Three-day Rupununi Music and Arts Festival successful

THE three-day Rupununi Music and Arts Festival had an auspicious start at the Rock View Lodge in the Annai community of Region 9 on Friday.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds opened the event. He welcomed  the performers which included artists from across the world .

Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali trying his hand at drumming

These performers included Marc Mathews (spoken word) and Keith Waithe (jazz & world flautist) Chuckie’ (Marlon Adams) and the Buxton Children’s group, Fusion African drumming, Raghu’s Indian Tassa drummers, Ras Camo, Indus Voices & Dance Words, Trevor Rogers, Desmond Atherly, Desmond Atiwell and the Surama Cultural Group.
International performers included Zambian Namvula, Filligar (USA), Iryna Muha (UK/Ukraine), Ramon Goose (UK), Pavel Ván (Czech Republic), Aref Durvesh (UK),and Drew Gonsalves (Canada via Trinidad)

The Prime Minister mentioned that the selection of Guyana as one of the top 21 places to visit in 2014 by the prestigious National Geographic Traveler Magazine should encourage our tourism endeavours.He presented$5M cheque to the organisers as a show of government’s support for the inaugural event.

For Tourism Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali, the event was about being able to experience global music. “Music is one of the most beautiful forms of bringing people together, cultures together, and having humanity embracing one another.”

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali and Mrs Yvonne Hinds dancing along with an indigenous group

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett saw the festival as a unique way to showcase the interior of Guyana. It will also benefit surrounding indigenous communities.

Two international artistes performing

Co-ordinator Colin Edwards thanked all the entities that made the festival possible, the government, the Ministries of Tourism and Amerindian Affairs, embassies, local banks and the many private sponsors.

Annai’s toshao, Mark George, also welcomed the hundreds of visitors and urged them to enjoy what he termed as, “the most beautiful part of Guyana”. He asked them to encourage others to come and experience what the community has to offer.