Dear Editor,
As we simmer in the moments of elation that Carifesta X is bringing us, a feeling of nostalgia excites me. I cannot help but ponder on how promising the national cultural arena in Guyana has always been, especially during the seventies. I cannot help but reflect on the Guyana Festival of the Arts (Guyfesta). This was our local Carifesta, and a strong spirit of euphoria, national pride and personal creative capability would possess us when this time came around.
Just as we were blessed with the foresight to openly embrace Carifesta, and to welcome it back to our shores, it would be nice if we were to give some thought to the return of Guyfesta, another of our cultural institutions of the seventies. With the facilities we have today, I am sure it could be re-examined, improved and reintroduced with a more scientific and modern flavour.
Guyfesta was a biennial event that stormed the ten regions of Guyana. It unearthed some of the best talent that Guyana boasts, even today. Individuals, churches, schools, and all types of social organizations were involved in it. This festival did not only discover new talent, it encouraged and gave a sense of pride, value, purpose, belonging and direction to creative talents regardless of genre – literary, performing or visual.
It helped in uniting the 10 regions with their people of all races, regardless of their social or cultural persuasions, and fostered a strong degree of self-awareness and self-confidence among our young people.
From my own experience, Guyfesta presented me, as a young man, with a very useful avenue through which I could be in touch with my own creativity. It helped me to harness my thoughts, energy, talents and abilities in a constructive and meaningful way.
It instilled in me the need to strive beyond mediocrity, as I looked forward to either a certificate of merit, honour or excellence at the end of my performance.
By the way, I still have those certificates, and I would include them in my resumé whenever I go on auditions, or job hunting for theatre opportunities in the wider arena of the creative world.
What is very important to remember is that Guyfesta provided Guyana with a talent pool from which the country could draw at its convenience to feed both national and international events that required our cultural participation.
I remember, after Guyfesta ’75, a group of us had been sent to Barbados as part of a cultural contingent to provide an evening of entertainment for statisticians from around the Caribbean.
Lots of young poets and actors, as a result of the inspiration they gained from Guyfesta, joined the Theatre Guild, performed at the National Cultural Centre and were featured in various cultural events both at home and abroad.
Then, there was CC Varieties (Cultural Centre Variety Show). This show was organized monthly by Malcolm Corrica (Lord Canary). Here again, Guyfesta performers were given an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents. It is a known fact that a few of our earlier Calypso Monarchs got their feet wet at this festival. Carifesta contingents were easily composed from among those exceptional performances that came out of Guyfesta.
Lots of visual artists also benefited from their participation in this festival. Their works were displayed both in and out of Guyana.
The most outstanding works discovered were bought by the Department of Culture, back in the day, and were included among the National Collection of paintings, sculptures and handicraft. Many artists got their first sales this way.
It would be such a wonderful and exciting move if Guyfesta were to become a national institution, again. I am sure with a little more invested in it this time, it would provide opportunities for the gifted and talented among us. And, of course, it would provide another national opportunity for us to unite and have fun as we learn more about our folk culture, develop a sense of appreciation for our local talent and work towards creating opportunities for all aspects of our cultural capabilities to thrive.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Kwesi Oginga
