ACDA launches Emancipation programme

Eric PhillipsGeorgetown: The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) will be celebrating the 175th emancipation anniversary with a series of activities to commemorate the historic occasion.

Under the theme “Honouring our heroes of 1823”, ACDA rolled out activities planned for Emancipation Day 2013

 ACDA executive member Eric Phillips said this year the association is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and will be hosting its 19th Emancipation Day festival at the National Park on Freedom Day.

He said the 1st August, 2013 is a very special event and is being celebrated in a significant year, which is also the 175th anniversary of emancipation, and the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion.

 This year, Freedom Day also falls on the 190th anniversary of the Demerara Rebellion, which occurred in 1823.

As tradition, ACDA will be honouring an African country, and this year, the country to be honoured is Mali in West Africa.

“Mali, West Africa is the home of the famous Timbuktu libraries and Africa’s most mystical tribe. ACDA traditionally chooses one of the countries in Africa and honour it,” he said.