in CeleBration of nelson Mandela Week – events

Poster Co MP etition

the nelson Mandela Poster Competition

Friday, May 16 – Wednesday, June 25 the Nelson Mandela Poster Competition provided an opportunity for children (12 and under) and young adults (13 – 16 Years) to engage in a positive and creative activity geared to stimulate artistic expression as well as encourage research on the life and work of the late Nelson Mandela. n elson Mandela Media l aun C h

Tuesday, June 17 national library and information systems authority (nalis)

Port of spain a C all to all faiths aC ross the nation to pray for Peace, service and Compassion

Friday, July 11-13

‘h ail Mandela’ Celebration

Saturday, July 12 scarborough esplanade tobago

Con C ert

“Madiba… a tribute to nelson Mandela”

Monday July 14, 2014 at 6.30p.m. national academy for the Performing arts (naPa), Port of spain the concert featured Jeaunes Agape Choir, Wasafoli trinidad and tobago, Susan Mohip Dance Company, tamba gwindi, UWI Steel and UWI Arts Chorale among others.

“MADIBA… A Tribute to Nelson Mandela” was a concert experience that fused together some of trinidad and tobago’s most unique and iconic performances in dance, music and oratory all in celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela giving a fitting tribute to his global impact and inspiration. An actor assumed the role of Nelson Mandela and presented short excerpts of his speeches; this acted as a dramatic thread to all the items on the programme and gave some historical insight into his achievements. Multimedia was utilized to create scenery and punctuate performances and speeches. this was achieved by using the large projector screen at NAPA with content that included images of Mandela, his quotations, positive scenes resulting from the South African uprisings and parallel activities around the world.

Calypso took a central role in this presentation because the life and times of Mandela were a healthy source of inspiration for many exponents of the artform. there was balance in terms of genres and repertoire that reflected the overarching themes of respect, love and peace, central to Mandela’s existence.

s C reening of the do C u M entaries

Celebrating the life and Work of nelson

Mandela

Monday, July 14 – Friday, July 18 nalis, Port of spain nalis e

Xhibition

“Mandela... The Evolution of A World Icon”

Monday, July 14 – Friday, July, 25 nalis, Port of spain t rinidad and tobago n ational Co MM ission for unes Co

‘Celebrating nelson Mandela: the Mandela effect’ r ally

Tuesday, July 15 harris Promenade, san fernando

Panel d is C ussion

Wednesday, July 16 naPa, Port of spain the Nelson Mandela Committee hosted a panel discussion entitled, “Mandela…. The Evolution Of A World Icon” . the distinguished panel included:

• Professor andy knight, Director, Institute of International Relations, UWI, St. Augustine

• dr. Michael toussaint, Lecturer, Department of h istory, Faculty of humanities and Education, UWI, St. Augustine

• Mr. george Mubita, Lecturer, University of the Southern Caribbean and, the event stimulated discussion on the varied aspects of the man, the leader, freedom fighter, social activist, and statesman that was Nelson Mandela. r e C e P tion hosted by the Prime Minister

• a representative of the south african high Commission to trinidad and tobago.

Thursday, July 17 diplomatic Centre st. ann’s, Port of spain

Mandela a nniversarY daY Celebration

Friday, July 18 brian lara Promenade, Port of spain trinidad and tobago via an Inter-Ministerial Committee, headed by the Ministry of National Diversity and Social Integration participated in this celebration with “Mandela…. The Evolution Of A World Icon” – a day’s activities at the brian Lara Promenade. In celebrating the life of this revered personality, individuals were inspired to understand that they too could become a positive force in the world through their own actions. the event was precluded by a series of interactive performances in public spaces to alert the public to the celebrations which took place on that date, and included poetry and commissioned performances by live bands.

In November 2009, the UN general Assembly acknowledged the former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner’s contribution to humanity by declaring the 18th of July as Nelson Mandela International Day, a day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy.

