Library celebrates Africa Day at UWI

Africa Day 2024 celebrations involving Barbados and three West African nations were an exchange of culture, heritage and talent among children.

Scores of primary school children from Barbados, The Gambia, Nigeria and Liberia took part in a student exchange by visiting each other’s homeland virtually. Various schools and organisations across the four states gave rich presentations highlighting the unique qualities of their respective cultural art forms.

The National Library Service, in association with the Division of Culture, organised the event as scores of children aged eight to 11 took part in the third annual staging of the event. The Barbadian segment was held at the Roy Marshall Teaching Complex at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

In an interactive educational experience, the children got the opportunity to see that through various artistic expressions and history, Barbados and Africa were culturally connected across thousands of miles.

The students also got the opportunity to ask each other questions about their way of life, weather, national symbols and places of interest in each other’s hometown.

Schools in each West African country gave presentations in the form of dance, music, song, spoken word and storytelling.

In dance and drumming performances from Pinelands Creative Workshop, the Barbados Landship and the Tuk Band represented the land of cou cou and flying fish as well as storyteller Deanne Kennedy, who indulged the audience in folk songs and retold the alphabet showcasing all things Bajan.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight told the young attendees it was important to understand one’s culture and past as people may want to define who they are based on the colour of their skin and where they come from.

She added that learning about one’s history and heritage builds self-confidence and awareness.

“Africa Day is exactly about that, instilling a sense of pride about us as people of colour, Senator Munro-Knight said. “It is about remembering who we are as part of the African continent, it is about remembering that we have connections with Africa and that should instil in us a sense of pride in terms of who we are.

“I hope that fundamentally you understand that this day and the reason why we have Africa Day is because, for a very long time, everybody thought that our colour, who we are and the African continent did not necessarily have value. They didn’t respect the African continent and didn’t respect us within the Caribbean because of our colour and our history. Africa Day is about us lifting our shoulders. It is about us saying to the world that we have value. It is about saying to the world that people of colour have excellence. It is about saying to the world that our culture and who we are is important.”

As the Barbadian students, most of them wearing African prints and clothing looked on, prizes were awarded for the best-dressed male and female students and best hairstyle. Three students from St George Primary School – Ras Isaiah Taitt, Nyara Johnson and Ariah Hackett respectively – won the categories. The school was also dubbed the most outstanding school for the occasion. Prizes were also awarded to Charles F Broome and West Terrace Primary.

(sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb)