August 1st is Emancipation Day in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday. Trinidad and Tobago was the first country in the world to commemorate the abolition of slavery with a national observance, and since that time several other countries (mostly in the Caribbean) have followed suit.

For quite a few years now the last week in July, building up to the holiday (August 1), has been set aside for a series of festivals, lectures, films and fairs in honour of the occasion.

This year the African Food Festival is being held on the Monday after the actual holiday.

Emancipation Day Display 2007, Piarco International Airport, Trinidad

TriniGourmet’s 2010 Emancipation Day Menu

• Sarina’s Savoury Peanut Chicken
• Red Red
• Sarina’s Spicy Ochro/Okra Melee
• Calypso Rice
• Pawpaw Nectar

For more information on Emancipation Day visit:

• Emancipation Day – Trinidad and Tobago’s National Library Portal

This post was originally published August 1, 2007. It has been updated once since then.