LAST year at just around this time, the premiere copy of IZWE magazine was launched at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown, by the Corbin Media Group (CMG). At that event, CMG CEO, Simeon Corbin said the aim of the publication is to chronicle over 350 years of African presence in Guyana and other parts of the world, in an ongoing series to be published annually.
This year, the CMG, publishers of the Guyana Entertainment Magazine (GEM), has done it again, publishing a second edition of IZWE Magazine. The magazine, now available at newsstands in time for Emancipation celebrations in Guyana, is like its predecessor — a full colour magazine.
The magazine chronicles the experiences of Africans locally, regionally and internationally through historical facts and present day information.
I-Z-W-E (pronounced “is way”) is a Zulu word meaning ‘citizens’, ‘people’, and ‘ours’ in its most common definitions. After discarding other words, IZWE was chosen not only because of its meaning, but also because it is a nice play with the Guyanese way of saying IS WE TING or IS WE OWN.
The second edition of IZWE has on its cover a picture of the 1991 painting by C. Nurse which depicts freed men and women on their way to purchase a plantation during the “Village Movement” era, between 1839 and 1852.
A sneak peek at the contents of IZWE 2012 reveals features on the 1763 Berbice Uprising, Buxton Village, Former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Kente Cloth, mini profiles of over 100 Guyanese, African Proverbs, Ghana’s Independence Celebrations, and many other interesting articles and images.
The publisher of IZWE (Corbin Media Group) disclosed that there was a tremendous demand for the premiere edition, so it was decided to produce another issue in 2012. The print quantity was also increased to meet the anticipated requests.
CMG reiterated that the magazine has no racial or political agenda, and its focus remains the same – to bring forth segments of Guyana’s history to a new generation of readers.
Information about the past and present is presented in an easy-to-read format complimented by high quality pictures and illustrations.

IZWE is available at Austin’s Book Services; James Texaco Service Station on Mandela Avenue; Shell Service Station on Vlissingen Road, and at German’s Restaurant on New Market Street for Gy$1,200. The CMG can also be contacted on phone numbers 226-0540 and 225-1738.