand Bay. The walk proceeds from Tèt Lalé to the Hewlett John Centre for a libation ceremony in memory of all those suffered the oppression of slavery. The Emancipation Concert features performances by cultural groups, dancers and drummers and Midnite Groovers.
The Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair, now into its eighth year, have been moved to September 11-12 to attract the participation of students.
However, a Children’s Writing Workshop will be held on July 30 at the UWI Open Campus from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m.
According to a release, the Festival is one of the most successful in the region in terms of standard and quality of presentations, attendance, programme, format and community outreach.
“It boasts a varied programme including lectures, panel discussions, workshops, book fair, performances by local and regional poets, writers, musicians and cultural groups Some of the foremost literary personalities in the Caribbean region and beyond have presented their work and conducted workshops at the festival,” the release states. “These include Derek Walcott (Nobel Laureate), George Lamming and Earl Lovelace among others.”
so who are the awardees?
Good question