As African Awareness Month winds down, schools across Barbados are putting on impressive displays of their African heritage.
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, the St. George Secondary School, at Constant, St. George, will hold their African awareness activities, beginning at 10:00 a.m. There will be a drumming competition by students, a visit from members of the Spiritual Baptist Church, limbo dance, tuk band music, fire eating, acrobatics from the local green ‘monkey’ and a stick-licking display.
The students at Coleridge and Parry School, Ashton Hall, St. Peter, will also showcase their African pride tomorrow with a celebration entitled Africa, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
There will be a tribute to late poet and historian, Dr. Kamau Brathwaite; a presentation on African music by Len Sentwali; a fashion show of traditional African wear by parent Abuka Mosimi and a performance from the Israel Lovell Foundation dancers. Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, will also speak to students at the event.
Students of the Good Shepherd Primary School, Fitts Village, St. James, will culminate their activities on Thursday and Friday, this week.
On Thursday, Adrian Greene and Gracelyn Greenidge will perform poetry at 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. On Friday, February 28, the students there will don African garb and take part in an in-house pageant, which will feature an African hairstyles contest.
Additionally, the Ann Hill School at Pine Plantation Road, St. Michael, will host its activities tomorrow, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Students will dress in African wear and give performances.
The Springer Memorial School, at Government Hill, St. Michael, will host an Africa themed lunchtime concert on Friday, February 28, beginning at 11:45 a.m.
Pupils at the St. Stephen’s Nursery School, Black Rock, St. Michael, will hold an outdoor concert to celebrate Africa, also on Friday, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
And, The St. Michael School, at Martindales Road, St. Michael, will culminate its African awareness activities on Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow, students will hear from historian and travelling lecturer based in Canada, Dr. Abdulla Hakim Quick, who is of African American, Barbadian and Mohawk (Native American) descent.
The school’s Art department also has an exhibit located in the library, showcasing black local and regional musicians and visual artists, while the Business Studies department of the school will focus on successful black entrepreneurs with diversified portfolios, such as Barbados’ very own Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty.
Activities will end on Friday, with students dressing in African wear.