Honours for 27

The Commission for Pan-African Affairs chose the birthday of Marcus Garvey last Tuesday to reward 27 Barbadians, ten posthumously, for their contribution toward black empowerment and Afro-centric development in education, spirituality, business, health, culture, and international relations in the promotion of African unity.With the blessing of the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, the event was the inaugural Oshe Emeka Awards – stemming from Oshe, a Yoruba word for thanksgiving, and Emeka, an Igbo word defined as great deeds. Acting director of the commission, Dr Deryck Murray, explained that there had been no formal acknowledgement at the national level of the contributions made by Barbadians committed to the ongoing process of empowering the oppressed black people of this nation.“These achievements, as well as giving incentives for work to continue, is paramount,” said Murray, noting that “only enlightened and competent people can make a country truly independent”.The opening ceremony, on the gala evening at Hilton Barbados, started with drummers escorting the awardees into the room filled with the Afro-centric and Pan-African community of Barbados. It was an evening of pomp and ceremony, punctuated with songs from calypso monarch Gabby and dance from the Israel Lovell Foundation Dancers and Pinelands Creative Workshop. In attendance were Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Culture Steve Blackett, who gave the feature address.“The majority of people may be of African descent, but because of history, acceptance of, and pride in our African heritage has always been difficult for us. It has almost been a source of embarrassment,” he said.Noting that “the countries of Africa are all populated by either the pathetically poor and suffering, or by the intensely corrupt, or both . . . convincing us of the inferiority of all things African,” Blackett added that Barbadians were seldom treated to a view of the positive side of this incredible continent.“We demand the right to maintain our cultural identity, our individuality as black people of African descent. We demand the right to preserve the positive elements of our African heritage,” Blackett declared. “Tonight we distribute badges of honour so that you, the awardees, will know that this tiny nation acknowledges and is grateful for your dedication and commitment,” he added.In closing, Blackett congratulated the commission on the initiative, noting that while the commission had been ridiculed and labelled as a waste of taxpayers’ money, he was certain that its focus was correct.Honoured Ancestor Awards went to the late: Dr Richard Allsopp, Vern El Verno del Congo Best, Timothy Callender, Anthony Cheeseman, John Cumberbatch, Leroy Harewood, Gordon Ricky Parris, Dr Ikael Tafari, Earl Warner and Kes Liqua Maemiran Zacharias.Rewarded in the business category were: Trevor Job Clarke; Culture: Ras Akeym Ramsay; Education: Myrna Belgrave; Health: Orlando Ras Ils Mayers; Institutional: Pinelands Creative Workshop; Media: Olutoye Walrond; Pan-Africanism: Robert Bobby Clarke; Pan-Africanism: David Comissiong; Religious and Spiritual: Rastafari Community, Sons of God Apostolic Spiritual Baptist Church. Lifetime Achievement Awards: Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Dr Viola Davis, Senator Orlando Marville, Muhammad Nassar, Dr Erskine Simmons, Professor Alvin Thompson and Patriach Dr Granville Williams.