The 23rd Legislature is commemorating African Liberation Day Thursday with a cultural program scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on the St. Thomas Legislature Building grounds.
The program, part of the wider observance of Virgin Islands African Heritage Week, will be a tribute to Julius K. Nyerere, president of Tanzania from 1961 to 1985. An educator, pan- Africanist and statesman, Nyerere died last year.
Nyerere "was an inspiration to many Africans and promoted Third World solidarity and cooperation," a release from the Legislature noted, and he "felt that regional federation was first and essential toward African unity."
This is the 10th year that African Liberation Day is being observed in the territory. Thursday's celebrations are to include performances by Addelita Cancryn Junior High School students, a step show by James Rhymer and Company, a performance by V.I. Calypso king Whadablee (St. Clair DeSilva), the raising of the pan-African nationalist flag and a fashion show of African wear.
In the release, Senate president Vargrave Richards urged residents "to commemorate the evolution of the Virgin Islands through our African heritage." Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in a release from Government House called on Virgin Islanders to "observe this week and join together in commemorative ceremonies to reflect upon our African heritage."
In designating Thursday as African Liberation Day and proclaiming May 22-26 as Virgin Islands African Heritage Week, Turnbull noted that the majority of the territory's population is of African descent and many Virgin Islanders' ancestors were taken away from their homeland and families and brought to the Caribbean by force.
"Because the culture and heritage of the Virgin Islands is largely due to this African heritage," the governor said, "it is appropriate that we should set aside time to remember our proud African heritage."
