The streets of Port of Spain came alive with the beat of drums and vibrant African colours on Friday, as Trinidad and Tobago marked Emancipation Day with a celebratory march.
Emancipation Day honours the abolition of slavery in the British Empire on 1 August 1834 and is observed in several Caribbean nations, as well as in Canada. Trinidad and Tobago was the first country to declare it a national holiday.
This year’s parade carried the theme, “Shaping sustainable futures through reparatory justice,” aligning with the African Union’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
For many Trinidadians, however, the day was also a powerful affirmation of their African identity.
“My ancestors went through a lot, and well they fought very hard for us to be able to have this holiday today,” said Kabira Floyd, a student taking part in the march.
According to the United Nations, between 25 million and 30 million Africans were forcibly taken into slavery, mainly to work on plantations across the Caribbean, the Americas, and the southern United States.
Amid the rhythm of drums and the joy of dance, the parade ignited a profound sense of pride in the island’s African heritage.
Bongo Jack, a drummer at the event, emphasised the importance of educating younger generations. “If they were properly educated in the greatness of African history, they would be more inclined to love themselves,” he said.
The Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, has for years urged global action — including reparations, formal apologies, and educational reforms — to redress historic injustices and racism experienced by people of African descent across the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
