It’s official! The Brazilians are invading Guyana. No, not with their army. But rather a cultural invasion and more particularly with the music, and with that foot-stomping country dance, Forro, which is well on its way to becoming a part of the Guyanese culture.
While it has always been present, especially in the border communities in the Rupununi and also in other areas, where nationals of that country go, Brazilian Forro music is becoming more and more a part of the cultural landscape.
On the radio, at bars and nightclubs, in minibuses, at restaurants, practically everywhere, the music can be heard. And with it or more likely because of it, a whole new culture has sprung up; Brazilian restaurants and bars, Brazilian hotels and shops, even some parts of the city have been taken over by Brazilians.
Some of us welcome the opportunity to experience another culture (several aspects aside) right here and though some may not agree we are sure that many would.
Just ask some people and most likely they’ll be able to tell you the name of the hottest new CD or artiste from south of the border. For most it’s either DJ Maluco or Pepe Moreno, whose tunes are the ones most often heard here, though there are others. We took the opportunity to listen to Pepe Moreno’s last album over the weekend and it sounded okay. But the fact that that type of music is gaining in popularity here has made us think about why hasn’t some entertainment promoter decided to bring some Brazilian artistes and have a show here? While some singers, brought over here by the Brazilians themselves have been in the city (a band was at the Rocky’s Hotel on Light Street during Mashramani) and there have been bands at Lethem on an occasional basis, there has been no major promotion involving Brazilian artistes or with a Brazilian theme.
We have heard the music in the most unlikely of places. Travelling through the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling area last week, if you closed your eyes, the feeling was as though you were in some Brazilian town. Forro everywhere! According to someone, the anglicized version of the word is Faha. And many persons have mastered the dance moves of that music, of which there are many variations.
Then there is the Brazilian food. We are a bit suspicious of the practice in some restaurants where you pay for your food by weight; although this may be a way to ensure that you only take what you can eat. We like the roast beef and chicken.
Shops carrying Brazilian goods have opened too.
Then there are the clubs, well you know the ones that we are talking about, where the Brazilians ladies are a major part of the attraction. While that aspect is somewhat dubious, we have heard that many people visit them.
People are also taking up the opportunity to learn the language.
But even with all this, there has not been much an effort to bring different aspects of the culture to locals unless you are actively seeking it.
What about a show where Brazilian artistes are the headliners? But perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves. With all the talk about creating link, however, we do feel that this will definitely happen some time in the future.
We’ll also think about maybe taking lessons and probably the next time we meet we’ll likely greet you with “Como vai?” and dance the forro or Faha with you. (thescene@stabroeknews.com)
