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Emancipation Festival Begins This Weekend

August 2, 2007

Slaves Running for FreedomTomorrow evening, Friday August 3rd, marks the beginning of this year’s annual Emancipation Festival. On Friday, August 3 at 7 p.m. there will be a Speakers Forum entitled, “Community, Roots & Culture - Perspectives”. It is being run in partnership with Grey Roots and will be held at the OSCVI. Speakers are Lawrence Hill and Afua Cooper, accomplished & renowned writers and orators. The Emancipation Jazz Quartet will also be performing. Tickets are $10 per seat or $5 for Seniors & those under 12 years old.

Afua Cooper

Afua Cooper, internationally established writer: An eminent and award-winning poet, author, historian, curator, performer, cultural worker, and recording artist; recent winner of the Harry Jerome Award for Professional Excellence; chosen by the editors of Essence Magazine (Oct. 2005) as one of the 25 women who are shaping the world. www.afuacooper.com

Lawrence Hill

Lawrence Hill is a internationally established writer: Seven books, including the recent launch of The Book of Negroes; Historian writing Women of Vision; the Story of the Canadian Negro Women’s Association and Seeking Salvation: A History of the Black Church in Canada; Speech Writer; Writing Teacher – University of British Columbia, Ryerson Polytechnic University, and The John Hopkins University from which he holds a Master of Arts in Writing; Journalist – Globe & Mail, The Winnipeg Free Press; Keynote Speaker – Association of Canadian Studies , Canadian Ethnic Studies Association, Halifax; Volunteer – Canadian Crossroads International; Former Chair, Oral History Committee, Ontario Black History Society and is a charismatic, intense, witty, intelligent, knowledgeable, a father, son, brother and friend of our global community. www.lawrencehill.com

On Saturday at 10 a.m. the Emancipation Festival will have a float in the Homecoming parade. At 1 p.m. the picnic in the park will begin with Live Music, Games, Races, Special Awards, Crafts, Food Vendors, Storytelling, Storyboards, a Black History Exhibit, Games, Races, and a Cairn Presentation. The evening will be dedicated to the Emancipation Festival Showcase: R&B, Soul, & Jazz. This show will be featuring Liberty Silver, Demo Catz, Eugene Smith, Bobby Dean Blackburn, The Bearcats, A Tribute to James “Mr. Blues” Wayner, Stan Endersby, Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo Afro/Cuban Dance Troupe & many more. Admittance is $5 with seniors and those under 12 years of age getting in for free. The parade and showcase will take place in Harrison Park.

Sunday, August 5th the Emancipation Festival features the BME Gospel Explosion featuring Gary Beales of Canadian Idol fame, Lisa Toussaint, Director of UofT Gospel Choir, Bobby Dean Blackburn, and many Special Guests & Friends. This event will take place 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the BME Church in Owen Sound.

For more information visit the Emancipation Festival Website. It is a fantastic site full of photos of past events and quilting patterns.

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Written by adam · Filed Under Events, Music, Community, Homecoming, Participation, theOwen 

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