-Hopetown soiree told
By Shabna Ullah
Guyanese from all parts of the country, some of whom were decked out in their African attire, turned up for the annual soiree at Hopetown on Thursday night to join in the re-enacting of the struggles of their ancestors.
Amid African drumming, Queh Queh and other dances, dramatic poems and a libation ceremony, persons who gathered at the old Fort Wellington School building were told that their “ancestors were not slaves; they were enslaved.”
Dancing the Queh Queh at the Hopetown soiree on Thursday evening
Colleen Grant, a New York-based resident reminded the gathering of the struggles of their ancestors and said that “they did not come to the Americas willingly. They came bound in shackles… and were thrown in the bowels of ships as human cargo…”
She said they were “shackled together and packed like cattle on the slave-ship” and when they died they were tossed overboard. She is disappointed that despite what they went through a plaque or a monument was not erected to honour the ancestors.
Grant said too that a number of their ancestors died because of the “atrocious conditions” and that those who survived the dungeons in Ghana, Nigeria and “other known slave forts” had to endure further indignations.
Noting that the village of Hopetown was founded by the descendants of enslaved people of African descent”, she said the celebration of emancipation in the village started from the morning when slavery was abolished and that the traditions of the ancestors have been “upheld with pride.”
Grant along with her mother, Agnes Grant and three other siblings were part of a group that visited Ghana, Africa last year to celebrate Emancipation. They displayed a number of photos that depicted the various cultures in Africa.
As persons attended the cultural events which were also held at the Falcon Crest Disco in the village, many chose to line the road as they drank and danced to loud music emanating from sets.
Colleen Grant (second from left) poses with, from left, a Florida-based resident, Pauline Innis, her mother Agnes Grant and coordinator of the soiree and chairperson of the cultural event, Joan James.
Several stalls were set up with traditional African dishes such as cook-up, konkee, fufu, met-em-gee and cassava pone while other foods such bar-b-que and fried rice were also on sale.
East Canje
The event was also celebrated in other parts of Berbice with the East Canje Cultural Group hosting it at the Goed Bananen Land (GBL) ground for the first time.
A coordinator, Jackie Taylor Victor said the group plans to make it an annual affair. The event was organized so that residents would no longer have to travel to different parts of the country to be a part of the yearly celebration.
A candlelight parade and church service was held on Thursday evening in front of the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company and the Guyana Power & Light buildings at Cumberland. Participants then proceeded to the GBL ground where a church service was held. Celebrants then relived African culture through drumming, story-telling, sharing jokes and reminiscing on the past.
The event was expected to continue yesterday from 10 am with a road show and parade – led by a Majorette group – from Cumberland Village, through Betsy Ground, then to the GBL ground for another cultural session
.
African drumming, backed by a popular sound system was expected to be provided by Colin Grant and troupe.
Similar activities were held at Kildonan and other parts of the Corentyne, the Orange Chapel Congregational Church at Sandvort Village, West Canje and the All Saints Scots Church at Princess Elizabeth and Vryheid Road in New Amsterdam.
How we en seeing some comments from the regulars…..lol like dem en wake up yet or they were hoping to see some gossip about the government and security forces to comment on…..as the saying goes “bad news does really sell”.
BUNGBANG THAT”S HOW U CAN TELL WHO IS WHO ON THIS STABROEK CHAT ROOM, THIS IS NOT THEIR KIND OF THING IF U KNOW WHAT I MEAN
We need to start a global organization of African Peoples. Whether it is reparations or justice in the lands we inhabit, our voices will have greater impact if they are collective. Africans exist in large numbers in almost every continent on the globe. We need to brdge the gap between the diaspora and the continent, and address our issues as a collective rather than lone community voices crying in the wilderness.
I AGREE WITH YOU JUSTICE4ALL
Great Idea but I think, from my observation and experiences, it would take many many years to really become a reality because there are many barriers amongst the African People.
*In the continent of Africa — there is still the tribal tension amongst the African peoples.
*In the Region (Caribbean) – I have seen and witnessed ,during my 6 years of imparting my knowledge as a teacher to my fellow Caribbean peoples, how my Guyanese African brothers and sisters (teachers and others residing there) were ridiculed by their fellow African St. Lucians.
* My fellow karateka – an African Guyanese teacher who was entering the island (St. Lucia) to teach was once sent back.
* Our well known African brother with an African last name – Mr. Francis Quamina – of ours was once detained in Antuiga some years ago.
Then there was an issue of tonal values towards my Guyanese brothers and sisters. Guyanese Africans were/are classed as dark.
Not to mention the distance between rich and poor; educated and ‘uneducated’.
The list can continue but if you can lead with the fire of love – you can certainly win their hearts.
And what exactly do we call people who are enslaved? All this time spent bending words would be better spent urging our kids to take education seriously. It is the key to their future!
You are so right Wiffy,the young people are getting the wrong messages,wrong role models in the communities.
How come nothing like this use to happen when I was a teenager in Guyana? I was born and raised in Georgetown so maybe that explains it. I remember how them country folks used to treat us city folk like foreigners, because they were always so much more conscious of our African heritage and culture.
