The President of the St. Andrew\u2019s Development Organization (SADO), Martha Bowen, has reminded Grenadians of the importance of celebrating their African heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must keep that flame burning,\u2019\u2019 Bowen said August 1 at the SADO-sponsored 2011 Emancipation Day celebrations and Rainbow City Festival in St. Andrew.<\/p>\n
Emancipation Day commemorates the official proclamation of 1838 when enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations in Grenada and other British colonies in the Caribbean were granted their freedom from chattel slavery.<\/p>\n
According to Bowen, Emancipation gave the fore-parents of today\u2019s Africans \u201cthe freedom to express themselves and to practice all their customs and traditions.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
She added that the customs and traditions are now part of \u201cour culture. It is part of us, even though we may be influenced by outside culture. We still have to hold on to what is unique \u2013 our African roots.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Emancipation Day included a march around the Town of Grenville, a cultural show and an exhibition of locally made craft, clothing, food and drinks at the Grenville Car Park.<\/p>\n
Bowen said the event \u201cremains an exhibition of our Grenadian culture centered around Emancipation.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Among the hundreds from St. Andrew and across Grenada who attended the August 1 celebration of Emancipation was MP for St. Patrick East, Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas.<\/p>\n
The theme of the Rainbow City activities was, \u201cCelebrating our African Heritage with the Spirit of Emancipation\u201d.<\/p>\n