Culture of Guyana

Guyanese culture reflects the influence of African, Indian, French, Amerindian, Chinese, British, Dutch, Portuguese, Caribbean, and American and Nepalese culture.

Guyana is one of a few mainland territories that is considered to be a part of the Caribbean region. Guyanese people share similar interests with the islands of the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc.

Cultural events

• Mashramani
• Phagwah
• Deepavali (Diwali)
• Easter
• Christmas

Literature and theatre

See also: Guyanese literature in the United Kingdom

Popular Guyanese authors include Wilson Harris, Jan Carew, Denis Williams and E. R. Braithwaite. Braithwaite's memoir To Sir With Love details his experiences as a black high school teacher in the poor East End of London. An early Guyanese born author was Edgar Mittelholzer, who became more well known while living in Trinidad and England. His more well known works include Corentyne Thunder and a three novel set known as the Kaywana Trilogy, the latter focusing on one family through 350 years of Guyana's history.

Although the beginning of theatre in 19th century Georgetown was European, in the early 20th century a new African and Indian Guyanese middle-class theatre emerged. In the 1950s there was an explosion of an ethnically diverse and socially committed theatre. Despite an economic depression, there was a struggle to maintain theatre post-1980. Serious repertory theatre was highlighted by Carifesta and the Theatre Guild of Guyana.^[1] Wordsworth McAndrew has been prominent in Guyanese theatre since the 1960s.

Music and visual arts

Main article: Music of Guyana

Guyana's musical tradition is a mix of Indian, African, European, and native elements. Pop music includes American, Caribbean (reggae, calypso, chutney, Soca, Bollywood film songs, local guyanese soca-chutney ^[2]), Brazilian and other Latin musical styles. Popular Guyanese performers include Terry Gajraj, Mark Holder, Eddy Grant, Dave Martins & the Tradewinds, Aubrey Cummings and Nicky Porter. Among the most successful Guyanese record producers are Rohit Jagessar, Eddy Grant, Terry Gajraj and Dave Martin.

Visual Art takes many forms in Guyana, but its dominant themes are Amerindian, the ethnic diversity of the population and the natural environment. Modern and Contemporary visual artists living in, or originally from, Guyana include Stanley Greaves, Ronald Savory, Philip Moore, Donald Locke, Frank Bowling, Hew Locke, Roshini Kempadoo and Aubrey Williams.

Film

Guiana 1838, a film by Guyanese-born director Rohit Jagessar that depicts the arrival of indentured Indian servants to the Caribbean in 1838 following the 1834 abolition of slavery in the British Empire, was released in 2004.

The story of the cinema in Guyana goes back to the 1920s when the Gaiety, probably British Guiana's first cinema, stood by the Brickdam Roman Catholic Presbytery in Georgetown, and showed Charlie Chaplin-type silent movies. After the Gaiety burnt down around 1926, other cinemas followed, such as the Metro on Middle Street in Georgetown, which became the Empire; the London on Camp Street, which became the Plaza; and the Astor on Church and Waterloo Streets, which opened around 1940.

The Capitol on La Penitence Street in Albouystown had a rough reputation. The Metropole was on Robb and Wellington Streets; the Rialto, which became the Rio, on Vlissengen Road; the Hollywood was in Kitty; and the Strand de Luxe on Wellington Street, was considered the luxury showplace.

Cinema seating was distinctly divided. Closest to the screen, with rows of hard wooden benches, was the lowly Pit, where the effort of looking upwards at the screen for several hours gave one a permanent stiff neck. The next section, House, was separated from the Pit by a low partition wall. House usually had individual but connected wooden rows of seats that flipped up or down. Above House was the Box section, with soft, private seats and, behind Box, Balcony, a favourite place for dating couples. These divisions in the cinema roughly represented the different strata existing in colonial society.

Architecture

Much historic architecture reflects the country's British colonial past. Many of these buildings in Georgetown and New Amsterdam were built entirely of local woods.

Sports

See also: Cricket in the West Indies

Providence Stadium as seen from the East Bank Highway.

