Minister of Culture and Community Development Michelle Benjamin is inviting all to visit the Lidj Yasu Omowale Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah for a taste of the food, entertainment, history, and culture.
The Minister visited the Emancipation Village on Sunday and had her fill of the display of African heritage, featuring art, crafts, fashion, literature, and music.
“We had the Honourable Prime Minister with us. We made an effort to go through most of the fashion tents, as you would have seen the vast layout of the displays that we have here. I’m still here trying to go to all the different booths. There is a good display of local designers, and plus, we do have some foreign contributions to the park from Africa.”
Minister Benjamin said the large market embodies the spirit of Emancipation as expressed in Trinidad and Tobago.
“This is every creed and race finds an equal space, and spaces like this help us to remember that Emancipation is not just one day. When we gave that holiday, it was a commitment that spaces like this represent that we do not forget.”
Meanwhile, the Head of the Emancipation Support Committee, Zakiya Uzoma Wadada, expressed pleasure at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s visit to the expo.
“I think all of the entrepreneurs were very pleased to see the Prime Minister walk through the village. So, and you know, in a way to come to visit, you know, we’ve had the Prime Minister come in the past. She came to actually see the entrepreneurs and greet them. Of course, she can’t meet everybody because we have 200 entrepreneurs here.”
Mrs. Uzoma-Wadada said that she hopes the visit manifests into the kind of support that they need. She also explained some of the events in store for those who choose to partake in this week’s events at the Village.
“We also start our African Heritage Teen Camp tomorrow. On Tuesday, it is Youth Day. We have Ancestors’ Night, and we have Bois in the Village Monday night. Tuesday is when we have the Shikamoo, and on Wednesday, we will be paying a tribute to Karega Mandela with the Rapso concert. And then Thursday, we have Pan-African Night. And then we have also our Transatlantic Trade and Investment Symposium on Thursday.”