Con C ert

“Calypso throughout the Years: Madiba lives”

Friday, July 18 City hall, san fernando the production also showcased historical events in trinidad and tobago which coincided with or took place during the anti-apartheid movement. Some examples were the calypsos written against the ban of the West Indian Cricket team’s tour to South Africa between 1982-1983 and 1983-1984.

In honour of late the South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, a live production and ceremony entitled “Calypso throughout the Years: Madiba Lives” was hosted. the production featured songs composed during Nelson Mandela’s historic struggle against apartheid from 1941 to his arrest in 1962.

Other calypsos included:

Mighty Duke – Uhuru (Freedom) (1977)

Valentino – Stay up Zimbabwe (1978)

Mighty Shadow – Free South Africa (1989).

Pi C torial Mandela: evolution of a World icon

July 1-31, 2014

Various venues the Ministry of National Diversity and Social Integration in collaboration with the Ministry of the Arts & Multiculturalism mounted a series of exhibitions which paid tribute to the life and times of world icon Nelson Mandela. these pictorial displays, collectively entitled Mandela: Evolution of a World Icon, boasted a combination of eye-catching, and iconic images from Mandela’s amazing personal journey, as well as informative boards detailing his struggles and successes. this historic series sought to balance aesthetic beauty with significant information on Mandela, his legacy and his contribution to freedom for all. the showcase detailed core components of Mandela’s political life and career, honoring his role as a humanitarian and activist while also speaking to his stance for equality. the exhibitions maintained the established level of excellence that the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, Remember When Institute has become known for, and it continues the work of celebrating and cherishing our connected humanity.

Several venues were used to engage the public throughout the entirety of this free, five-week exhibition, including – the ANR Robinson Airport in tobago, – the water taxi hub in Port of Spain and San Fernando, – the exterior of the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism building on Frederick Street, Port of Spain.

All events were FREE to the public

MANDELA, th the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) led by Mankandal Daaga, the former geddes granger, was in the vanguard of the anti-apartheid movement in trinidad and tobago. NJAC held several rallies and the party promoted the visit of a number of African National Congress (ANC) representatives who spoke at African Liberation Day and the Emancipation Day Commemoration.

One of the many passionate opponents of racism in South Africa and trinbago’s foremost antiapartheid champion was the late george Weekes, the former President- general of the Oilfields Workers trade Union (OW tU) and, along with the late Joe Young, a giant of the postindependence labour movement.

Among these invitees were Victor Mashabela, now Chief Director, Department of trade and Industry, South Africa, and Ms. Jeannette Ndhlovu, now South Aftrican high Commissioner to ghana. In addition, the National Action Cultural Committee, (NACC), the cultural arm of NJAC, facilitated a drama presentation at the independent, “non-racial” Market theatre of Johannesburg a couple of years after its opening on 21 June 1976. there was also an Anti-Apartheid Organisation (AAOtt ) formed in trinidad and tobago on 12 June 1982, with retired diplomat Eustace Seignoret as President. Later, internationally renowned historian, Dr. James Millette became Chairman. the AAOtt held a number of meetings seeking essentially to raise consciousness about the deplorable situation in South Africa.

In 1981, NJAC protested the deportation from trinidad and tobago of South African trade unionist, Drake Koka, general Secretary of the South African black Allied Workers Union (bAWU), who had been invited for the African Liberation Day and Emancipation Day observances.

At that time the government of trinidad and tobago allowed South Africans of any race to come into trinidad and tobago only because of trinidad and tobago’s stance against apartheid. Unfortunately, Mr. Koka was deported before the Ministry of External affairs could grant a stay of the deportation order.

In January 1983, NJAC protested the decision of certain Caribbean test cricketers to play in South Africa. NJAC considered it a gross betrayal of the people of South Africa who were struggling against apartheid.

