February 25th 2008 - Clebrating Mashramani and Guyana's Republic Day - Mr Carl Thomas and Mr Michael Skellekie of The Guyana Association on Anguilla joined Let's Talk for a lively discussion on all things Guyanese.
The Co-operative Republic of Guyana lies between Suriname and Venezuela on the north coast of South America. The official language is English, but other languages are also spoken. The population is roughly half Chritian, a third Hindu, and a tenth Islamic. Guyana is known as "land of waters"
The studio was filled with excitement as Carl and Michael talked about the food, music, drinks, customs, and culture of Guyana. Listeners were thrilled as they recited and explained some popular Guyanese sayings, complete with the definitions.
Mashramani is probably the most colorful of all Guyana’s festivals. There are spectacular costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands, and dancing in the streets to the accompaniment of steel band music and calypsos. Masquerades frequent the streets performing acrobatic dance routines, a vivid reminder of Guyana's African Heritage.
Calypso competitions with their witty social commentaries are another integral part of "Mash", and this culminates in the coronation of a King or Queen for the particular year. Mash or Mashramani is an Amerindian word which means "the celebration of a job well done."
The show ended with the message that Caribbean people really needed to start being more open and accepting of each other. Our different cultures are so closely intertwined and yet we sometimes try to keep each other at a distance.
Caribbean people...listen up and take note. We have to unite to be strong and truly become one caribbean, many cultures one people.