President investing in local talent for 52nd Independence celebration
-Start of a grand plan for local artistes
-celebration of local artistes’ talents
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 24, 2018
President David Granger, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Cohesion, is making strides to celebrate local artistes and encourage Guyanese to buy, support and celebrate our own.
From Left- Saiku Andrews, Michelle “Big Red” King, Kimberly Brasington, ExxonMobil’s Director of Public and Government Affairs, Marlon “Blaze Antonio” Simon and Mortimer “Natural Black”” Simon. (Image by Jules Gibson)
At Friday’s Independence Flag Raising celebration, attendees will be treated to a host of performances by local artistes. At a press conference on Wednesday, Administrator of the National School of Music Andrew Tyndall said, “We have the crème of the crop of Guyanese artistes.” He noted, “They have been producing high-quality music, music that is uplifting and we thought that at this time to have them out there. We’ll have Guyanese enjoy their own music.”
He further added that the Minster of Social Cohesion has a responsibility for Guyana’s youths and is ‘excited to have an opportunity to showcase our youth.’
Local gospel artiste Saiku Andrews, told the Department of Public Information, that it has been too long that Guyanese artistes have not had Government support for their work. “To have this event that is featuring 100 percent locally bred artistes, trust me, as an artiste you don’t know how much I am pleased about this”, Andrews said.
Michelle “Big Red” King was grateful for the support shown, “Every time we go somewhere and perform we represent Guyana, I am thankful and I hope you continue to support us on this journey and on Guyana’s journey.”
Artistic Director, Llyoda Garrett said the President was integrally involved in articulating what he wanted to see for this independence celebration.” She noted, “It is important for us to celebrate our natural patrimony. That’s our wealth. That’s our beauty and its something that all of us Guyanese should be proud of. That is one of the key elements of the cultural programme.”
“In addition, he wanted us to celebrate who we are as a people and I think as we grow as a nation it is important that all of us…become better at articulating what it means to be Guyanese”, Garrett added.
She noted that the onus is on Guyanese to, “articulate” our culture more clearly and more consistently.
Director of Culture, Tomika Boatswain explained that this event is, “the beginning of a grand plan for the artistes in Guyana.”
Artistes performing at the ‘Independence Flag Concert’ include Saiku Andrews, Michelle “Big Red” King, Marlon “Blaze Antonio” Simon and Mortimer “Natural Black” Simon, Kwesi Ace Edmondson, Bunti Singh, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts and Jumo Primo
By: Nateshia Isaacs
Images by Jules Gibson.