‘Augus’ Mawnin Market’ Kicks Off Week-Long Emancipation and Independence Celebrations

The flagship Emancipation Day event, ‘Augus Mawnin Market’, kicked off the week-long slate of activities being staged at the ‘Independence Village’ at the National Arena in Kingston, from August 1 to 6.

On Tuesday, August 1, which is celebrated as Emancipation Day, the Village came alive with the sounds of popular festival songs, ‘Land of My Birth’, ‘Cherry Oh! Baby’, and ‘Play De Music’, while patrons purchased fresh produce from the farmers market on site which displayed a wide array of local produce.

These included pumpkin, plantain, watermelon, coconut, yam, roasted breadfruit, and spices, among them onion, garlic, thyme, scallion, and peppers.

Cultural items were performed by several schools and community groups adorned in various bandana costumes and outfits depicting the National Colours – Black, Green and Gold.

Augus’ Mawnin Market, which is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), featured booth displays by 24 public and private sector entities and individuals.

These included the HEART/ NSTA Trust; National Health Fund (NHF); Ministry of Health and Wellness; Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA); Universal Service Fund (USF); Coconut Industry Board; and Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), as well as local artisans and food vendors showcasing a variety of Jamaican goods and services.

Founder of SJ Collections, Sandy James, who displayed her collection of authentic Jamaican beaded jewellery, told JIS News that the event is a reminder of the special place that local culture has on the international stage.

“As Jamaicans, we need to learn to embrace our culture. It is very important, and we know Jamaica’s culture is very rich in comparison to other Caribbean countries. We are very talented in expressing our arts and creativity,” she said.

Mrs. James, who is a teacher, noted that the annual Emancipation and Independence celebrations are vital in educating the younger generations about Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage.

“To have them come and look, and view their culture is [a very] good thing,” she added.

Acting Special Projects Manager, Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Charnelle Henry, said the agency’s participation in the event will assist in educating the public on critical aspects of Jamaica’s history.

“Being the information arm of the Government, we have [data] that persons can come and get their hands on readily… about any aspect of national development or the operations of the Government,” she explained.

The JCDC’s Business Development Manager, Karla Mullings, said the Independence Village will open from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.

She noted that the event encapsulates the theme for this year’s celebrations – ‘Jamaica 61… Proud and Strong’.

“It is quite important, because it provides ‘edutainment’ for persons who are not familiar with our culture, for children who need to be informed about where it is that we come from, [and] how it is that our dances came about. We are celebrating who we are, how far we have come, and how resilient we have been throughout all our challenges,” Ms. Mullings said.