The Commercialization and Decline of Mashramani: A Cultural Betrayal from Within

Feb 26, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

I wish to publicly acknowledge an oversight in my previous criticisms of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regarding the decline of Mashramani.

While it is well-documented that the PPP/C once sought to weaken the festival, the reality is they did not succeed in doing so alone. The greater blame lies with Hits and Jams (HJ), a weak opposition, and the Afro-Guyanese community itself for allowing the festival to be eroded from within.

Mashramani is more than just an annual celebration—it is a symbol of Guyana’s post-independence national identity, rooted in the Afro-Guyanese struggle for cultural and political recognition. Yet, over time, it has been stripped of its meaning and replaced with a highly commercialized spectacle that prioritizes profit over tradition. The tragedy is that this was not imposed by external forces but rather orchestrated by Afro-Guyanese promoters who chose financial gain over cultural preservation and by a community that continues to fund its own erasure.

Hits and Jams, once just another entertainment entity, has used its political affiliations to monopolize the entertainment industry while undermining Mashramani. Their shift from traditional Mashramani elements such as calypso, steel pan, and masquerade bands to dancehall and carnival-themed events is one of the most blatant acts of cultural betrayal in recent Guyanese history.

Instead of strengthening local soca and calypso music, they prioritized Jamaican dancehall, alienating the very cultural expressions Mashramani was built to celebrate. Rather than investing in community-driven events, they focused on elite, profit-driven parties, turning Mashramani into an excuse for commercial nightlife rather than a national festival.

HJ has benefited from government contracts and favorable policies while actively sidelining local artists and cultural advocates who have called for the revival of traditional elements. This is not a case of political suppression—it is a case of self-inflicted cultural abandonment. Hits and Jams did not hijack Mashramani on their own; Afro-Guyanese willingly supported them, funded their events, and ignored their destruction of a cultural legacy.

The decline of Mashramani is also a direct result of the failure of the opposition. In previous decades, a strong Afro-Guyanese opposition successfully defended cultural traditions, ensuring that attempts to erase or diminish Mashramani failed.

But today, the opposition is fragmented, silent, and ineffective. When APNU+AFC held power, they had a golden opportunity to restore Mashramani to its original grandeur. Instead, they:

– Failed to invest in Afro-Guyanese cultural preservation despite years of accusing the PPP/C of undermining it.

– Did not counteract the rise of commercial entertainment monopolies like Hits and Jams, allowing them to take full control.

– Showed no political will to organize and mobilize the community around cultural heritage.

An opposition that was once the guardian of Afro-Guyanese cultural identity has now become a passive observer. They cannot credibly criticize the PPP/C when they themselves neglected to act when they had the power to do so. Perhaps the most uncomfortable truth is that we, as Afro-Guyanese, are complicit in the destruction of our own culture. We:

– Continue to attend and support events that erase our traditions while complaining about their disappearance.

– Spend money on entertainment that does nothing to uplift our community while failing to support cultural initiatives.

– Refuse to organize resistance against those actively dismantling Mashramani’s meaning, unlike other communities who have successfully defended their cultural identity.

When the Hindu community protested the use of Diwali for party promotions, they succeeded in stopping it. Yet, when dancehall was forced into Mashramani celebrations, there was no collective resistance from Afro-Guyanese. Instead, many embraced it, helping erase their own history in the process.

Walter Rodney once warned against Afro-Guyanese leaders and elites who act in their own interests while failing the wider community. Today, Hits and Jams, and those who enable them, are a perfect example of this betrayal. If we truly care about our cultural heritage, we must act. The solution is not just blaming the PPP/C— it is about taking ownership of our actions and demanding change.

– Boycott Hits and Jams events that promote dancehall and carnival over traditional Mashramani culture.

– Push the opposition to take a stronger stance on cultural preservation and demand action, not just complaints.

– Support local soca, steel pan, and calypso artists to rebuild the musical legacy of Mashramani.

– Educate young people about Mashramani’s true history and the importance of preserving Afro-Guyanese culture.

– Hold government and private entities accountable for neglecting cultural investments while favoring commercial entertainment.

This is not about absolving the PPP/C of their past efforts to weaken Mashramani, but rather an acknowledgment that they did not succeed in erasing it—our own community is now doing the job for them. Hits and Jams has been the most effective weapon against Mashramani, not because they were forced to be, but because Afro-Guyanese allowed them to be.

If we truly believe in cultural preservation, we must stop complaining, stop blaming, and start acting. Mashramani belongs to all Guyanese, but it is up to us to protect it.

Sincerely,

Nakisha Allen
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 (The Commercialization and Decline of Mashramani: A Cultural Betrayal from Within)

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• Afro-Guyanese community, APNU+AFC, political affiliations, post-independence national identity, PPP/C

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