The importance of the Amerindian heritage to the literature of Guyana has been articulated with specific reference to the fact that what is normally referred to as Guyanese literature includes Amerindian folk tales.
Amerindian literature is a significant factor in the Guyanese cultural heritage, and it is important to highlight its contribution at a time when there is a focus on the Amerindian heritage in the country.
Guyana Prize Chairman of the Jury Victor Ramraj in his official report commented on the excellence of the poetry in the Guyana Prize 2010 which prompted the panel to select a shortlist of six books.
By Alim Hosein
As part of the Guyana Prize for Literature 2010 awards activities at the beginning of this month, items from a series of prints done by one of the judges, Stewart Brown, were exhibited at Castellani House.
The winning books in The Guyana Prize for Literature 2010 which were announced at the awards ceremony on September 1, make a statement about where Guyanese and Caribbean literature are today.
In November 2010 the Guyana Prize for Literature announced that it was opening a new page in its literary activities to strengthen its developmental partnership with Caribbean literature.
Last week we attempted a broad overview of the African presence in Guyanese culture; the nature of it, the way it manifests itself and its considerable influence on the national culture and social structure.
Popular plays revel in topicality and reap rewards from their engagements with something resembling the carpe diem philosophy relished by Metaphysical poets in the camp of the ‘Cavaliers’ of the seventeenth century.
The recent performance of the Jamaican play Ova Mi Dead Body by Paul Beale was a very timely intervention where the state of Caribbean theatre is concerned.
Another positive feature in the recent Guyana National Drama Festival was the clear sign that some amount of theatre is taking place among schools and youth groups.
Nrityageet is “a pure dance theatre production reflecting the creativity and innovation of three generations of dancers, choreographers and producers.”
That part of Guyanese literature that may be described as East Indian literature is indistinguishable from the totality of the nation’s writing in terms of styles, themes, subjects and other concerns of authors today.
Easter is one of the most important religious festivals for Christians and the second in magnitude of the two very prominent ones with extensive public appeal (the first of these is Christmas).