by Curlan Campbell
- African Liberation Day event held on Sunday, 25 May
- Dr Mashat praised Caribbean nations for progressive stance on decolonising education
- Commended launch of flights between Lagos and Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria and Jamaica
Dr Mabweh Danladi Mashat, Secretary General of the Nigerian Community in Grenada, gave a powerful message of unity, decolonisation, and African dignity. In the president’s absence, Dr Mashat delivered a speech to a diverse group at Esplanade Mall on Sunday, 25 May.
The day’s procession featured placards bearing slogans such as “Africa’s Oil is for African Hospitals,” “Traoré: Called by the Creator to Liberate Africa,” and “Africa’s Gold is for Africans,” symbolising growing frustration with continued foreign control of African resources.
Dr Mashat began by acknowledging the emotional weight of the celebration and the legacy of African freedom fighters. He praised the government of Grenada and the Rastafari Organisation for Centralisation for organising the event and fostering Pan-African unity in the Caribbean. “African Liberation Day is not just a commemoration of our past struggles. It is a call to action for the present and a beacon of hope for the future,” he said. “We honour the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our dignity and independence.”
One of the most striking themes of Dr Mashat’s address was the praise he offered to Caribbean nations for their progressive stance on decolonising education.
Recalling a recent educational summit hosted by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), he noted that Caribbean leaders and educators were addressing historical distortions with more urgency than many African governments. “In Nigeria, mathematics and English are compulsory, but history is optional. English is required, yet indigenous languages are neglected,” he remarked. “Meanwhile, the Caribbean is boldly reclaiming its educational narrative. That, to me, is true leadership.”
In deeply personal reflections, Dr Mashat highlighted how identity and culture are often erased by colonial systems, sometimes even through seemingly small acts like renaming. “When I was baptised, I was told I needed to take a Christian name; one that doesn’t exist on any of my legal documents. I refused to abandon my name, my identity,” he said.
Dr Mashat commended recent efforts to bridge Africa and the Caribbean through practical action, specifically pointing to the launch of direct flights between Lagos and Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria and Jamaica. “This is more than transportation — it’s reconnection. It cuts travel costs, removes barriers, and allows the diaspora to truly reconnect with the continent,” he said. He called for a direct route from Nigeria to Grenada in the future, seeing it as a crucial step toward unity and economic cooperation.
Dr Mashat referenced the recent visit of Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s leading industrialist, as a sign of African agency in resource management. He celebrated the establishment of an African-owned oil refinery, calling it a powerful act of decolonisation. “For too long, Shell and foreign corporations have owned our oil. Dangote’s refinery is a sign that Africans are taking control,” he said.
He echoed sentiments shared by Grenadian officials about the importance of Africans and the diaspora being in control of their natural wealth.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Mashat expressed gratitude to the people and government of Grenada for fostering a space where Pan-Africanism is alive and well. “I felt at home here today,” he said. “Thank you for reawakening this consciousness. We, the Nigerian community in Grenada, are with you. We stand with the Caribbean. We stand with Africa.”
The event on Sunday was held under the theme “Africa for Africans: Revolutionary Pan-Africanist Unity Across Borders.”
Awesome this is practical way of celebrating acceptance and collaboration for meaningful and mutual relationships across the Pan African race and the Carribean. I think this will go a long way in sustaining future developments among the two continents. It’s very important that Nigerians living in Grenada continues to foster strong ties with the Grenadines for a more economic developments. It’s also crucial for the two parties to further discuss on achieving a route for direct flights from Nigeria to Grenada..
Grenada should never have anything do with those disrespectful and condescending West Africans. They think they are superior and consider us children of slaves.
They being black and from Africa does not mean anything and Grenada must be on guard not to colonized by those who pretend to be our friends. Grenada needs to strengthen its immigration policies.
There are sufficient evidence of what I said.
Clearly, you’re one of them who is on the look out to see if anyone is into you.