The countdown to Emancipation Day has begun with the official opening of the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah, where African culture, history and tradition are being celebrated through music, food, fashion and education.
The Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village has officially opened at the Queen’s Park Savannah, ushering in the main celebrations leading up to Emancipation Day.
The village transforms the Queens Park Savannah into a vibrant showcase of African heritage, offering visitors several days of cultural experiences through traditional clothing, jewellery, crafts, cuisine, music and more.
Chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee, Zakiya Uzoma Wadada, explained that the village is named in honour of Lidj Yasu Omowale, recognizing his pivotal role in advancing the annual observance.
“For those of you who do not know, why we call our village Lidj Yasu Omowale, he was one of the founding, the founding chairman because of the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago back in 1992.”
Minister of Culture and Development, Michelle Benjamin said Emancipation is about far more than the end of slavery.
“As we honour our ancestors, we are reminded that emancipation was never simply the breaking of physical chains. It was the awakening of the human spirit. It was the affirmation of dignity and the enduring pursuit of justice, equality, and opportunity for all. Today we continue that journey by embracing knowledge, celebrating our identity, and ensuring that the young ones know the history, and that is important.”
The Minister said this year’s celebrations honour the lasting contributions of people of African descent, while highlighting the rich cultural diversity that defines Trinidad and Tobago.
“We will be celebrating not only the enduring contributions of our African people of Trinidad and Tobago, but also the vibrant cultural mosaic that defines us as a nation. This event reminds us that our diversity is not a source of division, but it is our greatest strength, and it is what unites us the most. Our African heritage is deeply woven into our rhythm, our culture, our music, our rich cuisine, which you will enjoy right here. Our language, our spirituality, it’s all with us.”
The Emancipation Village will host cultural performances, educational displays, culinary experiences and exhibitions leading up to the Emancipation Day celebrations on August 1st.