African Awareness Month will climax for many schools, over the next few days.
Activities, which are expected to begin at 9:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 p.m., will place emphasis on displaying African garb, art and craft, music, story-telling, dance, drama and poetry.
On Friday, February 27, at Charles F. Broome, an Open Day, from 9:00 a.m., will see students and teachers dressed in African wear celebrating the theme: Appreciating Our African Heritage: Living The Dream. The work of children from Reception to Class 1 will be on display, as well as hairstyles from across Africa.
On that same day, the nearby Government Hill Nursery School will display the art and craft of its tiny tots under the theme: Come Let???s Visit Africa. The young students will be taken through a drumming exercise with Uncle Mervin, perform acrostics and model clothing. The school will also be visited by a team from the National Library Service, who will undertake a puppet demonstration and storytelling exercise.
Westbury School will also climax its programme on Friday, under the theme: Treasures from the Motherland. There will be displays of products, artefacts and food, as well as a lecture on the theme to be delivered at 1:30 p.m., by historian and former lecturer at the Barbados Community College, Trevor Marshall.
At Lawrence T. Gay Primary, there will be a Cultural Day on Friday, February 27, beginning at 8:45 a.m. Reverend Solomon Odoom will speak to the children on their heritage, while dramatic presentations will come from guest artistes, including rhythm poet, Adrian Green. Children will also hear stories from their peers and view a fruit sculpting exhibition by Morgan Waterman.
Additionally, the school???s Cultural Activities Committee will celebrate the end of the African Awareness Month with a Pageant and Talent show dubbed: Embracing Our African Countries. The event will be held in the Major Noot Hall, at Combermere School on Sunday, March 1, from 5:00 p.m. There will be appearances from the Barbados Dance Theatre and Sammy G.
At the secondary level, The St. Michael School will host a midday concert on Thursday, February 26, under the theme: Uprising. Through the use of dance, song and drama, the different types of resistance throughout Caribbean history will be depicted, including black resistance to slavery and colonialism. Other highlights will be a related poster display by Thelma Burnett and a hairstyle competition.
Grantley Adams Memorial Secondary will also conclude its programme on that day with a Black History concert from 9:30 a.m. until noon. A day dedicated to African dress, it will see teachers and students showcasing outstanding attire and hairstyles.
The following day, Friday, February 27, Graydon Sealy Secondary will focus on From Bridgetown to Abuja, placing emphasis on Nigeria. Guest Speaker, Executive Director of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries, Lisa Cummins, will describe her experience of living and studying in Africa, while students will dramatise the literature text by Wole Soyinka called ???The Lion and The Jewel???. The programme starts at 9:30 a.m.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb