Monday, March 4, 2019

GUYANA MASHRAMANI FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 23-2019





Kofi/Cuffy and the Berbice Revolution is commemorated in the 1763 Monument (not a statue of Kofi/Cuffy) in the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Kofi was an Akan man who was captured in Ghana, West Africa, taken to Guyana and enslaved. He led the Berbice Revolution which began on February 23-1763. Republic Day in Guyana since 1970 honours the memory of Kofi and the Africans who rose up against the Dutch enslavers on February 23-1763. Kofi/Cuffy is the National Hero of Guyana.

 First Mashramani celebration took place in the Demerara mining town of McKenzie, Linden in 1970.





Patricia Liverpool © February 23-2019


MASHRAMANI FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 23-2019

Guyanese celebrated Republic Day on Saturday, February 23-2019 with an annual Mashramani Festival.  February 23 was chosen as Republic Day to honour the memory of the enslaved Africans of Berbice, Guyana, led by Kofi and his lieutenants, Atta, Accabre and Akara, who seized their freedom on February 23-1763. Kofi, a “house slave” was the leader of this revolution of enslaved Africans. Guyana, formerly British Guiana, is a country of 83,000 square miles that is situated on the Northeast Coast of South America. The country was colonized by the Dutch at that time (1763), who had unsuccessfully tried to enslave the “Amerindian” indigenous population. Guyana which encompasses the former Dutch colonies of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo (taken from the Dutch, by the British in 1814) became one colony in 1831; the British colony of British Guiana, became the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 1970 on the 207th anniversary of the Berbice Revolution. Guyana which is located on the northeast of the South American continent is the only South American country where English is the official language. Slavery in British Guiana was abolished on August 1, 1834, and after four years of “apprenticeship” the Africans were finally free on August 1, 1838. Guyana is known as the Land of Six Peoples which includes Africans (kidnapped, enslaved and taken to Guyana by the Dutch beginning in the 1600s) Amerindians (the native people of Guyana) Chinese (immigrated as indentured labourers from January 12, 1853 aboard the SS Glentanner) East Indians (immigrated as indentured labourers from May 1, 1838 aboard SS Whitby and SS Hesperus) Europeans (first the Dutch 1600s, then the British seized the territory 1800s) Portuguese (immigrated as indentured labourers from May 3, 1835 aboard SS Louisa Baillie.) Today Guyana is a Republic having gained its political independence from Britain on Thursday, May 26-1966 under the leadership of then Prime Minister the Honourable Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. To celebrate Republic Day on February 23, Guyanese go all out with a national street festival, Mashramani, which includes elaborate costumes and dancing (wining, chipping) in the street to soca, calypso, chutney and reggae music.




Patricia Liverpool © February 23-2019