Guyana’s lone female Gospel Band

By Dillon Goring
Born with a vision to empower women through music and ministry, Guyana‘s all-Female Gospel Band was formed on November 2, 2002.
The band, titled the Vision All-Female Band, came into existence as a result of a casual conversation between the leader of the band Sharron Bryan and one of its members Juliana Walters, who serves as its bass player.

During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Bryan recalled how the band started and its vision.
“A friend and I, Juliana Walters, we met by chance one day and we started talking. She was also a musician, she played the bass and the keyboard, and I played the keyboard, so we started talking about forming a group and we wanted something original and unique, we did not want to be like everybody else,” she said. “So we got the idea to form an all-female Gospel Band and from there we started to look for other women who were either singers or musicians, and we were able to find women from all across Guyana.”

Bryan recalled that the objectivity behind the formation of a band was to do more with their gifts and talents.
It was also a dream for both individuals to play in a band and to make an impact on society.
Bryan is careful to recall that one year after the band was formed, they recorded their first single and album with 10 songs titled the “The Lord Can”.
Just a few years ago, the band recorded another single which addressed the issue of Domestic Violence, with a more suitable name “Women Rise Up “.

The nine-member bandstarted with approximately 20 women, but due to varying circumstances, most persons made their exit from the band.
This gospel band like many organisations and associations faced many challenges since its formation.
“We had no precedence to look at, we basically chartered our own course, and we learnt along the way and that in itself was a great experience. The challenges of being all-female, to juggle the responsibilities of home, family, work and relationships, it was tough particularly for the women who have children,” she said.
The all– female band is comprised of women from all regions of the country including Regions 10, 4 and 5.

Forward projections of the band
Bryan spoke to the fact that the band has as its intention to empower women through Music and Ministry.
Through the medium of preaching, singing and ministry, the band and its members can be used as a vehicle for change in the way women see themselves and face life’s challenges.
“Not only do we sing and play, we also preach. We have a pastor in the band and prophetess. We do ministry when we go out,” she said.
Faced with the challenges of a global pandemic, the band has now shifted its attention to social media.

In observance of 18 years, the band hosted an online Worship Session to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
The band intends to continue to empower women through its music and ministry, hosting of events such as Girl Empowerment seminars and programmes.
Bryan encourages women and girls not to give up on your dreams because anything is possible when you go hard after it.