COME early next year, a most exotic location in Guyana would see the dawn of a new musical masterpiece, as folks there prepare for the first-ever ‘Rupununi Music and Arts Festival’, to be staged in the Amerindian village of Annai.

Set for February 14 to 16, 2014, this event will showcase a dazzling fusion of musical talents infused with other arts in an erotic, breath-taking setting. This event is expected to become an annual feature, and would certainly boost Guyana’s tourism sector, according to promoters.

And catering for those who adore a little adventure and the outdoors, the organisers will allow for open air camping, so that visitors can pull out their hammocks and enjoy the bounty that Mother Nature has bestowed on the beautiful, sprawling lands of the Rupununi.

This festival will also create local employment for residents of Rockview and Annai villages even as it brings all regional communities of the Rupununi together. Of course, there would be many available benabs that can accommodate visitors, thus affording them the luxury of dining, playing, and enjoying lulling music under the stars.

The purpose of this event, according to Festival Director Bobb Ramdhanie, is to celebrate and promote Amerindian culture as they complement the weekend with local entertainers and artistes from around the world.
On the platter are special appearances by renowned artist and archaeologist Dr George Simon, who would be resident in Annai for the festivities. He, of course, would be working along with the organisers to make the event a major success.

This event would serve up a ‘double experience’ for patrons and visitors, in that it would be showcasing our rich folklore, and the music of locals and others from lands afar. It is the intention of promoters to eventually make Rockview a lush location, just close by an ‘eco-location’, using their many local resources, local people, and abundant local talent.

And, of course, visitors who bask in the glory and comfort of the lavish Rockview Lodge would find it a perfect haven for relaxation and a place to satisfy their desire for ultimate comfort, which is not always attainable by many tourism and hospitality entities.

Rock View Lodge

Nestled between the Amerindian villages of Annai and Rupertee, where the Pakaraima foothills meet the tropical rainforest, Rock View Lodge offers comfortable lodging, outdoor and cultural activities, authentic Amerindian hospitality, and access to everything else that central Guyana has to offer. Experience the Lodge!

Rock View Lodge has been welcoming visitors to the savannahs and rainforests of Guyana’s Rupununi since 1992. “This year is full of celebrations as we welcome our friends and partners from across the country – and globe – to mark this important milestone!” Rock View management has said. Learn more about our long relationship with Guyana and the Rupununi.

Rock View Lodge is an integral partner with the local Amerindian community to build economic opportunities, provide professional development, preserve traditions, and improve a sustainable tourism infrastructure in Guyana’s pristine interior. One prime example is the CATS partnership, which operates the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.

Annai Village

Annai is a small village in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. Annai stands at an altitude of 95 metres (314 feet) at the edge of the Rupununi savannah, where the cattle trail to the Atlantic coast begins. It is nestled in the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains, and is close to the Rupununi River.

Annai, considered the gateway to the Rupununi, is approximately 15 miles north of Karanambo and 416 km (258 mls) by road from the nation’s capital, Georgetown.

Many members of the population of the area are descendants of the Macushi people. Annai is one of the northernmost Macushi Amerindian villages in the North Rupununi Savannahs.

Annai is home to the Rock View Ecotourism Resort, an old ranch built in the 1950s. Rock View is a good base for trips to the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Annai’s airstrip (NAI) allows light planes to land.
Written By Alex Wayne