The University of the Virgin Islands faculty, staff and students invite the community to help celebrate their roots this weekend.
The Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) is hosting its forum on "V.I. African Heritage and African Liberation Day" on Saturday at UVI’s Administration Conference Center on its St. Thomas campus. The event will run from 6 to 9 p.m.
On Monday the VICCC will hold an "African Heritage Parade/Walk and Roundtable" on UVI’s St. Croix campus.
The parade will start at the entrance to the Albert A. Sheen Campus at 1:30 p.m. and continue to the UVI Great Hall. Both activities coincide with Virgin Islands African Heritage Week, traditionally May 19 – 25. African Liberation Day is Saturday as well. All events are free.
The international theme for African Liberation Day is "Pan Africanism is Power: We Must Unite!" The theme ties into the African Union, which is hosting a summit in South Africa through Saturday.
The Pan African Support Group will participate in Saturday’s VICCC forum, while St. Croix African Heritage Village organizations will participate in Monday’s parade and roundtable.
A roundtable and Bamboula Marketplace will follow the parade in the Great Hall that includes multi-media presentations, culture and unity statements and tributes. The events start at 3 p.m. and entrance is free. All are welcome to participate.
Last year Gov. John deJongh Jr. proclaimed May 25 as "African Liberation Day" in the Virgin Islands.
The VICCC promoted the celebration through radio appearances on the UVI student radio station, WUVI 1090 AM, and on WSTA 1340 AM. WUVI will also provide live reports from the V.I. Legislature’s annual observances for V.I. African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day.
The Legislature is scheduled to honor the week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 30. For details of radio appearances and other related activities, visit the VICCC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vicaribbean.culture, email at viccc@live.uvi.edu or call the VICCC office at (340) 692-4272.
