Former Tourism Minister David Allen's dream of tapping into the lucrative African-American market through the African Diaspora Heritage Trail is being revived.

An African Diaspora Heritage Trail Planning Conference is set to take place in Bermuda next month.

Between 30 and 40 dignitaries from the countries involved ? Caribbean, African and North and South American nations ? will meet at Wyndham Bermuda Hotel and Resort from September 22 to 25 to plan the 2006 Second African Diaspora Heritage Conference.

The first ADHT conference was held in Bermuda in May 2002 and focussed generally on the identification, conservation and promotion of historic sites and venues throughout the African Diaspora.

More than 300 government leaders, educators, industry and travel professionals from the US, Caribbean and Africa came together in Bermuda for that inaugural conference.

According to project director Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, the initiative appeared to fizzle out after Mr. Allen died in September, 2002.

Visiting the Island this week with her brother, Jake Henderson Jr. who is also co-manager of the project, Dr. Henderson-Bailey said the planning conference in September should revive the initiative by bringing together some of the best minds in a conducive setting.

She said the concept of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) is one of a unified cross-border cultural tourism initiative to educate visitors, enhance economic viability of African Diaspora countries and conserve the essence of African descent, culture and history.

And she praised current Tourism Minister Ewart Brown for helping get the initiative back up and running.

"Recognising the importance of continuing such intercultural dialogue, Dr. Ewart Brown is committed to the on-going development of the ADHT Conference to establish linkages with African history, and to unite African Diaspora countries and cultures in a fulfilling experience that ultimately increases their tourism revenues while simultaneously enhancing education, environmental design and the arts," she said.

These "gurus", as she referred to those attending the planning conference next month, will focus on the development of the ADHT concept so that it will be mutually beneficial to all participants, lay the groundwork for the on-going ADHT Conference evolution and strategize a path forward.

Dr. Henderson-Bailey said key discussion areas will include the role of government and non-government organisations, multi-disciplinary theme development, partnerships, financial sources for development, travel promotion and logistics, founding corporate sponsor roles, tourism development, marketing strategies, community involvement and site or event designation criteria.

A possible date and venue for the 2006 conference will be decided next month.

Dr. Henderson-Bailey said the annual event will boost Bermuda's tourism figures and generate a significant amount of income for the Island.

The conference will also boost Bermuda's own African Diaspora Heritage Trail which stretches from Dockyard to St. George's and look at possible expansion on the concept.

?The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs will be distributing special Emancipation Day DVDs to all Government schools in September in an effort to educate students on the history of slavery in Bermuda.

Senior Community and Cultural Affairs Officer Heather Whalen said yesterday that the DVD chronicles the period from 1600 to 1834, when slaves were freed in Bermuda.

The DVD features a recording of the dramatic production 'Releasing the Shackles' which was performed at Clearwater on July 26. The show was based on unpublished material written by the late Dr. Kennedy Robinson.

Every year the Department organises a dramatic production to celebrate the emancipation of slaves in Bermuda and to educate the public on the overall slave experience on the Island.

Ms Whalen said it is only appropriate that this experience be shared with the youth.

"This is something we have been doing for some time and before we used to hold a special service on the Tuesday before Cup Match," she said.

"In more recent years, we've done these dramatic productions about various aspects of slavery, or the experiences that the Africans had when they came over here."

She said the productions are always held outdoors ? weather permitting ? and are well attended.

"This year was no exception," she said.

Ms Whalen said previous dramatic productions covered the conspiracy plot and education the Island's African descendants had before they came to Bermuda.

"These productions are used to educate people about their ancestors and the cruelty of slavery," she said.

The distribution of the DVD is hoped to compliment the schools' current curriculum treatments of Bermuda's history and to build public awareness.