Renowned humanitarian Dame Graça Machel to visit Barbados

Dame Graça Machel, a renowned African stateswoman, educator, and humanitarian, will visit Barbados from August 21 to August 26. During her visit, she will engage in several activities, including meetings with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, participate in public discussions, and share her life journey.

Machel is known for her work in the field of education and children’s rights and is the widow of Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa.

It is to be noted that Machel’s six-day visit has coincidentally happened during the Season of Emancipation, also she will be part of various activities related to the Emancipation. During this the people commemorate and celebrate the abolition of slavery and the contributions of people of African descent. It is the time when communities come together to celebrate freedom and equality.

Also, during this season, Barbados conducts several cultural and educational events which includes lectures and performances to honour the history and heritage.

During her six-day visit Machel will meet Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and other government officials. Additionally, she will visit the Barbados Museum and Historical Society and participate in Barbados/Africa Connections. There she will meet and interact with the South Africans living here.

Significantly she will visit several sites in Barbados that are important and linked to the island’s cultural history, which include Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, the Emancipation Statue, Rock Hall Freedom Village, and Golden Square Freedom Park. Barbadians will further offer her the information regarding the ‘Story of Sugar and Rum.’

The authorities shared that Dame Graça Machel will further participate in the discussion ‘Dame Graça Machel in Her Own Words: Reflections on the Road to Freedom,’ which will be held at the Frank Collymore Hall, and is scheduled for Friday, August 23, at 6:30 PM.

This discussion is going to be the highlight of her visit, in which she will engage in a dynamic exchange on the concept of freedom and emancipation within the 21st century and what it means for people of African descent, especially women.

The conversation with Dame Graça Machel commemorates the United Nations International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on August 23.

Moreover, Dame Graça Machel, former First Lady of Mozambique and South Africa, and Former Mozambican Minister of Education and is known to dedicate her life for the rights of women and children.

To celebrate her contribution to the society and especially health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents she was awarded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) highest honour, the WHO Gold Medal, in 2018.