GUYANA’S longest-serving band, the Yoruba Singers, will celebrate 45 years in the business this Sunday with a concert called ‘For the Love of a Common People 2: The Jubilee Edition’.
The event is expected to have a packed-out line-up including singers Sammy Baksh, Tennicia DeFreitas and Jovinski.Set to take place on the lawns of Congress Place, Sophia from 18:00hrs, this year’s edition of the annual event will feature over 15 performers.
The roster also includes music industry veterans such as Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves, Keith Campbell, Sean Bhola, Johnny Braff, and gospel singer Melissa Vandeyar, while there will also be performances by Circle of Love, Michael Smith, Aubrey Roberts, and, of course, The Yoruba Singers themselves.
The Buzz caught up with long-time member and co-founder of the Yoruba Singers, Mr Eze Rockcliffe, who shared how elated he is at seeing the band celebrating this important milestone.

SIGNIFICANT
Though the singers try to celebrate their anniversary every year, turning 45 is indeed a significant achievement.
“I think the Yoruba Singers has made a statement, culturally. To be the most exposed international band ever in Guyana is very sweet,” he said.
“Every year we mark the Yoruba Singers’ birthday sometime in the year, but we don’t allow the year to finish without a celebrations. We need to ensure that culture is being maintained at the highest level, so that we can be proud of our nation and set an example for the young talented musicians and performers that are coming.”
Because of this, patrons can expect a show with a little something for everyone with a love for the Caribbean music culture. Eze said the concert was organised with its supporters in mind, and that its theme, ‘For the Love of a Common People’ is all about the band showing it’s gratitude to the ‘common people’ who have supported them throughout the years.
“They can expect a great show, with original music and all genres of music: Soca, reggae, calypso, and a little bit of jazz also,” Eze said.
Well known across Guyana, being the country’s oldest, consistently performing music group is not the only achievement that the Yoruba Singers boast.

CULTURAL AMBASSADORS
Aside from performing all across Guyana, the band has taken the culture of Guyanese music both regionally and internationally.
They have performed twice in events held at the Madison Square Garden in New York, and is still the only Guyanese band to have done that.
Eze and his band have also performed at four CARIFESTA events — in Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba and Guyana.
More recently, they’ve performed at the “Night of the Legends” concert that was a part of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee celebrations in May.
Eze says the band’s music is a way of taking the Guyanese culture out to the world, culture being a significant part of who we are. It’s also about encouraging Guyanese to learn more about the music that the band has to offer.
“I think that culture is very important to a country, and that we ought not to only keep it to ourselves, but share it with our Caribbean neighbours,” Eze said, adding:
“It is very important that the Guyanese people know of our works, and support our works, we have about four albums.”
Eze hopes to see sustainable programmes being put in place to support and foster the continued development of culture here in Guyana.
“I hope that a programme will be put in place by the government to ensure that culture is being maintained at the highest level, so that we can be proud of our nation and set an example for the young talented musicians and performers that are coming,” he said.