Tuesday, 2nd July 2013 (Anguilla, BWI)—Yasus Afari—The Edutainer—is one of the planet’s leading Dub Poets, as well as an author, Reggae artiste and “Social Empowerment Specialist” who has travelled the world extensively to successfully carry his unique Edutainment Lecture Performances to universities, colleges, schools, prisons and other communities. His motivational, inspirational and empowering workshops include Jamaica, Caribbean, African and world history and culture with poetry, story telling, Rastafari and human spirituality, as well as his very own composed Reggae music.
Cherished Relationship With Anguilla
Recently, Yasus Afari brought his edutainment concepts to the beautiful island of Anguilla as part of the Anguilla Lit Fest 2013, a literary jollification and beyond. Yasus found the Lit Fest was a very uplifting and inspirational experience and he thinks it is destined to help galvanize Anguilla, the wider Caribbean and magnetize the international community. He is very passionate in expressing the view that for the Anguilla Lit Fest to achieve it’s greatest potential it must involve the widest cross section of the Anguillian Family, especially the youth.
In this connection, he was very delighted and inspired to conduct workshops for and interact with the attendants at the Lit Fest, as well as the students and staff at the Public Library, W.I.S.E, Blowing Point Youth Development Centre, HM Prison, Underground Poetry, La Vue Spoken Word and a wide array of students at the Soroptimist Centre. His participation in these events was courtesy of the Department of Youth and Culture in the Ministry of Social Development and Irie Life.
This experience provided evidence that Anguilla is pregnant with potential and possibilities at this very important and pivotal point in her history. Therefore, all the varied leaders of Anguilla need to urgently unite to harmonize the technique and national strategies in order to harness this remarkable energy, talent and potential of the Anguillan people and especially the youth.
Anguilla National Entrepreneurial Centre
The workshop at W.I.S.E was followed by a remarkably successful workshop at Soroptimist Centre the following day. Several observers noted the marked positive changes in behaviour and attitude of many of the W.I.S.E. students. Indeed, Yasus is convinced that the W.I.S.E. programme holds the key and is a template to what he envisions as the Anguilla National Entrepreneurial Centre, which could serve to empower, motivate and harness the vast creative, technical, vocational, academic and entrepreneurial potential of Anguilla and in particular the youth of Anguilla.
Youth Focus—We Will Not Be Silenced
The Blowing Point Youth Development Centre workshop was amazing and very well received by the attentive youth of Blowing Point. Similarly, the workshop at the Public Library provided more evidence as to the positive attitude and vast potential of the youths of Anguilla. The Underground Poetry—We refuse to be silenced lived up to it’s billing and provided fresh evidence that the very talented Anguillan youth population has a voice, which is speaking and which must be listened to as it cannot be silenced. The La Vue Spoken Word evening renewed this promise.
Listen to the Voices—Consensus Building Through Community Consultation
The workshop at HM Prison provided insight and a rationale for the remarkable (Youthman Voice) letter, crying for help, to be heard and which was recently published in the Anguillan press, thanks to sharing the words of Rev. Lindsay Richardson. Evidently, there is a voice in Anguilla, which must be heard, listened to and responded to with love and sensitivity.
The intimacy, talent and beauty of Anguilla make it ideal for a national social renewal and transformation strategy, which can serve as a beacon for the Caribbean People as we continue to assert our influence on an informed public opinion and the international stage of world affairs. At the very heart of this strategy must be an all-inclusive approach to social responsibility for nation building in which everyone has a voice, which must be equally respected and thus listened to in order to build the national consensus through community consultation.
