The theme for this year's ACDA Emancipation Celebrations, to be held in the National Park, will be `South Africa' because the country is making significant progress in its efforts to put an end to racial segregation, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said yesterday.
The release further stated that Violet Jean-Baptiste, Public Relations Officer of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) said that since the association was formed in 1992, the local emancipation celebrations have been highlighting an African country as its theme every year.
According to the release, there will be special features including a children's parade and tents depicting South Africa's artistic talents and the dress modes of many of the tribes and their music. The release said that there will be information booths depicting African contributions to Guyana and other countries with special emphasis on the village of Victoria, celebrating Guyanese Ivan Van Sertima's "pool of knowledge" on African History.
The release said that the activities will start at 6 am with a "sunrise service" but the gates will be officially opened at 10 am with several sporting events taking place including circle tennis, football, dominoes and cricket competitions with offerings of trophies and monetary prizes to winners. Prizes will also be awarded for competitions such as the met-em-gee and cook-up rice cookout. Monetary awards will be presented to winners of the Shanto singing competition, featuring the Yoruba Singers and E.C. Connection Band.
The Best African Dress Parade will take place in the vicinity of the football ground of the National Park starting from 2 pm the release said. The ACDA's children groups will also be performing on a stage situated close to the Carifesta entrance of the Park.
At 3 pm the grand cultural presentation will begin on the tarmac, where groups from various regions will showcase how much of the African culture has survived in song, dance and other forms. The GINA release added that some of the groups expected are from Vergenoegen, Buxton, Ithaca and Beterverwagting. It said that some diplomatic missions based in Guyana have also indicated their interest in displaying some aspects of African Culture practised in other countries.