It was a vibrant and entertaining display of African culture on Wednesday July 24 at the National Library, Port of Spain as NALIS, in collaboration with the Emancipation Support Committee, hosted a cultural show in commemoration of African Emancipation Day. 

The audience was enamoured by the drumming, dances, songs, and poetry performed by the cast, which included mostly persons under the age of 18 years, prompting the audience to conclude that Trinidad and Tobago’s culture is in safe hands.  

The cast were twelve-year-old Aquilla Scott, who delivered a poem titled, ‘African Child’; Judah Barker who had the sizable crowd singing along to his pan pieces, ‘Portrait of Trinidad and Tobago’ by the Mighty Sniper and ‘Redemption’ by Bob Marley.

A’janae King Fraser, a former Junior Calypso Monarch and current sixth form student of Bishops Anstey and Trinity College East connected with and stirred up the audience as she delivered Black Stalin’s, ‘More Come’.  Everyone lapped up the words coming from the mouth of the 2024 First Citizens National Poetry Slam champion, Shakira Burton, as her spoken word piece captured the struggles and triumphs of the African experience. 

Seasoned Rapso artiste and calypsonian, Sista Ava engaged the audience with her call and response.  As the show started with drumming, so it ended with the spectacular display of talent by the drummers and dancers of the San Juan South Cultural Organisation.

Ms Zayika Uzoma-Wadada, Executive Director of the Emancipation Support Committee and Neil Parsanlal, Chairman of the Board of NALIS, delivered remarks at the start of the programme. Both spoke about the significance of the African Emancipation celebration.  Parsanlal said, “As we celebrate Emancipation 2024, we reflect on the heroism, the awe inspired courage and indomitable will of our fore parents as well as the legacy bequeathed to us.”  

Through NALIS’ hosting of programmes such as these, the Authority aims to foster an appreciation for cultural differences and to honour and respect the freedom and cultural diversity that makes Trinidad and Tobago a unique and beautiful country.