carnival emancipation
by ross patrick on aug 21, 2003, 22:24
mike sheil / black star
"not a lot of people know this" michael caine once said. likewise but, this is not a joke. however our response to modern slavery, as governments, as people, as civilisations is. the figure accepted by the un is that 27 million people in the worldwide are still... still owned as slaves.
this saturday, the 23 august is unesco's international day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition. except this is the abolition ot the 'traditional' transatlantic slave trade.
unesco's day commemorates the world's first successful uprising by enslaved africans in haiti (then st domingue) which began on the 22-23 august 1791. the revolt led to the establishment of the first black-led state in the caribbean.
as recent newspaper reports have publicised, slavery and the trafficking of human lives for forced labour is still an issue. even in britain, the birthplace of the anti-slavery movement.
african heritage community groups, in partnership with anti-slavery international, are organising 'the rendezvous of victory', from 21-24 august, in greenwich and brixton. the series of events - located specifically in these two areas with their historical links to the slave trade - is intended to mark the capital's role in the transatlantic slave trade and examine its lasting legacy in britain today:
- rendezvous of victory convention, university of greenwich (21st-22nd) - vigil of remembrance, cutty sark gardens, greenwich (22nd) - special screenings of international films, ritzy cinema, brixton (21st and 24th) - yalks, workshops and previews of the african enslavement collection at the national maritime museum, greenwich (23rd) - live music, food stalls, and more, cutty sark gardens, greenwich (23rd) - heritage and historical walks around greenwich and brixton (23rd and 24th) - interfaith ceremony, st matthew's church, brixton (24th)
the event finishes the day carnival starts, this sunday. caribbean carnival dates back to the abolition of slavery when enslaved and oppressed africans took to the streets. carnival is the uk's largest multicultural event, and a powerful celebration of people's determination, against all odds, to keep their cultural heritage alive.
