The Second Inter-Guiana Cultural Festival was declared open on Thursday evening at the National Cultural Centre, where the representatives of Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana recommitted to strengthening relations through art and culture.
The four-day festival, which is being held here under the theme “Celebrating Our Culture, Bridging Our Friendship,” will see 50 participants each from Guyana and Suriname and 60 from French Guiana, participating in a host of cultural activities that showcase cultural diversity, including exhibitions in visual and literary arts, culinary and performing arts, fashion and country nights, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
The festival is premised on the notion of building bridges of friendship among the Guianas and at an opening that featured cultural performances from the three countries in song, dance and drumming, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that it widens the existing areas of cooperation and deepens the ties among the three countries which geographically lie side by side on the shoulder of the continent of South America.
“The ties between our three nations have been constrained historically by each of us having been colonies of English, Dutch and the French Empires…though we are side by side on the North Coast of South America, our links were few,” Hinds was quoted as saying by GINA.
He added that the great diversity of the people, the variations in food, dress, song and other cultural manifestations, when combined with the influences of the different colonising powers, have created an intense image and fascinating mosaic.
“The Inter-Guianas Cultural Festival is a celebration of this diversity… it is an attempt to bring to the fore the priceless cultural treasures that we possess… it is an attempt to share with each other these traditions, practices and traditional resources,” he added.
Minister of Culture Dr. Frank Anthony added that while the festival is relatively new, the idea of closer cooperation and collaboration among the Guianas is an old one, and he too noted the constraints posed by geography as well as language and geography.
However, he said the festival presents a new place where the strengths, diversity and uniqueness of the separate cultures can be shared, appreciated and enjoyed by all. “It is a forum to exchange ideas…to teach…to learn…to reinforce each other through cross fertilisation and mutual stimulation…out of these interactions and intersections of our cultures, news forms of cultural and artistic creativity will emerge,” Anthony was reported as saying, adding that it is also the place where local cultural entrepreneurs will forge new alliances, create new products and reach new audiences.
Anthony also used the opening to recognise the patron for the festival, author E.R. Braithwaite, for his outstanding contribution to the literary arts through his novel, “To Sir with Love,” which became a cornerstone for cutting across cultural differences. “His work ‘To sir with Love’ has had an impact in England when it was first published… when the film was first released its impact was further amplified around the world… this book has helped to re-shape the thinking and grace… and has helped several generations to avoid racial bigotry,” he said.
According to GINA, the representatives of Suriname and French Guiana also emphasised their commitment to sharing elements of their cultural diversity.
Suriname, as a co-founder of the festival, Suriname’s Director General of Culture Stanley Sidoel said, is pleased that it is being staged for the second time and in the Guyana. “By bringing this festival together, you (Guyana) are showing that they are committed to the common goal of strengthening friendly relations between the three Guianas through the development and entertainment of art and culture,” Sidoel said.
He further said that he is deeply convinced that arts and culture will play a central role in the process of integration of the Guianas’ cooperation. “The Inter- Guiana Cultural Festival is indeed a festival of the Guianas, meaning that it is our common responsibility to develop this festival as one of the ways we are proud of,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cultural Representative of the Regional Council of French Guiana and 4th Vice President Fabienne Mathurin-Brouard said that French Guiana is proud to join both Suriname and Guyana at the festival. She added that it is in the spirit of respect and consideration that French Guiana joined in the festival, knowing that the culture of the nation is a growing and indivisible one. “French Guiana is pleased to join you along with the artistes… to express ourselves and to share with you the things that characterise us, which are interesting elements of our cultural diversity,” Mathurin-Brouard said.
The first Inter-Guiana Cultural Festival was held in Paramaribo, in August last year.
