FOR some three hours, a capacity audience at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Tuesday evening, February 18, 2020, were entertained with a rich array of national songs, poetry, stories and dance, which are all part of the Republic Golden Jubilee activities.
Held under the patronage of First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, the programme consisted of 36 items that were produced and directed by Ms. Barbara Reynolds in collaboration with Mr. Serry Etkins and the Department of Culture.

In a brief reflection of the event, the First Lady told the audience that the evening’s programme of songs, poetry, stories and dance, is one that portrays the Guyanese culture and reflects the contributions of the country’s original inhabitants, our Indigenous People, and the other groups who came after us. Those noted were the European adventurers, the enslaved Africans, the indentured Chinese, Portuguese and Indian ancestors and those who migrated later.

She wondered how many in the audience can remember how much the celebration meant to them individually, as a community and as a nation.

The celebration, the First Lady added, is of our `Guyaneseness’ in many ways, as we celebrate it in our creole which has been influenced by the languages of all who occupied and continue to occupy this land, the foods we eat, our observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Month, Emancipation Day and the Arrival Days of the different groups who came to these shores subsequently. Also, it is celebrated in our Christian, Hindu and Muslim religious festivals and in the artistic expression that was being demonstrated during the programme, she stated.

She commended the Department of Culture in the Ministry of Social Cohesion and the Republic Jubilee Secretariat and all those who contributed to the programme, for their time, effort and creative vision in what she described as “the production of this celebration of our great unique Guyanese culture, which honours our diversity and our cohesion and love.”

For the first half of the programme, the audience was treated to items of patriotic songs, poetry and dance by respective presenters including, the Guyana Police Force Band, the Cyril Potter College of Education Choir, Ms. Myrtle Smith and Ms. Amanda Reynolds, Mr. Paul Cort, Mr. Keon Haywood and the Woodside Singers.

So too were the Gospel Heralds, Sasca Choir, St Georges Anglican Choir, Victoria and the Seventh Day Adventist Choir that teamed up to give an excellent rendition of the `Song of Guyana’s Children’; also the group of Leanna Allen, Reit Amsterdam, Barbara Reynolds, Edwi Mansook, Paul Cort and Fenton Park, who sang ‘Song of Hope’; Ms. Carlene Gill-Kerr, Ms. Deborah Knott, Ms. Ingrid De Vieira, Kaicusay E-Pu Pumanumsang, Mr. Wendell Bunyan, National School of Dance.

Items by the witty Ms. Nirmala Narine, a lively dance by Jewan Ka Nritya and Bebbie Williams; respective poems by Bebbie Williams, Korokwa and Omari Austin, and a piano recital by the aged Ms. Joycelyn Loncke, who received a sustained applause for her presentation.

The latter half of the programme which consisted of folklore, at times had the NCC audience breaking out in loud peals of laughter. Among the presentations were a dramatic display of Ole Higue by the National Dance Company; `Anansi and the Witch’ done by Kim Samuels; respective folk medley by saxophonist Roy Stewart and Dynamic Force, Evangelicals and Messengers, the Ann’s Grove Warriors with an energetic masquerade display complete with a stilt dancer and the traditional Mother Sally and the `Bad Cow’, `This is Guyana’ by Kellon Rover, while Mr. Michael Khan, with his ‘Balgobin Again’ presentation, took the stealer for that segment.

A dance entitled `Look to the Future’by the National School of Dance, renditions of national songs ‘Let Us Cooperate’ and ‘I want to Build this Land’ by the National Steel Ensemble, while the singing of the Dave Martin’s ever-popular ‘Not a Blade of Grass’ by the entire audience and cast, brought the curtains down on the evening’s programme.