Baba Heru, guest speaking informing the audience about African traditions during the tenth annual wreath laying ceremony on Sunday, February 4, 2018. Photo: Provided

Sample of the wreath that was laid during the ceremony. Photo: Facebook

Art Christopher, President of the African Studies Klub (ASC) addressing the audience during the Wreath Laying ceremony. Photo: Facebook

Baba Heru, guest speaker conversing with some of the audience after the ceremony. Photo: Facebook

Paul A. Peart aka ‘Gadiethz’, radio personality told our newsroom that he came back to cover this significant event along with attending to other business matters. Photo:

According to Paul A. Peart, freshradiovybz will be simultaneously broadcasting on 90.9 Caribbean Broadcast Network (CBN) on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 9:00 A.M. for two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,' adding that Zrod is working on getting back on air and he is still a part of the team. Photo: Facebook

In attendance was Art K. Christopher, President of the African Studies Club, Baba Heru as the guest speaker, Dr Katherine Smith, local historian and Dr Patricia G.Turnbull, local author.

In an exclusive interview with Paul A. Peart aka ‘Gadiethz’, radio personality, he told our newsroom that the guest speaker Mr Baba Heru spoke about the importance of the knowledge of the African traditions, discussing the classical Africa, the Nile Valley civilisation and their contribution to Christianity.

In addition, Dr Smith reflected on the ancestors of the Virgin Islands (VI) during the 1819 hurricane which had decimated the sugar economy, while adding that she recalled six slave registers for the VI.

Mr Peart recalled Dr Smith saying that the planters had abandoned the territory after this hurricane, which provided the opportunity for the ancestors to purchase the land and shared some names of ancestors who lived as slaves in 1825 on Jost van Dyke, Thatch Island, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Tortola.

During the event, Dr Patricia G. Turnbull, local author discussed the importance of rooting children in their heritage, in their vernacular, and in their appreciation of the flora and fauna, the natural world, around them.

Mr Peart stated that the event ended with the laying of the wreath and flowers in the ocean at Road Town Habour where the slave ships had brought the ancestors to Tortola.

'Significant event for VI

Meanwhile, Mr Peart told our newsroom that he has been a part of this event since it has been around and it was broadcasted internationally on his radio show, Freshradiovybz, admitting that was one of the reasons he came back to the Territory.

Mr Peart had departed the Territory following Hurricane Irma, which destroyed his apartment.

“It is very significant. As you know the wreath tossing is something to remember our ancestors as far as the significance of who we are and where we are and in celebration of Black History Month also,” expressed Mr Peart.

He said it was specifically important this month because the club highlighted the fact that something such as hurricane Irma took place in the Virgin Islands (VI) in 1819, while noting that the people of the territory had the same resilience that they presently display.

“We reflected on the fact that something of this sort had taken place as far as hurricane Irma had taken place within the British Virgin Islands in 1819 and it bears similarity as to what Irma did to us and how the British Virgin Islands community take this as an opportunity to not only own their land, own their destiny but to work collectively together as a team and I think Irma and that hurricane share the same resilience that the people need right now as far as working as a team and seeing this as a prime opportunity as a brand new start,” explained the popular radio personality.

“Still a part of the Zrod team” – Paul A. Peart

The radio show host disclosed to our news reporter that Freshradiovybz will be simultaneously broadcasting on 90.9 Caribbean Broadcast Network (CBN) on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 9:00 A.M. for two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, adding that Zrod 103.7FM is working on getting back on air and he is still a part of the team.

He said, “I came back for a short notice to sort my papers out and get my status as far as work permits and so forth to move forward. Zrod is under construction and we are still working out the airing of the station. It’s all in the hands of Mr Rodney Herbert and I am still a part of the Zrod team. We did suffer a heavy destruction...”