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Team Guyana wins ‘Most Creative Award’ at Nat’l Costume Competition in China
On 25th November 2018, Guyana was among the 15 countries that participated in the 8th Liang MaQiao DRC Diplomat National Costume Competition, in Beijing. The event was hosted by the ‘Diplomats Magazine’ and attracted teams comprising ambassadors, embassy staff and foreign students.
Team Guyana with Ambassador Bayney Karran (fourth from right)
As the name suggests, the competition focused on the display of the national costumes of each participating country. This unique display of culture took the form of dance, song and even dramatization.
Team Guyana, supported by His Excellency Bayney Karran, Ambassador of the Embassy of Guyana in Beijing, participated in this event for the first time this year. They displayed the traditional wear of Guyana’s various ethnic groups and concluded their performance with a brief display of Guyana’s premier cultural festival – Mashramani.
The performance featured a voice-over recording by a member of the team, explaining Guyana’s ethnic diversity. The recording referred to Guyana as, “A mixed masala of six different ethnic groups, all possessing their own styles of dress, music and food, but united under one flag, the Golden Arrowhead.” At the end of the cultural display, the recording boldly announced, “This is Guyana – where diversity is our culture!”
While Guyana did not win the competition, they copped the coveted, ‘Most Creative Award’ and shared this privilege with four other countries: Ukraine, Egypt, Korea and Germany.
The team comprised: Diplomat Ms. Tanza McAlmont from the Ministry of the Presidency – Department of the Public Service Student Affairs Officer attaché to the Embassy in Beijing (Ms. McAlmont also coordinated Guyana’s participation in the event), Guyanese students currently studying in China, namely, Joel Gravesande (Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology), Elsie Harry (2017 University of Guyana Valedictorian, Master’s Degree in Urban and Rural Planning), Alon Pyle (Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine), Kayshell Jennings (Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine) and Shauna Ramdyhan (Miss Universe Guyana 2015, Master of Economics Degree) as well as Guyanese national living in China, Keshia Russell (Founder and CEO of Beijing Blue Rose Education).
Team Guyana and Student Affairs Officer, Ms. Tanza McAlmont (centre)
The costumes displayed by the members of Team Guyana were a combination of personal items, items obtained from a generous Indian national and Restaurateur and items sourced from the Guyanese Embassy. The Mashramani float, which intrigued the judges and spectators, and added an extra dimension to Guyana’s performance, was sponsored by Beijing Blue Rose Education and designed by artist Juliette Zelime (also known as Jadez) of the Seychelles and Delisa McPherson, Guyana-born British National.
At the end of the competition, the team that emerged successful was Belarus, having performed a ‘mash-up’ of Beyoncé’s popular ‘Single Ladies’, along with the traditional music of their country. The performance comprised both adults and children and featured choreographed dances with performers adorned in their national dress.
The country coming in at a close second place was Malaysia, in a dazzling display of traditional clothing and extravagant headdresses.
Ambassador Karran, having attended the competition said; “It was a delight to witness Guyanese students and nationals in China exhibiting the nation’s sartorial splendour to the accompaniment of a Mashramani float. There was little surprise when this colourful display of Guyanese culture made the front-page news here in China. Considering the shortage of time and resources at their disposal, theirs was a fine display of patriotic zeal.”
The members of Team Guyana indicated that they were very proud of themselves and were extremely happy that they were able to endear Guyana to the viewing world. In preparation for the 9th LiangMaQiao DRC Diplomat National Costume Competition in 2019, they are encouraging Corporate Guyana to partner with them as sponsors, so that Guyana will have a better shot at bringing home the gold. (Elsie Harry)
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