The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) has officially launched its Emancipation Festival 2025, promising a vibrant celebration of African heritage, culture, and resilience.
At a media launch held at the Pegasus Hotel, ACDA unveiled its plans for what is expected to be one of the most dynamic Emancipation observances in recent years.
This year marks the 32nd staging of the annual festival, which will be guided by the theme: “Highlighting the connection of all peoples through African culture as we strive to build a world where all our children are loved and protected.”
The theme reflects a deep commitment to acknowledging African contributions to Guyana’s identity — a legacy rooted in resistance, emancipation, cultural survival, and leadership.
The main festival will take place on August 1 at the National Park and will include the popular Ansa McAL Cook-Up Competition, a Street Bizarre, Best Dressed and Sporting Competitions, ancestral tributes, and performances by both local and international artistes.
Speaking at the event, ACDA Executive Member Chief Eric Phillips underscored the historical and cultural importance of the observance.
“Emancipation was freedom, freedom from physical harm, mental harm, and spiritual harm but not economic harm,” he said. “Africans have been on this earth for 3.2 million years. The skeleton Lucy, displayed in Ethiopia, reminds us of that. We were enslaved in Guyana; we were not born slaves. We are the descendants of great civilisations: Kemet, Mali, Ethiopia, Benin. Africans were the first intellectuals, the first doctors, the first scientists. That is the legacy we reclaim.”
Also addressing the gathering was Deputy Mayor Denise Miller, who called for deeper spiritual recognition of the African experience in Guyana.
“We are heard, 400 years later. That’s not just survival, that’s a legacy,” Miller said. “This year, we will have seven Babalawos, priests from the Ifá tradition, coming to pour libations. The first night of the festival, Ancestors’ Night, will take place in front of Demico House, a former auction block where our ancestors were sold into slavery.”
Miller also expressed concern about ongoing activities at the Parade Ground, a site she described as sacred to the African Guyanese community.
“Our ancestors’ bones are resting there. It is sacred ground. And to disturb it is to dishonour their memory,” she said.
With Emancipation Day approaching, excitement is building for a celebration that goes beyond entertainment. For many, it is a time to reconnect with the traditions, struggles, and strength of their ancestors, and to express pride in the continuing legacy of African culture in Guyana.
