This is a story carried through generations by the descendants of the Merikins. For Akilah Jaramogi, a sixth-generation Merikin descendant, Emancipation is not just a date on the calendar, but a living history of generational resilience. During the War of 1812, the British offered freedom to enslaved Africans who escaped plantations and joined their military efforts. According to historical records, the six Merikin Company Settlements were established in southern Trinidad. And while there are reported to be 781 settlers who arrived in Trinidad, Jaramogi estimates that today there are roughly 200,000 Merikin descendants.