–with timely donation of key tools of the trade
THE National School of Music on Brickdam, Georgetown has received a series of instruction manuals, a steelband, and music players to aid in resuscitation and promotion of the steelpan and masquerade art forms in Guyana.This gesture came as part of a US$18,000 grant made possible by the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The grant would be used to purchase equipment to provide training, CDs and manuals in the designated art areas.

The project seeks to train forty youths in the area of music, with specific emphasis on the steelpan and masquerade band art forms. Students will now have access to the best available human resources, and be exposed to an environment that is conducive to learning as a result of this gesture.

In delivering opening remarks at a special handing over ceremony held Wednesday at the National School of Music (NSC), Administrator Andrew Tyndall noted that the event represents the second phase of the UNESCO-sponsored initiative geared at uplifting the two art forms in Guyana.

He added that steelpan and masquerade are important to the sustenance of Guyana’s rich culture, but the Culture Ministry has noted a decline in those two areas over the years.

Tyndall said the Culture Ministry crafted the plan with the initiative to revitalise masquerade and steelpan practice; and he emphasised that two manuals have so far been completed to dictate the elementary techniques of masquerade. Moreover, a CD has been created to promote training in the practical aspects of the art forms.

That aside, two masquerade bands have already been completed in Regions 10 and 2, and livid images are to be introduced to be utilised as part of the training programme.

Director of the National School of Dance, Ms Linda Griffith, in addressing the gathering, noted that the masquerade art form is dying and the amount of bands now available has been greatly reduced. She said masquerade is a beautiful cultural art form which has, over the years, promoted Guyana positively on international shores.

Ms. Griffith disclosed that the Culture Ministry has noted that the masquerade art form is not being passed down to today’s youths. She said that Minister Frank Anthony has been constantly urging youths to take up the mantle from their elders, thereby ensuring that the art form is targeted and promoted around Guyana.

In Regions 2 and 10, enthusiasts Larry Mac Kenzie and Jerome Cumberbatch have been tasked with the responsibility of teaching the art form to youths, thus ensuring the tradition is maintained.

The Unit of Allied Arts has also been targeted as facilitators for several regional programmes, which will soon get underway.

To date, twenty-five dance teachers have been trained to teach masquerade, and some thirty students have already benefited from the elementary aspect of this exercise.

In her address, Secretary General of the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO, Ms. Inge Nathoo, noted that through its core functions as a standard setter, capacity builder and catalyst for international co-operation, the entity will sustain and strengthen its leadership on culture by pursuing its action at international, regional, and country levels and by further mainstreaming the culture dimension in national and international development policies and strategies.

She promised that particular attention would be placed on effective implementation and monitoring of normative instruments by member states in their national implementation and support to capacity-building; strengthening policy, legal and institutional environments; enhancing knowledge management, and promoting best practices, including through a more systematic use of technology.

She concluded that in communities where the art forms could thrive, research has shown that there was a lack of access to instruments. As a result, the project seeks to provide the platform for the transfer of knowledge, and to develop a new community steel band in Region 3, and two masquerade bands in Region 10.

Beneficiaries of this initiative were selected from Regions 2, 3, 4 and 10, with a gender inclusiveness that saw 40% of the participants being females.

Closing yesterday’s ceremony was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, who said that though there have been challenges with the masquerade art form, the ministry has tried to encourage youths to become involved.

He said that many have ‘looked down’ on this art form, maybe because they were not aware of its rich historical and traditional value and importance to Guyanese heritage. The minister added that if the culture is allowed to diminish, Guyanese will eventually lose their identity.

He emphasised that this project is of vital importance since, in times gone by, there were no instruction manuals, and the masquerade tradition was just viewed by many as ‘a group of dancers performing without much significance’.

He noted that appreciation of the masquerade techniques will provide more knowledge, citing that teachings of the techniques is geared at raising awareness and ensuring the art form is embraced. He informed that manuals and DVDs would be used to ‘spread the word’, and dance teachers would be utilised to properly train students in the two areas.

The minister expressed confidence that such methods would eventually get more people involved in masquerade.

In concluding her remarks, she reminded that a massive Masquerade Flounce Off’ will be hosted this Sunday at 15:00 hrs in Ann’s Grove Village, East Coast Demerara, and all are urged to attend and support the Guyanese tradition.
Written By Alex Wayne