A University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Emancipation Day programme has sparked a fierce public backlash after East Indian music and dance performances were included in an event to commemorate African Emancipation Day.

Critics are accusing the institution of disrespecting the significance of the occasion.

The event, titled “Uhuru: Celebrating Freedom”, was hosted last Wednesday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA). The programme, which included acts by Patrice Inglesbirth, the Onilu Brothers, Dr Edward Cumberbatch and Nkosi Waldron, drew criticism for its addition of East Indian music and dance performances by the Shiv Sangeet School of Music and Susan Mohip.