This week, Jamaica celebrates Emancipation and Independence, also known as Emancipendence!
Yesterday, August 1, was the 173rd celebration of the emancipation (freeing) of Jamaicans slaves from British slave masters.
(The first Emancipation Day was celebrated on August 1, 1838).
This week Saturday, August 6, will be celebrated as Jamaica's Independence Day - the day when we got our Independence from being a British Colony...
...When we were finally allowed to govern ourselves.
Jamaica will be 49 years old on Saturday.
Emancipation and Independence were memorable achievements by our forefathers, that should be rightly celebrated...
...And indeed we do!!
For our Independence celebrations, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) stages several events that ensure the retention of our culture:
E.g. there is:
1) The Festival Song Competition, where ten (10) finalists (pulled from the entire 14 parishes), sing popular songs composed especially for Festival. They vie for $1 million dollars in prize money.
2) The Gospel Song Competition, where 10 finalists also vie for $1 million in prizes - but in the Gospel genre (category) of music
3) A Festival Queens Contest where young ladies from the 14 parishes vie for the title of Festival Queen. The Festival Queen is not so much judged by her beauty, but on her poise and cultural awareness
4) Mello-Go- Roun' - where children, teens and adults who came first in the JCDC National Festival of the Arts Competition, perform their winning entries in song, poetry, drama,speech and dance, throughout this week, at the National Arena.
And , who could forget Denbigh -the annual agricultural show put on by the Ministry of Agriculture, over the Emancipation weekend?
- Where the best of Jamaican farm products and animals are on display.
Every year, thousands of Jamaicans living in the diaspora (abroad), return home for Emancipendence celebrations in their own communities.
And I can tell you from what I'm hearing, they are having a grand time!
So come, join us this Emancipendence as we celebrate the rich heritage of our people...
...One nation, out of many nations, moving together as one!
Gillian
