Buxton Emancipation activities start this week

Dear Editor,

The Buxton First of August Movement (BFAM) kicks off its Emancipation activities this week with a Film Festival and a Symposium. This theme of this year’s activities is ‘Emancipation and Villages in a Changing Guyana.’ The BFAM intends this year’s activities to serve as a mobilization tool for the reawakening of the emancipation spirit in the community.

The Symposium titled ‘Restoration of the Village Economy: Challenges and the Way Forward’ is part of the Eusi Kwayana Lecture Series and will be held on Wednesday July 27 at 6.30 pm at the Friendship Primary School, Buxton. Panelists include Mr Vincent Alexander, Dr Simpson DaSilva, Ms Saudia Edghill, Mr Nigel Hughes and Dr David Hinds.

The Film Festival which will feature films and documentaries on Africans in Guyana, the Caribbean and the wider African diaspora would be held nightly at the Friendship Primary School beginning at 6 pm. Yesterday there was a film on the Haitian Revolution; today  the film Citizen King, on the life and work of Dr Martin Luther King will be shown. The festival continues on Thursday July 28 with a showing of The Terror and the Times, a film on Guyana’s struggle for Independence produced and directed by Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. The festival ends with a film Bob Marley, which chronicles the life and music of reggae icon, Robert Nester Marley. The showings would be followed by brief discussion sessions.

The activities continue on Sunday July 31 with the annual Libation and Emancipation Cultural Groundings at the Buxton Line Top. The Libation at the Emancipation Monument begins at 6 pm and the Cultural Groundings featuring Drama, Queh Queh, Drumming, Nancy Story, Folk Dances, Steelpan Rendition, Poetry and Folk Singing kicks off at 9 pm.

The headline performance would be Dave Martins of Tradewinds fame, while the feature address is expected to be given by Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge. The Buxton Fusion Drummers, Storyteller, Brian Chester, Poet, Ras Jerry Hope, Tucan2 Dancers and The Buxton Arts Theatre will also be in attendance

On Emancipation Day, August 1, there will be the annual feeding of the Elders. The activities end with a ‘Culture Night’ featuring ‘Laugh, Gaff and Talk Story’ on Saturday August 6 at 6 pm at the Friendship Primary School.

Yours faithfully,

Yvette Herod

Kidackie Amsterdam

David Hinds

For Buxton First of August Movement