Today I hope that all Guyana and Guyanese are involved in this historic world celebration.
COCHY I AGREE WITH U MAN , AFRO-GUYANESE NEEDS TO PROMOTE THEIR
CULTURE MORE, WHEN U DRIVE DOWN FROM THE AIRPORT U GET THE FEELING YOU R IN SOME PART OF INDIA I AM NOT BEING RACIST BUT AFRO-
GUYANESE NEEDS TO PROMOTE THEIR CULTURE MORE, ALSO WE NEED MORE AFRO TV STATIONS IN GUYANA PROMOTING AFRICAN-GUYANESE FOLKS SONGS, ALL U SEE ON MOST OF THE TV STATIONS IN GUYANA IS
INDIANS MOVIES N SONGS I REPEAT I AM NOT A RACIST BUT JUST TRYING TO OPEN THE AFRO GUYANESE EYES
THANKS TO THE PPP….EVERY ONE IS GUYANESE NOW………THE MIXING OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES ARE THE SUCCESS TO ANY NATION…. THAT’S WHAT THE PPP IS DOING…….THOSE EYES THAT ARE STILL CLOSED WILL BE OPENED SOON…..
well said Wiffy!!
i am all ltoo aware of the african slaves decendant s still carrying a grudge but lets not forget that this was a long time ago … i dont see us amerindians going on an on about slavery and we too were slaves … please people lets not keep this slave thing up … as it only breads tension amongst the guyanese people … we are all guyanese one people one nation one destiny lets forget the past people and move on for our childrens sake however we come to be in guyana…and every race has made a significant contribution to the progress of guyana im sick of africans who go on about slavery blah blah blah i dont hear the incas or astecs going on ever drop the chip lits forgive and forget ..oh and one more thing … it was there own african people who captured them and sold them into slavery ..
MY AMERINDIAN FRIEND WHY ARE U SO UPSET AT AFRICAN HISTORY ? OF ALL PEOPLE YOU SHOULD BE SUPPORTING AFRICAN HISTORY AND CLUTURE U HAVE TO EDUCATE YOUR PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR
PAST INSTILL IT IN THEM EVERY DAY THE JEWS DO IT EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY SO WHY NOT US AFRICANS?? JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE
RICH HISTORY OF AFRICANS
Amerindian Heritage Day
Emancipation Day
Indian Immigration Day
Our various peoples fought for these days to be placed on the calender because they are symbols of our lives and struggles and our identities which we should be proud of. We should never forget the experiences of our foreparents. When people try to suppress these thoughts they may become burdened to the point of endangering others with racial hatred.
BUCKALUK U SEEM VERY CONFUSE IF U READ MY BLOG U WILL SEE I AM NOT SPEAKING BAD ABOUT THE EAST INDIAN ACCOMPLISHMENT IN GUYANA
I AM TELLING MY AFRO-GUYANESE TO DO THE SAME PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND MR/MRS BUCK A LUK TK U
Torbo im not at all upset at african history….my people the amerindians as u like to put are not part of the political tension … i actually was brought up in an african neighbourhood and had very good african friends i just think its african people like u who makes it bad for the law abiding african citizens…your comment about its like beingin india …makes u sound bad … my people the buck people that is are not at alll involved in this one bit are happy and peaceful for centuries matter of fact our culture are ours and thats how we like it …u need to educate u youths about the culture of work … maybe that might help to build guyana ..
MY DEAR FELLOW GUYANESE YOU STARTED IT I LOVE AMERINDIANS THEY ARE QUIET SETS OF TRIBES LIVING IN THE INTERIOR OF OUR BELOVED GUYANA , THE USA DID A REPORT THAT THE GOG HAVE TO DO MORE FOR YOUR PEOPLE. AFRO AND AMERINDIANS HAS GOTTEN ALONG FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I DID NOT COME AT YOU
WITH ANYTHING DEMEANING , YOU WERE THE ONE , SO PLEASE SIT BACK TAKE A DEEP BREATH GATHER YOUR THOUGHTS AND COME AGAIN TKS YOU TORBO
If we are talking about eduacting our youths – we must be beware of choice of word/s/phrase (verbally or other wise ) particularly when refering to other racial/ ethnic groups , even when refering to our own.
It’s totally refreshing that the african culture is so preserved and kept alive. If only it didn’t had all this bitterness that is attached to it as if it’s the only race that were subject to this. Saying that you are not racial and making statements that are racial is truly hypocritical. Diversity is an endangered species now. If each person wants to live according to their culture then each and everyone should support it as they might lose their own. Accept and love yourself and do not be ashamed of what or who you are for each culture is unique and each race has a right to enjoy this planet earth. Move on forward. The past is not an exercise in bitterness but always a learning experience. If God wanted us to lose that uniqueness he would not have created us that way because we would have nothing to lose in the first place. I miss this beautiful day in Guyana.
Typing in all “CAPS” does not make your words any more meaningfull to her or anyone else that reads them. It just messes up the system and makes it more difficult to see ,not to mention a childish attitude!