A name sake, Allan, as in Allan Fiedkou contributed, for the consideration of Linden’s Jaycees, the description Mashramani, when that organization wanted an appropriate name for their series of events to usher in Guyana’s Republican status in February of 1970.
An Amerindian usage, mostly likely Arawak, the word loosely translates to mean “celebration after hard/work, successful endeavour and achievement.” The concept embraces an event of merry-making to recreate before embarking on yet more community development. The Linden Jaycees of 1970 readily adopted the word and concept; even through the current accepted spelling was somewhat arbitrary.
I suppose that, besides my own conceptualization of Republicanism through which the four-year Independent State of Guyana meant to relieve itself of most vestiges of British constitutional control and identity, that was my first Mashramani Moment: The Linden fashioning of a series of Carnival-like events to celebrate Republicanism.
To this day, forty-three years later, I often scold Jimmy Hamilton, one surviving Linden Mashramani architect that they relied too heavily on the Trinidadian affair, merely changing names and descriptions. Jimmy would quietly point to certain “evolutionary” differences in our festival over the four decades.
My other `Mash Moments’ included my learning and teaching Cleveland Hamilton’s “Song of the Republic” A beautiful, inspirational national song born/created from a little subterfuge between Cleveland and his one-time friend Forbes Burnham. Find out about that contemporary folklore.
There was also Burnham’s Minister David Singh happily appropriating the Linden festival into the country-wide, national celebration. With Burnham’s mischievous approval, of course.
As both teacher then senior government functionary, I suppose I had to experience the highs and lows of the festival, the celebratory aspect of the national observance of the anniversary of Republican Status. I too saw how inter-changeable the themes and concepts of “Mashramani” and “Republicanism” became.
That alone led to much misconception developing into today’s (perennial) criticism by those who do not favour “cultural presentations” and a Street Parade supplanting the status, character and content of a significant national anniversary.
I actually share the concern of those critics to the point of wondering whether they would accept the costume and floats on some alternative day to the twenty-third. Now there’s a thought!
A Tradition, A pity
I suppose all national events that eventually contribute to identity, even tradition, will attract growing pains. Challenges and controversies. Non homogenous societies such as ours become magnets for political interventions, ethnic-specific bickering and controversies born of discontent and disagreements.
Mashramani has attracted all of the above. There has been debate about the content, the scope and the appeal and audience(s). The post-1992 period, with its change of government even posed questions about the fate of the festival. PPP-C Ministers differed in their approaches to Mash. Suffice to say that today, February 2013, the festival is alive and well, not so-well, but being tended by both Culture Ministry and most people.
Happily, the festival now accommodates numerous activities and events related to the more academic, intellectual and cerebral. As I age on, I welcome this development in the festival’s scope. I rue the level of creativity of some of the song competitions but am proud of the debates, quizzes, exhibitions, lectures. My Best Mash Moment is when I feel that the festival will survive.
Rebellions and Republicanism
It should be fairly well-known by now that this month’s Republic Anniversary co-incides with the 250th Anniversary of the seminal 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt- which rebellion had all the early elements of a full-blown Revolution. Kofi, Atta, Akara, Gousarri, Accabreh were slave rebels intent on bringing the cruel Dutch Plantocracy to its sense and compromising Holland’s Military enough that it would want a negotiated settlement, leading to some peaceful partition of Berbice.
The pity, of course, is that dissension amongst the same slave leaders, betrayals, Dutch military maneouvres, Kofi’s indecision, illness, etc dictated that the rebellion would fail after some glorious victories along the River Berbice.
So with the provocative debates over the siting of an 1823 uprising monument, the anniversary events of 1763 have given welcome impetus to the study of important portions of our history as a people descended from forefathers who forever yearned for their liberty and dignity.
The political and constitutional evolution which pitch-forked Guyana into Republicanism in 1970, needs much, much more study. Yes, there were enough political consensuses to welcome the severing of ceremonial, psychological, military and governmental ties with Britain. The people’s nationalism did need a further spark of passion four years after independence.
Oh my countrymen, the question must persist however: what has forty-three years of Republicanism done for Guyana and its people? I do have a few responses of my own but I’ll save them. I was even advised that another question should be: what have the Republic’s citizens done for the Republic? But how should those citizens be empowered?
Even as we “Mash-up” this weekend, let’s ponder awhile on that.
Mash Musings…
.1) An Emotional Historian: So caught up with his subject was professor Thompson on Tuesday evening that he was overcome when describing the savage treatment of a slave woman by her Dutch Plantation Sub-humans. An excellent presentation on 1763 followed.
2) An Emasculated Parliament? How does the opposition prevent the Finance Minister from finding ways to replace any monies cut from the 2013 Budget?
3) Will FITUG, the large trade union grouping pronounce on the issue of Chinese workers only?
4) The Guyana Times just described Peter Ramsaroop as “a former multi-party politician.” How quaint!
5) How vulnerable poor Old Earth is. Meteors and asteroids just hinting at what they could do here.
6) I just discovered something! The Soca song competition is not really about the song. It’s display, presentation, Showtime – -especially for the young!
7) They plan to start the Mashramani Float and Costume Parade – Promptly at ten tomorrow morning. Want to bet?
Happy Mash’ til next week.
