SAN­DRA L. BLOOD

On Eman­ci­pa­tion Day, Port-of-Spain was trans­formed in­to a cel­e­bra­tion of African her­itage, as rev­el­ers turned out in fash­ion­able at­tire, while the mu­sic re­flect­ed strong African and eth­nic in­flu­ences.

Though no­tice­ably small­er than in pre­vi­ous years, the cel­e­bra­tions re­tained their en­er­gy and ca­ma­raderie.

The day’s ac­tiv­i­ties be­gan at dawn at the Trinidad All Stars Pa­n­yard on Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, be­fore mov­ing to the Trea­sury Build­ing on the Bri­an Lara Prom­e­nade and the Arise Eman­ci­pa­tion Mon­u­ment. It was there, on Au­gust 1, 1834, that en­slaved Africans gath­ered in an­tic­i­pa­tion of be­ing ful­ly freed.

The cel­e­bra­tions cul­mi­nat­ed at the Lidj Ya­su Omowale Eman­ci­pa­tion Vil­lage, fol­low­ing a street pa­rade, where par­tic­i­pants en­joyed a fu­sion of rich cul­tur­al ex­pe­ri­ences. Among those tak­ing part was Miss Her­itage Glob­al T&T 2026, Kyrah Woods