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| George Lamming Primary School students??performing at the launch of their African Awareness celebrations earlier this month. (FP) |
Schools across the island will, over the next few days, commemorate African Awareness Month with activities that will highlight the importance of Black consciousness including the wearing of African garb and exhibitions displaying their ancestors’ culture.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 20, students of The Graydon Sealy Secondary School will take a hike through Parks Road, St. Joseph to Barclays Park, St. Andrew. Dubbed the Middle Passage Hike, it starts with a bus ride from the school at 9:30 a.m. to St. Joseph and is intended to take students through some of the rigours which slaves endured.
The school’s African Awareness programme will be on Wednesday, February 27, at its Paddock Road, Garrison headquarters. Spoken Word Artiste, Adrian Greene, will deliver the feature address at the event which starts at 9:30 a.m.
The Grantley Adams Memorial School, which is undertaking a Transatlantic Slave Trade (TST) Project under the aegis of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will hosts a cultural extravaganza and market day on Wednesday, February 27, at the school in Blackmans, St. Joseph, from 9:30 a.m.?? This event will be held under the theme This Is We Culture and is expected to include drama, singing and an exhibition of African artefacts and artwork by students and alumni.
Christ Church Foundation School will continue its programme under the theme You Can Get It If You Really Want with a lecture by natural hair stylist, Melissa Walcott tomorrow, Wednesday, February 20, at 9:30 a.m.?? She will speak about The Dangers of Skin Bleaches and Straighteners in an attempt to convey to students that "black is beautiful".
On Monday, February 25, at 11:45 a.m. former United Nations Development Programme Resident Representatives for Barbados, Dr. Rosina Wiltshire will address students at the opening of their Natural Hair Contest where they will get the opportunity to show off their hair and uniform which must fit the school’s specifications. The objective of this event is to assist children in maintaining school styles and uniforms.
Teachers at that school will also benefit from a lecture by motivational speaker, Toney Olton on Wednesday, February 27. It starts at 11:45 a.m. and will address the theme for the month.
At several primary schools, the programme is expected to comprise Open Days/Exhibitions displaying projects undertaken by students and performances of song, dance and poetry. At Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School where emphasis will be placed on students in the Reception and Infants departments. On Wednesday, February 27, they will be treated to drumming by Manager (Management Information Systems) at the Barbados Community College, Michael Slocombe, who will also tell stories of his extensive travels to Africa from 9:00 a.m.
The following day, Thursday, February 28, they will display work done throughout the month on African dance, music, food, festivals, art and craft during Open Day which starts at 9:00 a.m.
That same day, at St. Giles Primary, there will be a display of work on Animals and Plants by Reception and Infants A; Food and Clothing by pupils in Class 1 and 2; Art and Festivals by Class 3 and 4. This gets under way at 9:00 a.m. and will include singing and modelling opened to all age groups.