Arts on Sunday

The winning books in The Guyana Prize for Literature 2010 which were announced at the awards ceremony on September 1, make a statement about where Guyanese and Caribbean literature are today. 

In November 2010 the Guyana Prize for Literature announced that it was opening a new page in its literary activities to strengthen its developmental partnership with Caribbean literature. 

A number of interesting factors will arise from an examination of the shortlists of contending books released by the juries of the Guyana Prize. 

Last week we attempted a broad overview of the African presence in Guyanese culture; the nature of it, the way it manifests itself and its considerable influence on the national culture and social structure. 

An assessment of the African presence in Guyana becomes topical annually around the time of the anniversary of Emancipation. 

Sir Walter Ralegh (1554-1618) has been both cursed and celebrated in this part of the world, just as he was in England in his time.

Edward Ricardo Braithwaite is a Guyanese novelist and scientist who served as writer, teacher and diplomat during his long career. 

Several folk tales have many versions, so that the same story may be known in different countries each of which has its own variations on the theme. 

Popular plays revel in topicality and reap rewards from their engagements with something resembling the carpe diem philosophy relished by Metaphysical poets in the camp of the ‘Cavaliers’ of the seventeenth century. 

The recent performance of the Jamaican play Ova Mi Dead Body by Paul Beale was a very timely intervention where the state of Caribbean theatre is concerned.

Another positive feature in the recent Guyana National Drama Festival was the clear sign that some amount of theatre is taking place among schools and youth groups. 

Nrityageet is “a pure dance theatre production reflecting the creativity and innovation of three generations of dancers, choreographers and producers.” 

That part of Guyanese literature that may be described as East Indian literature is indistinguishable from the totality of the nation’s writing in terms of styles, themes, subjects and other concerns of authors today.

Malefactor (Left) So you is God? Den teck we down! Tiefin doan bad like crucifyin!

Easter is one of the most important religious festivals for Christians and the second in magnitude of the two very prominent ones with extensive public appeal (the first of these is Christmas).

Tomorrow at Daybreak Tomorrow at daybreak, when the fields are pale I will leave.

It might surprise many to hear it said that after 41 years Guyana’s premier national festival is still a developing tradition. 

The theatre of satire in the Caribbean has a very strong history and tradition dating back to the period of slavery. 

The recent staging of the Harold Bascom drama Makantali by The Theatre Guild was an extremely important production.

The annual satirical revue Link Show 27 directed by Ron Robinson and produced by The Theatre Company and GEMS Theatre Productions provoked a number of letters and comments in the press in February 2011.