Kofi Kwayana says Buxton is the capital of Guyana

Feb 27, 2019 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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On Sunday night, ACDA held a religious ceremony based on African traditions and rites, to honour Professor Rudy James who died last week. Performing the rites was the son of one of the greatest Guyanese ever – Eusi Kwayana. It was a learning experience for me.
We had to sit in a circle while Kofi administered the service. After the ceremony, Vincent Alexander and I were chatting and Kofi came up to talk to me. As part of our discussion, I enquired about his siblings, and the topic of where he was born came up. Kofi said, “I was born in Buxton, the capital of Guyana. Freddie, I want you to write that. “My response was; “Are you serious, you want me to write that in my column?” “Yes, write it,” he said. Well, here I am, publishing his words in my column.
It was clear to me that he reveres his birth place, which is an expression you cannot miss in Buxtonians. Every Buxtonian I have met in the past has this unyielding emotion about Buxton. All, without exception, feel that Buxton is a special place in Guyana. Interestingly, since Vincent was sitting next to me while Kofi was praising his hometown, I forgot to ask Vincent if Wortmanville has a special place in his heart. We are both from that ward in south Georgetown, born one block away from each other.
Kofi Kwayana looks more like his mom and lacks the tallness of his father. He definitely has his mother’s smile. His infectiousness was on show. He certainly knows African culture and African religious traditions. He shaped that event with a unique style that I seldom see in any type of religious service, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafari, Bahá’í, the Jordanites, etc.
While pronouncing on the meaning of African culture and its worldview, he was able to spice his philosophical outpourings with constant humour that made the entire evening absorbing.
There was a part of the rites that was very much intriguing. The entire James family had to gather in front of the attendees while Kofi administered eight different substances for them to taste, each representing a great value that all humans have to experience. One of those substances was very hot pepper, which according to Kofi, represents the bitter part of life that we humans have to face as part of our existence.
When administering libation to the great ancestors of the African people, he told the audience that it is important that the names of the admirable ones who have passed on be proclaimed. His first pronouncement was Walter Rodney. There and then, a little chagrin pierced my mind.
I didn’t see any of the remaining leaders of the WPA that Walter struggled with. I did see Rupert Roopnaraine at the service at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Plaisance the next day.
Kofi Kwayana acknowledged the great son of the African race in his religious service, but the teachings of Rodney are not promulgated in this country. Rodney reminds one of the inexplicabilities of Guyanese politics. I believe that Guyana’s society, politics and social make-up are the most complex and complicated among modern countries.
Try making sense of this country and you will end up like Tantalus; forever grasping at what you want, but never being able to get it. If Rodney is acknowledged to be one of the great sons of modern Africa, then why is there no safeguarding of his legacy? It just confuses the mind. Burnham and Jagan have their legacies preserved. There is always publicity of the birth and death anniversaries of Burnham and Jagan.
The country’s main international airport is named after Jagan. Last year, the PNC chapter of Atlanta in the US recommended to the government to add Burnham’s name, so it reads as the Jagan/Burnham international airport. Linden was named after Burnham. The state-owned dental school has Jagan’s appellation. The East Coast village Melanie Damishana is for Burnham’s daughter so is Roxanne Burnham Gardens.
There is, of course, the Cheddi Jagan Research Library, which in actuality is the former residence of Jagan when he was Premier in the sixties. Streets in New Amsterdam bear the title of both Jagan and Burnham. Housed in the former private residence of President Granger, are four foundations to perpetuate the legacy of Burnham. Vincent Alexander is chairman of the Burnham Foundation.
We shouldn’t omit that the important Ogle airport was recently renamed after Eugenie Correia. So where is the preservation of Rodney’s legacy? Rodney’s party, the WPA is part of the grand coalition that administers Guyana. Two of Rodney’s very close friends are big wigs in that government. Strange, eh!

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