My Bones and My Flute

Enjoying some of the services the library has to offer

FOR AN educational (and recreational) institution like the National Library to remain relevant in a volatile society for 100 years calls into play innovation, industry and dedication on the part of all stakeholders, particularly the Committee of the National Library and the staff — two bodies in charge of executing the mandate of the library.

The mandate of the National Library is “to satisfy, both nationally and internationally, the informational and recreational needs of the library’s users through the collection, organisation, dissemination and preservation of information in printed and other formats.”

One of the novel ways implemented by the library to celebrate its centenary is the current broadcast on local radio of Edgar Mittelholzer’s ‘My Bones and My Flute’. The year 2009 marks the birth centenary of Guyana’s most prolific novelist. The nexus is obvious.

Edgar Mittelholzer was born in December 1909 in the town of New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana. At the time of his death by suicide in May 1965, he had published 25 books, including 23 novels; some short stories, and a few poems. He is better known for his monumental work, ‘The Kaywana Trilogy’, which is a reconstruction of Guyana’s history from the early 17th Century to the mid-20th Century. His first published novel, ‘Corentyne Thunder’ [1941], and a ghost/detective story (perhaps a first for the Caribbean), ‘My Bones and My Flute’ [1955].

‘My Bones and My Flute’ is set in Berbice, up the Berbice River, deep in the jungle of Guyana. There, a young artist, Woodsley, accompanying the Nevinson family, encounters the curse of a Dutch plantation and slave owner, Jan Pieter Voorman, whose bones are buried in that area, when they touched a manuscript he left behind. The curse is manifested in the eerie sound of a phantom flute. In ‘My Bones and My Flute’, Mittelholzer once again revisits the subject of the Berbice Slave Rebellion [1763].

The National Library was opened to the public in September 1909, offering lending, reference and reading room services. In 1909, there were 57,000 books and 1,500 members.

A 2007 survey records registered borrowers at over 100, 000, and a book stock of just under 400, 000. There were many innovations during the institution’s 100 years of service to the nation. An early and useful improvement was when, in the year 1940, the open access system was introduced in preference to the closed access system. A recent and modern addition was an Internet department, enhancing literacy, yet not defeating the function of reading books.

The radio serialising of ‘My Bones and My Flute’ was engineered and produced by James Sidney for the now defunct Radio Demerara. The current airing on NCN Radio of this serial, comprising of several episodes, is at 18h45 each week, from Monday to Friday.

By celebrating the birth centenary of Edgar Mittelholzer, the National Library in this its centenary year is demonstrating its willingness to be innovative in carrying out its mandate, and staying relevant in this ever-changing society.

To respond to this author, call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

What’s Happening:
• The Guyana Annual magazine is inviting entries to its eight literary competitions namely: Open Story and Open Poetry, Youth Story and Youth Poetry, The Henry Josiah Story-Writing for Children, The Rajkumari Singh Poetry-Writing for Children, Martin Carter Essay (Under-13), Egbert Martin Poetry (Under-13) and to its art and photography competitions.

• Be a part of the centenary celebrations of the National Library; see press for details. Make a tangible contribution by submitting relevant photo and recollections for possible publication in the Centenary Souvenir Magazine.

• Coming Soon: Janus Creative Clinic on poetry, short fiction, drama and feature journalism. For more information contact Ruel Johnson@ ruel.johnson@gmail.com