FREEDOM FE WHO
When the observance of the 150th anniversary of Emancipation was returned to the calendar of national observances in 1997, the Little Theatre Movement led the way in theatre with the creation of the work "Augus Mawnin". The production ran for ten years (1997-2007) and was performed locally and overseas to great acclaim.
In 2008 it was decided to observe the Emancipation anniversary with a different presentation – “Emancipation Grounding”. It took the form of an open discussion on the relevance of Emancipation and featured Professors Rex Nettleford and Barry Chevannes. The discussion was integrated into the staging of songs and dialogue by the Pantomime Company plating the roles of newly-freed slaves. The programme ended with the “sampling” of a new play in progress by Barbara Gloudon.
This year, 2009, the LTM will again salute Emancipation this time with a three day festival at the Little-Little Theatre in honour of the Ancestors.
It opened on Friday July 31 with an open discussion on the continued relevance of Emancipation featuring Dr. Clinton Hutton (UWI) and Douglas Orane (Grace Kennedy).
Saturday August 1 featured Kim-Marie Spence (CaPRI/UWI) and Ibo Cooper (Edna Manley College) and the final night Sunday August 2 was enriched by master drummers Phillip Supersad and Calvin Mitchell.
"Freedom Fe Who" follows a group of newly-freed slaves, tired of the poor treatment they received on the plantation, they strike out to find a home in a free village. Led by Taata the group makes their way to a spot of land where they will begin to really live as freed people. Their travelling is hindered by the Overseer's son who is reluctant to accept that slavery has ended. As they struggle to gain acceptance and find their own way, they realise that they must all work together to walk as freed men and women.