AS Guyanese celebrated Emancipation on Saturday, the COVID-19 pandemic certainly did not stop the African culture from being showcased and enjoyed.
The Emancipation Cultural Showcase and the Emancipation Virtual Concert were hosted by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Culture and were filmed virtually yesterday, due to the global pandemic. The two programmes were aired on the National Communication Network’s (NCN’s) ‘Facebook Live’ and comprised of performances done by Afro-Guyanese who showcased features of the African culture.

The Emancipation Cultural Showcase began at 13:00hrs and saw African dances, drumming and songs that all told stories of the ‘day-to-day’ lives of Africans. These spectacular performances were done by the National School of Dance, the Conga Nya Drumming group, Silinci Nigusi, Limlair Village dance group and the Fyrish Dance Group, among others.

Giving a brief history on the African Dance was the Director of the National School of Dance, Linda Griffith.
According to Griffith, African dances were brought to the Caribbean, South and North America by the slaves and indentured servants when they were transported to the New World by the Europeans. The dances which involve rhythmic body movements and sometimes, theatrical presentations, most times, were not allowed to be done openly on plantations but the slaves would secretly dance. The slaves were only given the opportunity to dance freely at Christmas to entertain the slave owners and maybe themselves.

The Director noted that African dances are polyrhythmic, meaning that the movements are done simultaneously with the sounds of drums when the movements of the dancers and the sounds of the drums would be in sync.

She added, “more than one movement are played out at a time. While the dancers are dancing, their heads are moving, their shoulders are doing another movement, their torso and hips are doing another movement, while their feet maintain contact with the earth.”

In describing the dance, Griffith went on to say, “African Dance embodies athleticism, graceful beauty flowing with the rhythm of the music. These dances are a means of life, encouraging abundant crops, healing the soul and the sick and it is also done for enjoyment. There are no onlookers in the African Dance, all dance together.”
Griffith noted that African dances have spiritual purposes and the movements are taken from the day-to-day lives of Africans. The ‘washer women dance,’ ‘the sugarcane dance’ and the ‘Calabash dance,’ are just a few of many African dances. Taking over NCN’s Facebook Live at 15:00hrs was some of Guyana’s hottest, biggest and best black musical performers during the Emancipation Virtual Concert.

Opening the curtains was Calypsonian, Bill Rogers, who captivated the viewers with his song ‘Say no to racism.’ The song recently written by Rogers spoke on how black people are treated as inferior due to “mankind’s mentality on skin colour”. In his song he highlighted that slavery was abolished years ago but racism is continuing to grow, adding that racism is a crime.

“No, no, no to racism, it’s a heinous crime; no no no to racism, tek it off your mind; no no no to racism, respect skin colour; no no no to racism, lets love each other; no no no to racism it’s a racial hate; no no no to racism, don’t discriminate. The human mind does behave so sick; racism is worse than a pandemic,” Sang Rogers.
Next up was Linden’s very own, Diana Chapman who graced the stage with her empowering performance as she sang Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption song.’ She also performed her remix of Beyonce’s ‘Brownskin girl’ which recognised and glorified the beauty of Afro-Guyanese woman in society.

Chapman was followed by Mark Batson who reminded viewers that Black Lives Matter. During his performance he noted that the statement ‘Black Lives Matter’ does not mean that every life does not matter. However, due to black people being treated and viewed as inferior, black people around the world, the statement stands as a much-needed reminder that black lives are not inferior to any other race and should not be treated that way. Up next was ‘Alabama’, followed by Nekeita, also known as Tennicia De Freitas and, Charmaine Blackman who all brought reggae vibes to the stage. Bringing the curtains down was Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts who rocked the stage with her patriotic songs ‘Rage’ and ‘I am 592.’