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Barbadians are being encouraged to come out in their numbers and "walk for freedom" this Saturday, August 1, Emancipation Day.

The Emancipation Day March will commence at Independence Square, the City, where persons are asked to gather at 7:30 a.m.?? It will get under way at 8:00 a.m. and travel to Spring Garden, where the Emancipation Village will be located this year.??

All Barbadians, including community and youth groups, religious organisations and churches are being invited to attend. A special call is being made to volunteer drummers to bring their instruments to the march.

Prime Minister David Thompson is expected to take part in the walk from Independence Square to Spring Garden.

The cultural programme at the Emancipation Village will feature a potpourri of performances including dance groups, drummers, poets, singers and folk musicians.

Among those scheduled to perform are the Pinelands Creative Workshop, Dancin’ Africa, Adrenaline, C4, Charles Odell, the Sons of God Spiritual Baptist Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and Kenneth "Jack" Lewis. In addition, there will be a special performance by Greg Stoute and Rodney Small, who will debut their new Emancipation Song, ???African Journey.’

The march is one of the highlights of the Season of Emancipation, which was launched on April 14 this year with an official ceremony at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Excellence.

The Season is being held under the theme "Emancipating the Body: Unshackling the Mind."

Upcoming activities for the season include Marcus Garvey Day on August 17, and UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition on August 23.

Minister of Community Development and Culture, Steve Blackett, will deliver an "Emancipation Message" during the official programme at Spring Garden.

askeete@barbados.gov.bb

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