3rd Edition Newsletter 2015
2015 EMANCIPATION CELEBRATIONS
Duane Stephenson serenades the audience at the 2015 Pan African Spectacular
Economist Mr. Afra Raymond delivers his presentation at the 15th Annual TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Symposium
Fine shopping at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Village
2015 Kambule Procession
Several members of the Board of Directors of ESCTT pose with Dr. Julius Garvey at the Forum on Africa and its Diaspora event
Mr. Rawle Gibbon’s Jouvay Ayiti makes a loud statement on the injustices face by Haitian nationals in the Dominican Republic.
Awa Sangho shows off her moves at the 2015 Pan African Spectacular
A replica of the iconic Olbesiki which can be found in Axum Ethipoia framed by an exhibit paying homage to Yaa Aswenta at the Lidji Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village
San Fernando Old Tech Steel Orchestra demonstrate their skill on the steel drum and pan
2015 Emancipation Festivities Highlights
Each year, August 1st presents Trinbagoians, particularly those of African descent with a unique opportunity for reflection on the sacrifice made by our ancestors and the steps needed to take to fulfil their vision for their progenies. This year’s Emancipation Festival hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago was an incredible success, featuring week long activities in the field of culture, education and business. The highlight of the weeklong celebration was the Kambule Procession which took place on August 1st and commenced with libations at All Stars Pan Yard. The theme for this year’s festival was Stand Up for Justice, in part inspired by the United Nations momentous decision to declare the decade 2015-2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent. The Emancipation Festival also paid homage to those who fought on the side of justice for the 1970’s Black Power Revolution, this year being the 45th anniversary of the revolution which shook Trinidad and Tobago to its core and brought about tremendous positive change in society. 2015 also marked the 177th Anniversary of Emancipation from Chattel Slavery. ESCTT was honoured to have Dr. Julius Garvey son of legendary Pan Africanist Marcus Garvey, Finance expert Mr.Wale Idris Ajibade and Grammy Nominee Awa Sangho join hundreds of local community and pan African groups in this year’s Emancipation Festival as we honoured our ancestors. The
2015
Concert
Pan
African
hosted by the ESCTT featured headline act Everton Blender. This reggae icon wooed the crowd both young and old with his classics such as ‘Lift up your head’ and ‘Blow Your Nose’. Joining him on stage was Grammy nominee Awa Sangho coming all the way from Mali, Duane Stephenson and Queen Ifrica two melodious reggae artistes and Trinidad and Tobago’s very own Kushite. Also gracing the stage complementing the performing artistes
complementing the performing artistes was the dynamic Wasafoli. This musical ensemble made for a truly spectacular event, which left patrons wanting more.
Participants at the The15th Trans-Atlantic Annual Trade and Investment Symposium Lidji Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village :
Queen Ifrica shoes us why she is the soultress of reggae music at the 2015 Pan African Concert Youth
Steel
Concert
and
Pan
Pan
Jazz;
Pan reigned on the 30th July when various youth steel bands such as the BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra and San Fernando Old Tech Steel Orchestra among others serenaded the Emancipation Village providing the ideal atmosphere for shopping and dining. Later that night the elders came out the likes of Pan Elders Steel Orchestra, Arima Golden Symphony, San Juan East Side Symphony and many more demonstrating their talent and years of training. The
Youth
Concert
Each year the Lidji Yaus Omowale Emancipation Village offers an opportunity for the ESCTT to support micro entrepreneurs. In addition the Emancipation Village provides a forum for entrepreneurs from the continent to sell their goods as well as expose the public to new trends in fashion and home décor coming out of African continent. This year the Emancipation Village boasted exciting activities particularly for children including a bouncy castle and obstacle course as well as a mechanical bull.
Unity
which took nd the 2 of August, took sensational acts the likes David, Jamelody. Prophet and many more.
place on off with of King Benjamin
Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium:
The15th Trans-Atlantic Annual Trade and Investment Symposium saw featured speakers such Mr. Afra Raymond, Mr. Wale Ajibade, Dr. Julius Garvey and many more share their thoughts on ways in which the Transatlantic Slave Trade could be made anew. The theme for the event was Reinventing the Triangle, such a fitting theme allowed speakers to expound on the numerous investment opportunities which could be found in Africa.
