Several Schools to Participate in African Culture and Heritage Expo

The African Culture and Heritage Exposition is a significant annual event organized by the Antigua Barbuda Reparations Support Commission (ABRSC).

This year, it is scheduled for Friday, September 29th, 2023, in various schools across Antigua.

The exposition is essential to the ABRSC’s Africa-CARICOM Day celebration activities that started on September 7th.

It encourages schools to develop activities that focus on African culture and heritage, providing children and young people with meaningful knowledge about the African continent.

Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde, the Chairman of the ABRSC, initiated the program, which was initially piloted in Jamaica.

The exposition is part of a regional effort to dispel misconceptions and misinformation many people hold about Africa.

Participating schools will hold ceremonies to celebrate selected African countries, such as Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, or Ethiopia.

The focus will be on the country’s location, capital, population, national and official language(s), political leadership, cuisine, music, cultural expressions, national flag, motto, and anthem.

The exposition is part of a series of events held throughout September to celebrate the regional day of recognition. On September 7th, the Commission hosted a panel discussion titled “YOUTH AND REPARATIONS,” featuring renowned poet and reparations advocate Ms. Cyndi Celeste from Barbados, alongside Mr. Kamalie Mannix, President of the National Youth Parliament Association and History Teacher, CARICOM Youth Ambassador Mr. Esquire Henry, and moderated by Mr. Regis Burton.

After the panel discussion, the ABRSC hosted an evening of Creative Activism, where a collective of poets, artists, and musicians demonstrated the power of creative arts as a tool for positive change.

As part of the annual Africa-CARICOM Day celebrations, the ABRSC also presented the debut of “Creative Voices,” an evening dedicated to poetry, spoken word, songs, and jazz music, featuring celebrated artists performing for a captivated audience.

The first Africa/CARICOM Summit took place on September 7th, 2021, and resulted in a historic decision to institutionalize collaboration between Africa, CARICOM, and the diaspora.

This was accomplished by establishing Africa-CARICOM Day on September 7th each year,

creating a dedicated Secretariat/Structure, and organizing annual Africa-CARICOM Summits.