– Dedicated site for year-round activities in the making

IT’S unlike anything that the country has to offer so far as adventure tourism, music and art are concerned; a little bit outlandish in context of local tastes and choices, but perfect for the nature lovers and those seeking time out from the busy, stressful pace of life. It’s the only fiesta of its kind in Guyana – the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival.

Going strong for seven years now, the festival, birthed at Rock View Lodge, Annai in 2014, is an outdoor camping music event that usually takes place on the savannah of the Amazon for three days, Friday to Sunday.

As this year’s event approaches on August 15, organisers reflecedt on the positive impacts of the festival and how it goes way beyond just providing entertainment. They like to describe it as an all-in-one treat for the nature and music lovers, and they see it as having the potential of becoming ‘de tourism product’ that the country has to offer when it comes to adventure tourism, entertainment and cultural preservation.

As such, the organisers have in mind developing a dedicated festival site in the Rupununi – an iconic and future-facing cultural space – with support from the tangible partnerships that have been established over the years with the government, private sector, local and international volunteers, among others.

The concept is to create an environmentally, sustainable, eco-friendly ‘benab-style’
village with a main performance stage (thatched), flexible meeting and small performance spaces, camping accommodation (benabs, tents, yurts etc.), seating areas, stalls (food and arts and crafts), a major central dome with local plants, flowers and sculptured totem poles and to create such a site using local materials and a local labour force.

“Developing a festival as a vehicle to train young people, build social cohesion, market and promote Guyanese cultural products globally, create employment, diversify and use new technologies and embrace national and international artistes, have always been integrated into our long-term plans,” Festival Director Bob Ramdhanie told Pepperpot Magazine. He added that the plan is to develop the site into an oasis and an aesthetically attractive cultural landmark to feature all-year-round local arts and cultural creatives, visitors and tourists.

Ramdhanie is one of two members; his friend Colin Edwards, the owner of Rock View Lodge, being the second, with some 15 local and international volunteers who manage and produce festival events yearly.

“The Rupununi is a most beautiful area of Guyana and establishing a permanent base there would highlight the region as a destination site and put Guyana solidly on the map for both cultural and experiential arts, culture and tourism,” the director expressed. “We see ourselves as enablers, not just in the cultural arena but also within training, youth development, promoting high-quality Guyanese arts and crafts; collectively wishing to take Guyanese culture to new places globally; also bring to Guyana new arts and musical experiences.”

One of the persons who work behind the scenes to make the festival possible is local musician and Programme Director Gavin Mendonca whose own love for music and the arts motivates him to work tirelessly and diligently behind pulling off a successful event.

Because participants come from all across the world, Gavin has lots of coordinating and organising to do, especially since the start of the pandemic when the festival started to be held virtually.
Reflecting on the in-person experience of the festival, Gavin shared that it is the fusion of camping and music for three nights in the Rupununi, under the stars, next to a river, or in the rainforest, that makes the event incomparable and absolutely amazing. Seeing how people come together to share space and do fun things together, bridging many different cultures at the same time, is also a wonder to behold.

Apart from coming together to share “love and good vibes”, Gavin said the festival also allows for persons to increase appreciation for themselves, nature, and those around them. The experience teaches you how to respect the environment, and persons can learn skills through workshops in yoga, dance, art, craft, etc.

Gavin also shared that the festival contributes to the preservation of culture and traditional knowledge and significantly promotes tourism. While the true essence of the festival can only be felt in person, he said the organisers have been sharing content virtually thus being able to target new audiences and help people who are reluctant to travel in Guyana to see what they’ve been missing out on.