The major sports in Guyana are cricket (Guyana is part of the West Indies as defined for international cricket purposes), softball cricket (beach cricket) and football (soccer). Minor sports include netball, rounders, lawn tennis, basketball, table tennis, boxing, squash and a few others.

Guyana played host to international cricket matches as part of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The new 15,000-seat Providence Stadium, also referred to as Guyana National Stadium, was built in time for the World Cup and was ready for the beginning of play on March 28. At the first international game of CWC 2007 at the stadium, Lasith Malinga of the Sri Lankan team performed a helmet trick or double hat-trick (four wickets in four consecutive deliveries).

Cuisine

Guyanese cuisine is very similar to the rest of the Caribbean. The food is diverse and includes dishes such as curry, roti and Cookup Rice, the local variation on the Caribbean rice and peas. The one pot meal while not the national dish is one of the most cooked dishes. With its various versions, according to what type of meat, peas and other ingredients available, it is a true reflection of the country. The food reflects the ethnic makeup of the country and its colonial history, and includes African and Creole, East Indian, Amerindian, Chinese and European (mostly British, French and Portuguese) dishes.

Dishes have been adapted to Guyanese tastes, often by the addition of spices. Unique preparations^[3] include Pepperpot, a stew of Amerindian origin made with Cassareep (a bitter extract of the cassava), hot pepper and seasoning. Other favourites are cassava bread, stews, and Metemgie, a thick rich soup with a ground provision coconut base and fluffy dumplings, eaten with fried fish or chicken. Homemade bread-making, an art in many villages, is a reflection of the British influence that includes pastries such as cheese roll, pine (pineapple) tart, and patties (similar to the Jamaican beef patty).

Curry is widely popular in Guyana and include most types of meat that can be curried including chicken, seafood, goat, lamb, and even duck. Guyanese style Chow Mein is another dish that is an almost everyday affair in most homes.

Fish is also a major part of Guyanese cuisine and diet; the fish that are mainly used include: gilbaka, catfish, and hassa.

Caribbean and Latin American ground provisions (known colloquially as provisions) are part of the staple diet and include cassava, sweet potato, edoes and others. There is an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood on the coast.

Most individuals use fresh fruit to make their own beverages, which are called "local drink". Popular homemade drinks are lime water(like lemonade), mauby, made from the bark of a tree; sorrel drink, made from a leafy vegetable used in salads; ginger beer (made from ginger root) and peanut punch.

Fresh fish and seafood are an integral part of the Guyanese diet especially in the rural areas and small villages along the coast. Popular fish types include Gilbaka, Tilipia, Catfish, and Hassa. The crab soups and soups with okra from the Berbice coastal region resemble the Louisiana creole soups like gumbo.

Guyanese style Chinese food and Fried Chicken are the most popular restaurant and take out items, and are found in the bigger towns. Popular Chinese dishes include include Lo Mein, chow mein, and Chicken in the ruff (fried rice with Chinese-style fried chicken).

Folklore

The Guyanese folklore is similar to the Caribbean folklores, mixed with afro-american and indian beliefs.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Guyana

Many religions are practised in Guyana, the predominant ones being Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

Notes

1. ^ A History of Theatre in Guyana 1800–2000, Frank Thomasson. ISBN 1-84523-045-0
2. ^ From Caroni Gyal To Calcutta Woman: A History Of East Indian Chutney Music In The Caribbean by Rajendra Saywack December 1999, Thomas Hunter College http://www.saxakali.com/caribbean/Hemchandra1.htm
3. ^ Guyana Outpost; Guyanese recipes

Resource for Guyanese Culture - Videos - Guyana Beat

External links

• Hew Locke website
• Roshini Kempadoo website
• Donald Locke website
• Frank Bowling website

References

• Manuel, Peter (1995). Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 1592134637. 
• Manuel, Peter. East Indian Music in the West Indies: Tan-singing, Chutney, and the Making of Indo-Caribbean Culture. Temple University Press, 2000. ISBN 1-56639-763-4.