Thoughts of a minibus traveller

[ Inspired by the Essay How to Write about Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina ] You do not have to be in Guyana to write about Guyana. In fact, you do not even have to visit Guyana. You can visit the libraries abroad or the CIA archives or the British Archives and compose your stories or histories If making a film about Guyana, make it one about wildness and adventure. Put something about jaguars in it, or lost land. Do not film anything about the people, the people only exist to make your film making project possible. Ensure that there is a lot of jungle, and mist, and cloud and dust.. and that you are shown in the film slushing through the mud and the water. When you show any of the locals.. it must be in a light which does not show them watching you in amusement.. but rather in a way in which you seem civilised on your wild adventure.. and they seem uncivlised to be living in the place where you come to have adventure. Or make your film using Bollywood music because the Indian a...

I am in a hurry, plenty stress. Enough jhanjat. Sun hot. Focussed on getting things done .. on putting the bad things in the past and letting go. I see someone from the past.. and the present. The lunch date that never was. I walked faster. Then I heard my name.. Vidya, Vidya.. i walked.. remembering other calls when people wanted to laugh at me.. how I walked, or how pagally I looked.. if I turned.. what would I see.. a mocking smile.. The mandir was nearby.. my heart said turn turn... my head said walk walk.. and I walked faster.. breeze blowing sun hot.. appointment made. And I feel sick inside.. I should have turned.. given a chance to build a bridge .. but the memories of rejection were strong and safety was in the space between us.. I did not hear my name any more.. just breeze.. and this feeling of shock inside that this is the only person I know who I run from.. I could be civil with others who hate me.. or who would call me coolie coolie.. antiman. Mr Bean.. lampy pam...

2010 International Candlelight Memorial The 44 bus driver shouted as he drove past.. "de Cathedral gun bun down wid all dem anti man pun de step.. fyah bun" SASOD organised the third International Candlelight Memorial event today - 20 May, 2012 . The steps of St George's Cathedral has been the venue, and God has been good, the rains always set up... but it always ends up being nice and cool at the time. Namela, Randy and Ryon organised this year's event. Two of the reigning beauty queens participated. The event was opened by a prayer by the Miss Jamzone - I am not accustomed to pageant protocol so was a little dazed at the crown and so on. However, the prayer was earnest.. and given how people think that SASOD is devil and so on, well.. here we had a prayer on the cathedral steps .. while some people like the minibus man think everything should go up in flames. The event continued.. poetry by a young man, a song by GT&T jingle winner Shawn English,...

Nrityageet is an annual production, presented by the Nadira and Indranie Shah Dance Troupe and the Shah family. This year was the 33rd production. It is a celebration of Indian Arrival, and long before Indian Arrival was commemorated in any big way, the family maintained their annual tradition. The productions have always had interesting innovations, no doubt a tribute to the daring creativity of the family members. I remember tears coming to my eyes at one opening sequence which had the portrayal of the unknown Guyana and people heading into that unknown. The powerful tribute to Cheddi Jagan, first time we had seen use of digital visuals on the wall at the back, also is memory. The Khajuraho choreography with Andre Sobryan was also very daring. The shows include other dance groups and special tributes are paid to the Indian traditions in Guyana which are not related to Bollywood. This year, the show included a Ramleela scene.. beautifully narrated and enacted. The Ramleela is...