Blissful drummers thoroughly enjoying Emancipation Celebrations at the Lidji Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village
We are mindful that the upcoming nine years is a period brimming with potential for the African community. Opportunities to demand justice on a global scale and equity in areas of education and development. We must keep forging ahead confident that are our future generations will live in a world unblemished by racism, exploitation and injustice
Forum on Africa and is Diaspora: The Inheritors Speak Features son of the Father of Garveyism, Dr. Julius Garvey
Featured Speaker and son of the late Marcus Garvey, Dr. Juluis Garvey
Marcus Garvey lived what he spoke managing to establish the Black Starline, a shipping company and a chain of supermarkets and laundry mats among other enterprises. Reflecting on the relatively young age of his father’s passing, Dr. Julius maintains his father was a key figure in his upbringing and remains to this day his role model. Dr. Julius Garvey is a cardiovascular surgeon whose practice, Garvey Vascular Specialists is based in New York. He has served on the Boards of various organization such as The Board for the Education of People of African Ancestry, The Zumbi Foundation, The Brotherhood, The Marcus Garvey Committee International and many others. He has also done significant work with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and was in Trinidad briefly prior to the Emancipation Celebrations for a conference on food sustainability hosted by UWI St. Augustine. Following in his father’s footsteps Dr. Garvey is a committed philanthropist who uses much of his revenue to aid in the holistic development of African people. For example he has built a school in Jamaica and a school and medical clinic in Senegal, rehabilitated the mausoleum of Kwame Nkrumah in Nkroful, Ghana, where he has been enstooled as Nana Kwesi III the Safohene. He has also planted 500,000 trees in Northern Ghana and has visited South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Malwai, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Cote D'lvoire, Kenya and Senegal on a variety of missions.
Senegal on a variety of missions. Before his departure Dr. Garvey met with members of the All Mansions of Rastafrai and visited the stone monument erected to honor his father. He also received the prestigious Henry Sylvester award for Excellence from Mr. Kambon Chairman of ESCTT. It is evident that Dr Garvey is doing his part to ensure that the late great Marcus Garvey’s vision becomes a reality. Dr Garvey’s willingness to share his knowledge and personal story further ensures that persons of African descent throughout the world are motivated to do their part too.
On July 28th the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) hosted its annual Forum on Africa and its Diaspora with the theme The Inheritors Speak. Featured speaker Dr. Julius Garvey son of the great Pan Africanist Marcus Garvey delivered a moving lecture on the importance of his father’s vision and the necessity for the African community to see it come to fruition for the mutual benefit of all of mankind. He further emphasized the concept of living in harmony not only with ourselves but with the environment, he argued that such an approach would ensure the continual survival of the African community and their future Dr. Julius Garvey stands by the monument generations. erected to honor the late great Marcus Garvey, Speaking on his father and his legacy, Dr. his father. Garvey describes this stalwart in African It is evident that Dr Garvey is doing consciousness as a humble individual who his part to ensure that the late great deeply believed that if persons of African Marcus Garvey’s vision becomes a descent worked together they could reality. Dr Garvey’s willingness to accomplish not only economic independence share his knowledge and personal but complete liberation. Marcuus Garvey lived story further ensures that persons of what he spoke managing to establish the African descent throughout the world Black Starline, a shipping company and a are motivated to do their part too. chain of supermarkets and laundry mats among other enterprises. Reflecting on the ESCTT host conference on the United Nations relatively young age of his father’s passing, Dr. Julius maintains his fatherInternational was key figure Decade for People of African Descent in his upbringing and remains to this day his role , Augustine, Mr. Khafra Kambon Chairman On model. the 22nd August Pan Africanist of ESCTT and Ms, Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada organizations from across Trinidad and Executive Director of ESCTT. Dr. Ralph Tobago gathered together to discuss the Henry a well-known economist, Dr. United Nations International Decade for Eugenia Springer, Ms. Entiou Springer People of African Descent (IDPAD). Talks and Ms. Roxanne Mohammed were centered on issues affecting Afro among the facilitators guiding discourse Trinbagoains and the role civil society can within working groups. Participants of the conference were also play in solving said issues. The conference entertained by Idakeda Group as they entailed a presentations by Dr. Fergus Working groups engrossed in talks at the reenacted a slave uprising in Head of the History Department of the National Civil Society Conference on the UN commemoration of the Haitian Revolution. IDPAD University of the West Indies St, Augustine, Mr. Khafra Kambon Chairman of ESCTT
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