Jamaica to mark Emancipation with all-night Vigil at Seville Heritage Park

Jamaicans will gather at the historic Seville Great House and Heritage Park in St. Ann’s Bay on Thursday, July 31, for the 29th annual Emancipation Vigil — a major cultural event honouring the nation’s African ancestors and commemorating the abolition of slavery.

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The all-night celebration, organised by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), begins at 8:00 p.m. on July 31 and runs through to 6:00 a.m. on Emancipation Day, August 1.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, underscored the importance of the vigil during a recent JIS Think Tank, noting it marks “the anniversary of our emancipation from slavery.”

“So, on July 31, everybody heads to the Seville Heritage Park where the four cultures meet – the Taino, the African, the Spanish and the English,” she said.

A packed programme of cultural performances is expected to energise the overnight crowd. Headliners include Gem Myers, The Abyssinians, Duane Stephenson, Peter Metro, Major Mackerel, Admiral Bailey, George Nooks, Rhoda Isabella, Kukudoo, Unity Singers, Sista Patt, Lubert Levy, and more. There will also be traditional showcases by the Kaya Junkunnu Band, the Charles Town Maroons, and the Akwaba Drummers.

“We have talent from all over the island. We have performers, we have religious groups and popular artistes. The National Council on Reparations will have a booth with a display and storyboards that speak to the experience of ancestors when they were enslaved,” Minister Grange said.

She added that music, dance, drumming, drama, food and fashion will continue all night into “Augus mawning.”

A signature feature of the event is the free chocolate tea served to patrons throughout the night. “The chocolate tea is a feature and persons are encouraged to bring your mugs. Sometimes, the mug with the most chips will win a prize. So, we want everyone to be there. In fact, people come from overseas just to be a part of this wonderful celebration,” the minister said.

Admission is free, but tickets are required for entry. These can be collected at the JNHT office in downtown Kingston, the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann’s Bay, or at the gate on the night of the event.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on the social media pages of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), and the JNHT.