Guyanese cultural icon Wordsworth McAndrew passed away yesterday at the East Orange Hospital, New Jersey, USA following a short illness. He was 72 years old.
Persons who worked with McAndrew describe him as a broadcaster, folklorist and poet, who was one of the most influential advocates for the collection, preservation and celebration of Guyanese folk life.
“Guyana has lost an extremely talented son of the soil and a true cultural anthropologist,” former workmate Terry Holder recounted as he relayed his thoughts about the death of a close friend yesterday.
McAndrew, more famously known for his popular poem “Ole Higue”, hosted several radio programmes as an information officer with the Guyana Information Services, then with the Guyana Broadcasting Services (GBS) as programme director.