Nigerian president to attend Emancipation calypso show

And as part of the welcome of Nigerian President, Olosegun Obasanjo, the West African band High Life will entertain the leader. The event, which is free to the public, takes place at the National Stadium and also features Black Stalin, Ella Andall, Brother Valentino, Mighty Duke, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove, North West Laventille Folk Group, Cummings and the Wailers, Haniff Mohammed and Composer. Showtime is 6.30 pm on Sunday.

However, the action begins today with "Youth Day," where there will be children’s workshops in dance and other cultural art forms, history and storytelling from 10 am at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Village, Queen’s Park Savannah. At the Queen’s Park Savannah paddock at 8 pm, "Night of the Folk," a cultural event, will feature the Maata by the Ireal Lovell Dance Company of Barbados; Malick Folk Performers; Ujamaa Ambatana Dance Company and others.

Tomorrow, patrons can sample a cuisine of authentic African foods prepared in a variety of styles with demonstrations by visiting chefs from the African continent. That event, "Food Fair," starts at 10 am at the village.

Then, at 4 pm, the cultural show "Rhythms of the People" will feature an explosion of traditional and contemporary musical genres from tambu bamboo to skin drums to oil drums. The artistes listed to perform are Lincoln Douglas and Company, Hands of Rhythm, Malick Folk Performers and North West Laventille. At 6.30 pm in the Shebeen, an extempo and vintage calypso show with Black Sage, Abebele and others will precede the "Living Legends" concert.

Produced by the Emancipation Support Committee and Tri Star Promotions, the concert will feature reggae legends Bunny Wailer, Freddie McGregor and Gregory Isaac performing with a live band at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Showtime is 9 pm, and will also feature veteran calypsonian Black Stalin.

On Saturday at 8 pm, Nigerian President Obasanjo will deliver the feature address at the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) dinner at Cascadia Hotel.

On Sunday, men and women will strut on stage showcasing an array of traditional wear and modern Afro-Caribbean designs in "Pan African Fashion Show" at the village.

There will be the "Pan African Spectacular" at the National Stadium at 6.30 pm. The Nigerian President is expected to attend.

On M onday, the Emancipation Day Street Procession "Kambule Parade and Street Procession" will assemble at the Brian Lara Promenade in front of Trinidad House, Treasury Building. Nigeria’s President Obasanjo is expected to join Prime Minister Patrick Manning to lead the procession through the streets of Port-of-Spain ending at the Queen’s Park Savannah for a cultural show.

Later on, a "Flambeaux Proces-sion" leaves the Queen’s Park Savannah for the All Stars panyard, the original site of the Kambule riots of the 1880s. Departure time is 8 pm.