Garvey’s son joins PM in rededicating amphitheatre

Nearly nine decades after Marcus Mosiah Garvey addressed Barbadians at Queen’s Park, his son stood at the historic site on Thursday as the amphitheatre bearing the Jamaican National Hero’s name was rededicated.

Dr Julius Garvey joined Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in unveiling a commemorative plaque at the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre during the Season of Emancipation 2026 celebrations.

The ceremony highlighted the significance of Garvey’s 1937 visit to Barbados, when he addressed Barbadians at Queen’s Park during a period of social unrest across the Caribbean.

Programme Advisor in the Office of Pan African Affairs and Heritage and the Division of Youth and Culture Rodney Grant said Dr Garvey’s presence made the occasion particularly significant.

“We couldn’t let this moment pass with the son of Dr Garvey here in Barbados. We couldn’t let this moment pass sir and not do a rededication of this space that your father blessed in 1937 when he came here to the Steel Shed and delivered words of wisdom to Barbados.”

Grant reminded the audience that Garvey visited Barbados during “a very trying time”, noting that the island and wider Caribbean were experiencing significant upheaval.

He also paid tribute to members of the Rastafarian movement for preserving Garvey’s teachings despite decades of persecution.

“They were the ones… they kept the fire of Garvey burning,” he said. “Brethren were beaten. They were jailed. They were sent to the madhouse just for spouting the wisdom of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Look at us now. Look at where we are.”

Grant said Barbados was now working to ensure Garveyism received the academic recognition it deserved.

“We seek now to bring the epistemology of Garveyism into academia. We are looking to reshape this thing that we looked at in a very negative way because of who was sending the message.

“But I’m happy that we have been able to come to this point where we now could appreciate the wisdom of your father and what he brought not only to us but to the world, the wisdom of bringing African people together and the call for us to unite.”

Grant added that the expansion of the Marcus Garvey celebrations from a single day to a week reflected the growing appreciation of his contribution.

“The Prime Minister indicated; we used to do just one day. The Prime Minister pushed us to do an entire week, and I’m happy for that. I think we have an exciting week.”

A representative of the Theocracy Reign Order of the Nyahbinghi, Mount Carmel, Jecoliah Small described Garvey as “the fundamental core of the Rastafari values” and said his influence continued to shape Pan-Africanism and the fight for liberation.

“Marcus Garvey… represents a spirit that cannot be ignored, a symbol of resilience and resistance to the status quo, a revolutionary freedom fighter leading the way for black people to know their worth.”

Tracing Garvey’s influence from Jamaica to Africa, Europe and the Americas, Small said his philosophy inspired generations of activists and artists.

“His words, ‘Africa for the Africans at home and abroad,’ became one of the mission statements of the Rastafari movement and the slogan of all black people who wanted to go home.”

She also highlighted Garvey’s role in establishing black-owned institutions, including the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), the Black Star Line and the Negro World newspaper. She described the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World as “the blueprint for the then evolving and now modern-day Pan-African movement”.

Reflecting on Garvey’s enduring relevance, Small said his message remained one of self-reliance, education and empowerment.

“The one thing he definitely passed on his message of intent of continuation. We can see it in the modern-day Pan-African movement and Barbados also being at the forefront leading this movement for emancipation and reparations.”

She added: “Marcus Garvey’s impact not only then was incredible but still stands to this day.”

The new plaque states that it was unveiled by Mottley and Dr Garvey at the August 20 rededication.

The amphitheatre had previously been dedicated in November 2024, when Mottley unveiled a plaque marking its opening. That plaque bears the words: “We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.”

Following Thursday’s rededication, patrons moved to the Queen’s Park Steel Shed for the Marcus Garvey Legacy Conversation with Dr Garvey.

The events formed part of a week of activities honouring the life and legacy of Marcus Garvey.

(LE)