Leading members of the AAOtt were present outside the Queen’s Park Oval from 1 - 5 March 1986 when nationals protested the presence of members the English Cricket team who had played in South Africa the previous year. On 5 March police broke up the protest, which led the trinidad Express to headline its 6 March story, England beat West Indies — Licks Inside, Licks Outside.

In 1985, the country’s then Minister of External Affairs, Errol Mahabir, delivered an address at the United Nations general Assembly, calling attention to the situation in South Africa, and asking “how Many More Must Die?” this, in fact, was the title of a calypso sung that year by the Mighty Duke. It was one of many calypsos opposing the system sung at that time.

Life on the African continent and the life of Nelson Rolilahla Mandela has been the subject of many the visit to this country in 2004 of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was one of the most memorable visits by a foreign dignitary in recent history. It should be noted that the government of trinidad and tobago was a signatory to the Commonwealth Countries gleneagles Agreement of 1977, which led to the isolation of South Africa in international sporting circles.

Calypsos. the anti-apartheid struggle led our calypsonians to play a greater role in the fight. Duke’s “how Many More Must Die?”, Stalin’s “More Come”, Valentino’s “Stay Up Zimbabwe,” bally’s “Chaka Chaka”, King Sparrow’s “Isolate South Africa and “Invade South Africa” were among many other songs that contributed to the struggle.

In fact, the list of calypsos protesting apartheid was phenomenal. A very small sampling gives a very good idea of the scope covered by these songs of protest: the Mighty Sparrow - “I Owe No Apology”, black Stalin - “More Come”, tobago Crusoe - “Don’t Cry Now/South Africa”, David Rudder - “Victory Is Certain”, Singing Sandra - “Madiba”, brother Resistance - “Children of Soweto”, Sheynnene hazell - “Long Walk to Freedom”, Superior - “ time bomb”, Denyse Plummer - “Welcome home Mandela”, Rootsman - “Oh! Africa”, and Shurlaine hendrickson “Oh! Mandela”.

Mandela’s links to world music are as significant as they are extensive. In the aftermath of Mandela’s work with the militant arm of the African National Congress (ANC) and his being jailed by the South African government; international musical protests helped to keep Mandela’s imprisonment and the oppressive nature of the apartheid system in the political consciousness of peoples around the world.

In 1987, at the Commonwealth heads of government conference in Vancouver, british Columbia, Canada, the Prime Minister of trinidad and tobago, the late ANR Robinson, stood with the late Rajiv ghandi, Prime Minister of India, and Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, in a face-off against the late Margaret thatcher of britain, in her defiant support of the apartheid regime in South Africa and her refusal to agree to further sanctions against them.

For much of the 1980’s the Oilfields Workers trade Union (OW tU) led a series of its own activities providing support to the anti-apartheid awareness movement in this country. the union on its own and in collaboration with the Seamen and Waterfront Workers trade Union (SWW tU) led activities at ports in trinidad and tobago by refusing to attend to any ships taking supplies to or from South Africa. the SWW tU also helped to bring representatives of the Congress of South African trade Unions (COSAtU) to trinidad and tobago for talks on the nature of the social struggle in that country during that period. Such activities helped raise the consciousness of the local population as to trinidad and tobago’s persistent anti-apartheid efforts.

In 1987, the government of trinidad and tobago hosted a visit to this country by the late Oliver tambo, then the political leader of the African National Congress (ANC). As a show of solidarity and support for the work of the ANC, in the context of the anti-apartheid struggles, Mr. tambo was afforded the status of a head of State and was allowed to address a special joint sitting of the house of Representatives and the Senate trinidad and tobago was honoured by Nelson Mandela when he visited the country in the year 2004; it was to be his last international trip. trinidad and tobago should remember his parting words, “I came for two reasons: because I love you very much and because it is not easy to love an old man. So I urge you to love South Africa and this old man.”

At that time, too, anti-apartheid campaigner, bishop Desmond tutu, was also welcomed in official and unofficial circles in trinidad and tobago during this period and spoke to large audiences everywhere, including those at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.