Powerful rhythms in the village

For tonight’s opening ceremony, the ESC predicts that the Jean Pierre Complex will resound with the powerful rhythms, songs and dancers of the International Garifuna Band from Central America and Lesedi from South Africa, along with our very own Hands of Rhythm and Signal Hill Choir from Tobago.

The Garifuna Band is a merger of the versatile and dynamic Garifuna Stars Band and the Punta Rock Souljahs (Isanigu). Referred to as the Black Caribs, their music pays tribute to the legacy of Garifuna ancestors and tilts heavily toward traditional and original compositions in traditional style.

Lesedi is a dynamic group of singers, dancers and actors, whose performances always tell an enchanting story. Their story is that of African history. Lesedi has distinguished itself from other cultural groups in that they have a research team that goes out to the rural areas to talk to the elders about their way of life. Reigning Calypso Monarch Luta and many others will also perform.

The design of the Lidj Yasu Omowale Village has been given a contemporary and exciting design by Studio 66 Art Support Community’s artistic Makemba Kunle, who has created a design concept from the architectural genius of ancient Egypt. Before reaching the entrance to the village, one passes through the Jean Pierre gates guarded by mighty, obelisks, and then past an isle of torches on the right and giant murals on the left. An obelisk is a three-sided, ancient Egyptian structure, hewn out of one piece of stone rising from a solid base into a narrow point.

The village will also have a market place reminiscent of scenes found in a traditional African market. The market place will feature entrepreneurs from Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Guyana.

The emancipation weekend will continue with the formal opening of the art exhibition tomorrow at 6 pm. The exhibition will run until Tuesday and will open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. “Pan Jamming”, the Emancipation 2006 CLICO Pan Night, will also take place tomorrow from 7.30 pm. This show will feature leading steel orchestras and jazz ensembles. Organisers are using this event to celebrate three living musical geniuses Anthony William, Ray Holman and Len Boogsie Sharpe.

On Saturday the village will come alive with the scents of an assortment of tempting dishes. The Food Fair will run from 11 am to 2 pm and organisers are inviting the public to partake of delicacies from the African continent in the ambience of an open air food court.

The Rhythms of a Global African people, a showcase of drumming, will begin on the same day from 2-6 pm. The Improvised drums of Woodbrook Playboyz, percussionist drums of Caribbean vibes and the diasporic drums of an Afro-Venezuelan group will participate in this show.

Saturday night at 8 pm the living legends, Bunny Wailer, Culture, Glen Washington and Shadow, will perform at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

On Sunday morning from 10 am there will be a family day and an international forum at 5pm that evening. At 7pm there will be a fashion and folk expression show.

Miriam Makeba will perform at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Village on Monday night at 8 pm. The show which is entitled “Three Queens in One Concert” will feature Miriam Makeba, Ella Andall and Singing Sandra.

Emancipation day celebrations will begin at 6 am with the “Kambule 2006 Street Procession” from the Brian Lara Promenade to the Hasely Crawford Stadium. There will be an all day cultural programme at the village. The day will end with a flambeau procession from the Hasely Crawford Stadium to the All Stars Pan Theatre which begins at 8pm.