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St Joseph High hosts Cultural Day
On eve of Independence anniversary…
St Joseph High School on the occasion of its third annual Cultural Day at the school compound yesterday morning, hosted a concert. The event coincided with the country’s 44th independence anniversary.
Students were arrayed in the clothing of the six ethnic groups in Guyana. The theme for the year’s annual event was “Fostering unity through our culture.”
The reigning Calypso Monarch, Mighty Rebel, detailed the history of Calypso and the various terms used to describe the art form.
Students garbed in ethnic wear reflecting Guyana
Kaiso, as the art form is known, came to the region through West African Slaves. Mighty Rebel told his audience that this art form, as the nation knows it today, originated from Trinidad and Tobago. It comprised African slave codes to communicate with fellow slaves who they were conspiring to achieve their freedoms from slave masters.
He recounted that the slave masters were unaware of the codes contained in its lyrics that bore strong rhythmic beats. All that the slave owners had understood were the beats when they heard the drums and some may have enjoyed them.
It was not until early morning of the following day when they may have seen the entire plantation desolate with no slave to tend it, it was clear to them that the songs were of conspiracies to attain freedom, Rebel said.
African slaves used old tree trunks; steel pans or anything they could have found to gave them the desired rhythms.
Today, it is known as Calypso and the songs are penned based on the controversies in societies whether politicians or issues.
The Mighty Rebel sang a medley of Calypsos. He had many of the students joining in chanting the ones they knew and favoured. The reigning Calypso Monarch remarked that Calypso must be sung in Creolese or they lose their essence and flavour of delivering its message.
Another Calypsonian to entertain the crowd was Mighty Chief, an Indigenous Calypsonian. His rendition was not of the Caribbean flavour but more to his Indigenous roots. He told the audience that he was from Kabakaburi, in Region Two and is not currently in the best of health.
Participating students in the programme detailed through oral history, prominent Guyanese over the years who have made their mark.
Some of these Guyanese of whom the students give accounts of were West Indian Cricketers, Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai, Former Banks DIH Chairman; the late, Peter D’Aguiar, Guyana’s first President, the late Arthur Chung, renowned lawyer; the late Lionel Luckhoo and current and first female Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Desiree Bernard.
The Mighty Chief singing of one of his favourites. Holding the microphone for him is Physical Education Teacher, Nima Flue-Bess.
Other students sang in groups, performed solos, danced in groups and even displayed fashion from the country’s ethnic groups. Students from forms one to four participated in this event. There were drumming and dancing from African Cultural Development Association (ACDA).
Deputy Headmistress, Winifred Ellis, decked in an African outfit, thanked the Headmistress, Gail Primo who was in charge of making the event a success.
And like her Deputy, the Headmistress also wore African apparel.
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