WAKENAAM Night, an event supported by the Government and the private sector, is billed for August 27, and is expected to be the biggest ever held.Director of the event, Sheik Ahmad, told the Guyana Chronicle that this year several top local artists will be performing, and the foods and rich culture of Wakenaam will be on display.

The artistes’ contracts have not yet been finalised, but Ahmad is hoping to rope in the likes of Jumo Primo, Terry Gajraj, Poonam Singh and Mystic.

The one-night occasion has, over the years, attracted former residents of Wakenaam who have migrated overseas or to another part of Guyana.

“It is an event that brings people together. It is one where old friends from years gone by get an opportunity to meet up and gaff and talk about how things have changed over the years. For those who have been out of the region for a long time, the event for them is a time for nostalgia. For the young, it is a time for healthy entertainment, because the rum shops on the island do not provide a forum for a family get-together,” he told this publication.

First started in 2008, Wakenaam Night has since been attracting thousands at the Better Success Playground, where it is held annually. Wakenaam Night is a non-governmental organisation comprised of teachers, labourers, farmers and housewives, among others, who work voluntarily, but labour procured is paid for.

Ahmad told the Guyana Chronicle that proceeds from the Night have been used to build the pavilion at the Better Success Playground and to help construct an access bridge at Good Success. In addition, all first year secondary school students are provided with geometry sets and text books free of cost. The group also financially assists persons in need of medical treatment, and collaborates with doctors and medical professionals to hold medical outreaches on the island, among numerous other activities.