Photos by Melissa Charles
The National Park was transformed into a colourful spectacle yesterday when thousands turned out to celebrate Emancipation Day observances put on by the African Cultural Development Association and others.
Quite a few members of the diverse crowd were attired in African-wear, with many of them clearly making an effort to fashionably celebrate the day.
Getting a feel of the Tanzanian culture in the booth dedicated to featuring Tanzania.
Although the crowd could be described as disappointing in the earlier part of the afternoon, it visibly grew as the day wore on. The disappointing size of the initial crowd was noted by one drummer, who gave his name as Adrian. He told this newspaper that he had been performing at the Emancipation day event for many years but said that the crowd was much smaller in the mid-afternoon when compared to previous years. This, however, did not stop him from beating his drum and singing his folk songs heartily as he provided wholesome entertainment for those who cared to stop his way.
There were also several booths on display exhibiting facts about African culture while others had displays of clothing, jewellery and ornaments. Food bars were also prevalent with many selling traditional African foods such as konki, cook-up rice and black pudding along with other local favourites. The crowd, though, seemed much more interested in having a good time, with many taking the time to enjoy the music or the company of family and friends than be engrossed in the booths.
Throngs of Emancipation Day celebrants making their way into the National Park yesterday afternoon.
As the afternoon progressed, the fast growing gathering was treated to a cultural display where dances, songs and other items were performed by local artistes. Performers included the dancers from the X-factor dance troupe, The National School of Dance and singers such as Celeste David, Lisa Punch, and Alabama were among those that graced the stage.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, his wife Yvonne Hinds and Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin were among those gathered for the cultural display.
THE PEOPLE ARE SO STRESS OUT IN GUYANA THAT AN IMPORTANT DAY LIKE EMANCIPATION DAY JUST A FEW WERE THERE IN THE EARLY PART
THAT PARK SHOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED TO CAPACITY , BUT THEN AGAIN
THE POLICE PROBABLY WOULD ROUND UP THE YOUTHS
i think you are more stressed in america than those in Guyana….i know what’s going on there……..dont try to fool the world about yourself and lay a bad impression on the guyanese people……99% of them are favourably more comfortable than you…HAVE YOU DONE YOUR PART FOR EMANCIPATION DAY IN AMERICA? SURE NOT…TOO BUSY AT WORK TO PAY THE BILLS ETC. SO WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BLABBING ABOUT.
turbo,
I think you believe this is still the 70’s and 80’s. In that error, Burnham would’ve filled all the buses Transport had, ordered all the Guystac managers and employees to a “must attend” affair at the National Park, half the police and GDF and National Service and Malitia and finally everyone who was fortunate to drive a Lada or escorted in a Datsun 280C “Limo”, compliments of his PNC Party to fill the Park even against the peoples will, and if they don’t attend, they lose the PNC party card and all the previledges they have.
Well Mr. turbo, this is the 21st century, things changed, the people of Guyana is now under democratic rule so no more bullying to show patriotism to the PNC Party in the guise of Black people’s Emancipation.
The amount of people attending today would have been the same amount (or less) that would have attended in the PNC days BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO OBEY BURNHAM, BUT THEY HAD TO. Or did you forget ???? I just reminded you.
THEN IF THE PARK GET FULL TO CAPACITY YOU WILL SAY THAT THE PARK IS TOO SMALL AND THE GOVT SHOULD HAVE CATERED FOR THAT……
Your comments are intended to create mischief,you are better off saving you energies for the TWO JOBS you do to make ends meet in America.
i hope that their was alot of indo-guyanese celebrating emancipation day at the national park and not only MR. JAGDEO ??
AFRO-GUYANESE ARE LOVING AND PEACEFULL PEOPLE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PHOTO THAT STABROEK NEWS TOOK OF THE WOMAN HOLDING A WHITE DOLL IN HER HAND
TOTAL NONSENCE…YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR RIGHT MIND
torbo what is your age?.
what do you know about burnham?
people were told to go to the park i know because i was told lucky me i used to drive a vehicle to take people there into the park .
funny thing the traffic was hell going in and out of the park at those events so when i took them in they would walk pass the vehicle on their way out.
simple they did not to be there.
you you should get the facts or get a life.
do like me go home every year.
