Sando Mayor hosts Emancipation Expo

African fashions reigned as many people were seen wearing colourful ethnic attire at the event. Going with the theme “Ethiopianism,” historian and activist, Haile Nikaeh Worlde Amlale spoke about Ethiopia and the people who came as slaves to TT from that country.

Amlale described Ethiopia as the holy land, saying the Bible endorses and identifies Ethiopia conclusively as the true Israel and the Ethiopians as true Israelites.

He said the existence of Ethiopia and the life of Ethiopians were both based on and intertwined by seven covenants: The Matrimony of Adam and Eve; The Rainbow of Noah; The bread and wine Offering of Melchizedek; The Circumcision of Adam; The Ark of Moses; The Throne of David and The crucified Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

“Not only do the religious and cultural and social fabric of Ethopian lives but their educational, economical and political principles emanate from these seven covenants. This is Ethiopianism,” Amlale said, adding that Ethiopians were chosen people and the children of Amlak (God).

“I am speaking of Ethiopians inside and outside of Ethiopia,” he ended.

The booths on Harris Promenade offered a wide range of African products including leather craft, jewelry and handcraft.

There were also African dresses, skirts, dashikis, trousers and a variety of plants and snacks on sale. On August 1, 1985 Trinidad and Tobago became the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

It replaced Columbus Discovery Day.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church marks twenty five years of celebrating Emanipation in TT.

This church has eight branches in Trinidad and one in Tobago. It was founded by the late Dr Liqe Kihanet Abraham Garnet Cecil Springer.