THE magnanimous efforts made by African-Guyanese women in the past were recognised Monday evening at the opening of Kapée, a gathering to celebrate.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds joined Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand, whose ministry staged the exhibition when it was officially opened on the lawns of Castellani House, Vlissengen Road, in Georgetown. Themed ‘Reflecting on the past, honouring our ancestors and saluting today’s woman’ and mounted in response to the United Nations Declaration of the International Year of Peoples of African Descent, it will conclude on Saturday.
The display depicts the arrival of some of the ancestors of women of African descent, the countries, the tribes and the civilisations from which they came.
It also recounts the cruelties they endured and their survival, resistance,  indomitable spirit and resilience, the transformation of their lives after emancipation, the contributions of hundreds of their descendants to national development, the extent to which they have contributed at the international level and instances in which they have impacted on the lives and well-being of persons internationally.
The showing will be from 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs each day and it is expected to be taken to several other locations.
Manickchand said her ministry, especially, Head of the Documentation Centre, Ms. Yvonne Stephenson worked for months in putting together the exposition. It was the result of much research and represents, on a small scale, what women are capable of accomplishing.
The minister said she was extremely humbled and felt very tiny compared to the towering efforts made by those women in the past.
“It is because of them that we enjoy many changes today,” she observed.
Manickchand said those women, who blazed the trail, came to Guyana with no identities and lived in the most inhumane conditions.
“Yet, I’m filled with pride when I read about those efforts,” she declared.
Manickchand said those women brought rich traditions, cultures and heritage for the benefit of all today and this evokes feelings of pride and the determination for each citizen to do the best for Guyana.                                                                                                                   
Stephenson told the gathering the showing is in order because Guyanese seem to know little about their foreparents and how they got here.
Echoing the thoughts of a famous poet, she said it is a tragedy when this is the case.
Putting together the exhibition was both challenging and frustrating at times as there were many gaps in information. Some of the women were apparently too insignificant to write about and hence the exposition was supplemented with oral history, interviews and research, Stephenson acknowledged.
She said, as a result, the lives, activities and contributions of 238 women were looked at with the assistance of historians from the University of Guyana (UG), experienced politicians and full collaboration with staff of the Documentation Centre.
The guiding principle in identifying the women was their pioneering efforts, Stephenson informed, adding that it is hoped that this exhibition will make the point that, “we are what we are because of what these women did.”
Drumming, poetry recitation and a medley of folk songs were part of the celebratory programme.