DESPITE the nonappearance of a few major (and some minor) literary activities, 2011 was another good year for Guyanese literature. Some of the activities that did not occur during the year include the publication of The Guyana Annual magazine; The Journey, An Evening of Literature; my birthday literary lime; World Book and Copyright Day; the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin and Rabindranath Tagore (I am to complete a major paper on Tagore’s influence on Guyanese Literature, a project stymied by a recent stroke episode); and the commemoration of the quadricentennial of the King James Bible.
The Guyana Annual, formerly known as the Chronicle Christmas Annual, was resuscitated in 1998 by Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh (born in Berbice, now living in Texas).
The Chronicle Christmas Annual was launched in December 1915 “in the midst of the turbulence of the First World War. The magazine would continue, albeit in fits and starts, for at least another 75 years, with the last issue before this current number [1998] published in 1992.”(Nigel Westmaas)
Resuscitated in 1998, it had undergone a number of modifications to meet the need of both the producer and consumer of good literature. The main modification was the renaming process instituted in order to give the magazine a perennial appeal.
The other modifications were the establishment of two recent prizes, namely: The Martin Carter Essay Prize and The Egbert Martin Poetry Prize, specially designed to encourage writing by children under eleven years. Other categories of competitions include providing reading material for children via the Henry Josiah Writing Story of Children and the Rajkumari Singh Writing Poetry for Children.
The Journey, An Evening of Literature, started in 2004, under the auspices of the National Art Gallery, Castellani House.
The Journey is an ongoing series of literature programmes designed to go where other related undertakings have failed to venture — making literature come alive mainly through consummate performances by outstanding artistes.
In 2004, the then Chairperson and the Management Committee of the National Art Gallery, Castellani House, initiated the production of The Journey. Having presented literary events previously, the idea was to continue the interest formed by the popular evening of poetry series hosted by Edward Glover, former British High Commissioner to Guyana.
This series of literature programmes is staged under the auspices of Castellani House, Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue, and is coordinated by this writer.
World Book and Copyright Day was planned long in advance, but at the eleventh hour, we had to cancel – that sensitive is the issue of copyright.
Petamber’s birthday literary lime: An appropriate and different way to celebrate my birthday in poetry, song, humour, and storytelling. Yes, as I move around the length and breadth of this country, I am greeted with names like ‘The Poetry Man’, ‘The Literature Man’, ‘The Book Man’, ‘The Oral Tradition Man’, and ‘The Between The Lines Man’. The format for this event is simple and less formal than The Journey, and highly entertaining and enriching for lovers of literature.
The 150th birth anniversary of Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin: Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin is Guyana’s first major poet. In 1883, he published ‘Leo’s Poetical Works’, and in 1886, ‘Leo’s Local Lyrics’. He was described at that time as “one of the greatest Negro poets in history,” and “the ablest of the poetical writers of whom British Guiana can boast.”
The 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore: Tagore has made a major impact on Guyanese Literature (Look out for my soon-to-be-released paper). Rabindranath Tagore, born May 7, 1861, was a Bengali poet, philosopher, religious thinker and intellectual leader, artist, playwright, composer, novelist and educationalist whose work made a difference. A celebrated cultural icon in India, he became Asia’s first Nobel Laureate when he won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature. That and other events in India of the first half of the 20th Century had a profound effect on Guyanese of Indian descent.
The Quadricentennial of the King James Bible: The King James Bible came to these shores with the advent of European adventurers, administrators, colonisers, and missionaries. It had a profound effect on enslaved peoples, indentured labourers, and creoles. The manifestation of that effect can still be seen on the society today, especially around this time of the year when almost all Guyana celebrate Christmas.
The majesty of the King James Bible resonates with all Christians as the Word of God, and its eminence as a literary masterpiece has influenced Guyanese in almost all walks of life, from the grassroot to Parliament.
The King James Bible as a literary masterpiece has provided a “common stock of references” for centuries, and has contributed over 250 idioms to the English Language. It has influenced the artists, musicians, filmmakers, poets, playwrights and writers.

What’s Happening
•    Another welcomed autobiography to Guyana’s short list of such publications: GROWING UP IN BRITISH GUYANA 1945-1964 by Joseph G. Singh with an introduction by Rupert R. Roopnaraine, printed and published by Sheik Hassan Printery Inc. 2011.
•    Coming to the Guyana bookshelf soon: LANTANA STRANGLING IXORA, a new collection of poems by Sasenarine Persaud, CARIBBEAN PUBLISHING IN BRITAIN by Asher & Martin Hoyles, and books by Stephanie Bowry, Neil Primus, Madan Gopaul and many others.

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