Rastafari in Guyana has been given
the historic opportunity to officially take part in CARIFESTA X. Its
participation will take the form of hosting a Rastafari Day on the
25th of August and to set up a Rastafari Village on Independence
Square . The Village will showcase the various facets of the Rastafari
Culture viz. the performing arts, culinary arts, Fashion design and
display, literary arts, etc. For the literary arts section, two major
works are expected to be launched for the occasion. These two works
are special editions of ‘Church and State’ by Ras Michael and ‘Dread
Verses Babylon’ by Ras Ashkar. Both of these books are anthologies
that capture and preserve the essence, rhythm and tempo of Rastafari
in Guyana . Apart from these 
works
by and about Rastafari in Guyana , a book exhibition will be staged
showcasing the Rastafari literary development in the broader
Caribbean.
Members of the Coordinating Committee
which included Ras Simeon, Ras Supa Lion, Ras Rashidi, Ras Ashkar, Ras
Richie, Ras Ian and Sis. Audrey met with the CARIFESTA Secretariat
yesterday 1st July, 2008 to discuss logistics. Representing the
CARIFESTA Secretariat were Colonel Ross, Mr. Mark De Frietas and Mr.
Rampersaud. The discussion centered on funding for the infrastructural
aspect of the event and ended with both parties obviously satisfied
with the plans so far.
The Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA)
X is the region’s largest cultural show and will see the
participation of over 20 countries. The Festival was first staged in
Guyana in 1972 and has returned to Guyana after 36 years. CARIFESTA
has its genesis in 1966 when Forbes Burnham, the first executive
President of the Republic of Guyana , invited a number of Caribbean
writers and artists as special guests at Guyana ’s Independence
Celebrations. In 1970, Four years later, writers and artists were
again invited to Guyana ’s Republic Celebrations. It was at this
meeting that the idea of a festival of Caribbean arts was agreed upon
with a mandate to see it materialized within two years.
A Jamaican Rastafari Group, The
Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, performed at the very first CARIFESTA
in 1972. It was reported that ‘The collective performance of the
band and its leader with the distinctive African sound and the message
of peace and love found favour with the audience’. At that time
Rastafari in Guyana was in its infancy but 36 years later has
demonstrated remarkable maturity to be able to represent itself and
other Rastafari in the Region.
Ras Ashkar
