by TRACY MOORE

ONE AIM, ONE HEART, ONE LOVE!

Dr Ikael Tafari, director of the Commission for Pan-African Affairs, voiced that message yesterday before he led more than 300 people, mostly children, in the first Emancipation Walk along Bay Street.

Themed: From Slaveship To Leadership, the walk began promptly at 3:15 p.m. from National Heroes Square under the sweltering sun to the Bay Street Esplanade.

"The significance of the Esplanade is quite evident," he said. "You can see the results of our Emancipation. We have a black majority political Government and we have the figure of Sir Grantley Adams, the Moses of his time, who led our people through adult suffrage. I can't think of a more fitting place."

As the stream of people walked two by two across the newly reconstructed Chamberlain Bridge and under the Independence Arch, many carried flowers, while others carried hand-painted pictures of some of the National Heroes, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Errol Barrow.

They did not seem to mind the blinding heat as they followed the joyous rhythm of the tuk band and the indigenous Barbados Landship, uniformed in blue and white.

Reds, golds and greens, kente clothes and simple whites were the preferred colours of many of the walkers, especially the children of the Inner City Community Group.

Deryck Murray, deputy director of the commission, said he was really impressed with the number of people who turned out for the walk.

"We are extremely happy that a lot of children have turned out. It is the type of atmosphere that you would rarely find in Barbados at present," he said.

Half-hour after the start, the large group was met at their destination by the jubilant music of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band and another 100-plus people.

In a sign of unity, several people addressed the audience, including Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Reverend Joseph Atherley, and the chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation Ian Estwick.

The celebration got into full swing with the conscious vocal stylings of Smokey Burke and Bobo while the Pinelands Creative Workshop put on a rendition of traditional story-telling African dances.

Then against a beautiful sunset, participants laid flowers at the water's edge in memory of ancestors who died for the cause, while others lit torches.

Also participating were the children from Tomorrow's Camp, Barbados Girl Guides, Little People Fun & Frolic, stilt walkers and the percussionists from the Ifie Mokojumbies.