I DO BISRAM TWICE A YEAR, NOTHING CHANGE ONLY THE PEOPLE MINDS THEIR ARE DESPERATE FOR CHANGE THEY NEED HOPE AND JOBS , ALL THEY CAN DO IS DRINK RUM GO HOME AND TAKE OUT THEIR ANGER ON THEIR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN
Lol. These comments features are getting to be like the call in TV programmes in Guyana. There are people in Guyana so lazy that even if they were given jobs they won’t work. Send a couple of barrels and a few Western Union remittances and we here promote this behaviour. When they come to the great US of A they are shattered by its reality and will work harder in order to not go back home with nothing and swallowing their pride. Mackdog has my attention with his ice hard comments. None of the truths will simply vanish unfortunately for unenlightened bloggers here who needs to find emancipation by doing research that mackdog is talking about. Hey Mackdog don’t forget to mentioned the vanloads of Burnham thugs that had me bolting with my bicycle during Rodney’s street meetings. People in my view are enjoying more freedom in Guyana now. These cultural events and all others must be promoted no matter what the turnout but never forced.
What the hell you guys really getting @ each other about, did anybody told you guys just how silly and childish all of this is sounding..when oh when will everybody wake up and stop the finger pointing about this party or the other………and just in case anybody forgot, emancipation (folk festival) is a “Guyanese thing”…look @ the pictures in the press and it speaks volumes and also paints a Clair picture about the people that went out there(from what I can see, it’s Clair Indians and blacks alike was out in full force)…!
WHICH PICS WERE U LOOKING AT ? PLEASE TELL ME SO I CAN SEEEEE PLS
THE PROBLEM WITH WE GUYANSES PEOPLE INDIANS AND AFRICANS WE DONT WANT TO DISCUSS RACE ITS TABOO TO TALK ABOUT RACE IN GUYANA
BUT IN THE MEAN TIME MORE GUYANESE ARE DYING IN RECORD NUMBERS
DUE TO THE RACIAL DIVIDE, JUST BE SILENT PEOPLE AND IT WILL GO AWAY,
BE MAN AND WOMAN AND STAND STRONG AND LETS US COME TOGETHER
AND SOLVE THIS CANCER THAT EATING AWAY AT US PLS..
torbo? If there is a racial divide, it is an imaginary line.
Guyanese live well with each other all the time. It is ONLY at voting time that some actions do seem ‘a divide’/ Other than that, is hunky-dory with the people.
Now torbo…tell me ‘why do you use CAPITAL LETTERS in your posts?
Do you need to shout all the time to be heard?
That is what CAPITAL LETTERS in posts mean!
Did you know that?
gopie thank god i have a job is my fellow guyanese who dont have a job and 16 pct. vat guyanese are happy and stress free, tell that to u own people gopie
yeah man u are right….america is not no “cake walk”…..this aint no land of milk
and honey!…..i too was brought here “like a slave” against my will by my parents
as a young teenager….and ever since i dream about returning to guyana to live.
the prob is guyana got this Heavy crime…in america we got crime too …but when
u alert the police they actually show up and most time capture the criminals.
.Guyana will always be in my heart……ONE LOVE!
correction…that should be “torbo” not turbo. Sorry.
MACKYDOG THAT IS INCORRECT NEVER HAVE I HEARD THAT DURING THE PNC REIGN THAT PRESIDENT FORBES BURNHAM ORDER THE GUYANESE
PEOPLE TO ATTEND ANY FUNCTION AT THE NAT”L PARK I DONT KNOW WHO
YOU ARE TRYING TO FOOL BUT NOT ME
MACKYDOG EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY , PLEASE LISTEN TO UNCLE BOB MARLEY FREE YRSELF OF THE PPP BONDAGE
GOPIE LOOK LOOK LOOK AT THE PHOTO
WE ARE PEACE LOVING AND KIND HEARTED AFRO-GUYANESE
GTBEAT 2 JOBS I CAN DO, BUT IN GUYANA PEOPLE DONT EVEN HAVE 1 THE TRUTHS HURTS I GUESS THAT IS WHY U HAVE THE USA FLAG NEXT TO U GOD BLESS THE USA AND HELP GUYANA OUT OF ITS MISERY
Carl, unless you’ve been walking around with a bucket over your head, there is most definitely a racial divide in Guyana. I, myself have experienced this many occassions when I’ve visited the country. It’s sad but true.
I believe the government should introduce a unity day, where everyone celebrates as one regardless of what colour you are. This would definitely promote harmony.