Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Mutabaruka - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

The Sovereign Centre, Liguanea, St. Andrew, long a popular hangout spot, will have an added dimension to its fare of fashion, food, flirtation and fantasy tomorrow.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. and going through the day until 6:00 p.m., the Jamaica National Bicentenary Committee (JNBC) will mount a 15-panel poster display on the transatlantic slave trade in Africans. The exhibition will be, however, a part of a wider effort to educate the public about the Trans-Atlantic Trade, including books, performances and a special film.

Sankofa, which features poet and radio host Mutabaruka, will be shown in a cinema in Jamaica for the first time ever, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Book launch

Dr. Orville Taylor, sociologist and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona. - File

Before that, though, Professor Verene Shepherd, who chairs the committee, said Miss Jamaica Universe 2007 Zahra Redwood will open the exhibition at 10:00 a.m. "We will have a book launch," Shepherd said, that book being Freedom Delayed, put out as a collective effort by the JNBC, the launch being done by sociologist and radio show host Dr. Orville Taylor.

The JNBC will be outside on two levels of the Sovereign Centre, the single side of the Cineplex where the film is being shown once inside on the third and highest. The screening of Sankofa, which will be introduced by Mutabaruka, is being funded by the JNBC. "We are prepared to pay it because it is very important for the film to be shown to the Jamaican public," Shepherd said.

Admission fee

The admission fee is $250 for adults and $100 for children.

After the film there will be book signings by persons such as Rebecca Tortello, Clinton Hutton and Shepherd herself, as well as Robin Walker, who Shepherd describes as a "very exciting Jamaican from London". His book for the afternoon is When We Ruled.

Rounding off the afternoon are cultural items from the Institute of Jamaica, the Kingston Drummers and the Jesse Ripoll Dancers, while Mutabaruka will be playing selections on his Blakk Muzik sound system.

Overall objective

"The overall objective is to take the bicentenary events to the public and not only have it in libraries and museums and so on," Shepherd said, adding that Sovereign is the first in a series of such outings.

There will be an open mic section at 4:00 p.m. "for young artists who don't have an opportunity to perform their art". With Cable and Wireless donating items, there will be prizes for correct answers to questions on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade in Africans.

"It is something that children can come out to. We will showcase books they use in school that Sangster's has assured us will be there for the day," Shepherd said.

"It will be a very exciting day," she promised.

Left: Dr. Clinton Hutton, Right: Prof. Verene Shepherd. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer