Thousands enjoy Emancipation Parade

Visiting dignitaries from the African Union, traders from all over West Africa, North America and the Caribbean, and visiting performers, were reportedly among the crowd.

The event began with a drum call at 5 am at the All Stars Panyard on Duke Street and by 8 am the Brian Lara Promenade teemed with spectators and performers, dressed in colourful African wear, waiting for the arrival of Prime Minister Patrick Manning, to start the street procession.

Several streets were blocked off to all vehicular traffic except music trucks from which drumming and African music blasted. Manning, when he showed after 9 o’clock, did not address the gathering, but stood on Independence Square next to Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry, of Culture Tunapuna MP, Eddie Hart, and Kafra Kambom of the Emancipation Support Committe as Elder Akino of the Orisha faith invited “the spirits” to begin the “canboulay 2006.”

Elder Akino poured a drink offering to the gods, whom he called by name, to give them life and invite them to participate in the exercise, he said.

The guardian of the crossroads was invoked to guide them in the path to walk in their quest to reunite the global African family, which was the theme for this year’s emancipation celebrations.

Akino said this year’s celebrations were in honour of Imhotep, builder of the Steppe pyramids in Egypt, and founder of the fourth African dynasty, and Marcus Garvey, shaper of the African mind.

He welcomed all present in the name of Orisha because they were all Yoruba people, he said. Culture Minister, Joan Yuille Williams, in her address, observed that the number of visitors present indicated that the Emancipation celebrations were making a significant thrust into cultural tourism. And while the theme of the event was uniting the global African family, Williams said focus should also be placed on individual family units, especially the youth. She recalled that in the 2005 Budget, Manning emphasised the importance of family in contributing to building a strong nation.

She disclosed that Africans everywhere are learning more and more about each other but during her visit to South Africa last year, found out that the people there didn’t know there were Africans in TT.

However, the concept of Pan-Africanism started right here in this country, she assured, and lauded people like CLR James and Kwame Ture for starting the movement.

Williams said at research centres in North America, Africans were having their genes tested to discover which country they came from. For these, ethnicity was distinct from nationality, she added. The street procession began shortly after Williams spoke with dignitaries leading the way, followed by religious and banner-bearing cultural groups.