The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) will spearhead the Emancipation Jubilee celebrations at the Seville Great House and Heritage Park in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann, from Wednesday, July 31 to Emancipation Day, Thursday, August 1.
This annual event honors the contributions of African ancestors through song, dance, drumming, drama, food, and fashion. The festivities will kick off at 8:00 p.m. on July 31 and conclude at 6:00 a.m. on August 1.
Lorna Bailey, Director of Public Education, Public Relations, and Communication at the JNHT, shared with JIS News that the event promises a variety of activities and offerings for attendees.
“There will be an artisan village showcasing locally made arts and crafts, and a food court offering traditional cuisines like ackee and saltfish, jerked pork, and cornmeal pudding. A highlight of the event is the complimentary chocolate tea served throughout the night, provided you bring your enamel mug,” Bailey said.
The event will feature various exhibitors partnered with the JNHT and will be divided into different segments. Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with the program starting at 8:00 p.m. with a video presentation celebrating 65 years of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Following this, traditional cultural groups such as the Hertford Culture Group and Islington Culture Group, along with finalists and winners from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), will perform.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Olivia Grange, will deliver the main address at midnight, followed by a civic ceremony and floral tribute. This tribute includes a reenactment of the Emancipation Proclamation reading by Andrew Brodber, Director of Arts Development and Training at the JCDC, and will be led by Minister Grange and other officials.
A tribute to Jamaica’s past
The floral tribute will honor three enslaved Africans whose remains were exhumed in 1997 and ceremonially reburied in front of the Great House. “We hold this event annually in Seville to honor and commemorate the memory of our ancestors,” Bailey said.
Bailey emphasized that the event aims to educate younger generations about the life and contributions of African ancestors, helping to shape their future with knowledge of their history and heritage.
Admission to the Emancipation Jubilee is free, but patrons must obtain a ticket to enter the venue. Tickets are available at the JNHT, 79 Duke Street, downtown Kingston, and the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann’s Bay, as well as at the gate.
“We encourage everyone to come out. It’s a huge property, and we have a shuttle system in place from the general parking lot to the Great House for ticket collection and entry. It’s a family event where people can learn about their history and embrace their Africanness,” Bailey added.
The Seville Emancipation Jubilee celebrations will be broadcast live on Television Jamaica and streamed on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Ministry of Culture, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), JCDC, and JNHT.
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