Roots and Rhythms cultural show opens Thursday

Guyanese Roots and Rhythms, a cultural splash of song, dance, drama and drums fused with interesting items of local history is set for the Sophia Exhibition site this Thursday when the Guyana Craft and Gift show opens to visitors for Cricket World Cup and the public at large.

Director Gem Madhoo-Nascimento said the show offers a cultural taste of Guyana and is as entertaining as it is educational and informative. She said the 100-odd performers were pulled from across the country to deliver an interesting show.

But the group which includes the Classique dancers, Korowka singers, the Cove & John Ashram drummers, the Joker is Wild Masquerade band and several seasoned theatre actors has had a short time to prepare, though Madhoo-Nascimento said they will be ready for the opening night.

Madhoo-Nascimento wrote the show in February immediately after being approached by the organizers, and according to her, it did take time to get everyone on board. However, within a few days every leg of the show had been catered for. She said there was no reason to panic because many of the performers have worked with her in the past and they understand fully well the amount of hours they need to put in and the kind of show they are putting on. Mahdoo said Guyanese Roots and Rhythms takes a look back on various aspects of Guyanese culture while at the same time celebrating it.

“It will be a sort of conversation where the younger folks will be asking the older people many questions about Guyana, and they are going to open up. In addition to song, dance and drama we are going to have video documentary on Guyana