Emancipation Day

Emancipation day is a national holiday and is celebrated on the 1st August.  This holiday commemorates the abolition of African slaves. The day is celebrated with street parades and an African village which highlights African arts and craft as well as African clothing.

Historical perspective of Emancipation Day -

• In 1780s, French immigrants who lived in the Caribbean came to Trinidad and Tobago with their slaves. They started planting cotton, cocoa and coffee
• In 1790s the British conquered Trinidad and Tobago and sugarcane became the most important crop.  With the expansion of the sugar economy, slaves were imported directly from Africa via the Slave Trade, raising the slave population in the country to over 10,000.  They lived in horrible conditions with hard labour, little food and cruel masters.
• On August 1st 1838, full freedom was granted to slaves who thereafter left the plantations.
• On 1st August 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

Today, a week of activities are held leading to Emancipation day.  Activities highlighting African's music, song, dance, artifacts, clothing and art can be found at the Emancipation village.
                                

Emancipation Day Street Parade