Guyana Folk Festival wraps up with
Family Fun Day event in Brooklyn
(From left) President of the Guyana Tri-State Alliance Patricia Jordon-Langford; Guyana Consul General to New York Barbara
Atherly; First Lady of Guyana Sandra Granger; and President of GUM Sherif Barker-Fraser, join Public Advocate for
the City of New York Jumaane D. Williams and his daughter. Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life, September 13-19 2019 39
By Tangerine Clarke
Sunny skies warmed hearts
and spirits during Family Fun
Day, the final event of the
2019 Guyana Folk Festival, in
Crown Heights on Sept. 1.
“The day was filled with
nice-ness and one-ness,”
according to Dr. Vibert Cambridge,
president of the Guyana
Cultural Association. “The
Children’s Village was the site
of innovations.”
This year’s Family Fun Day
included several large versions
of popular table-top games,
including checkers, ludo,
chess and The Memory Game.
Each of these games featured
some reference to Guyanese
festivals or places.
“These games showed entertainment
education at work—
how play can encourage learning,”
said Dr. Cambridge, who
is also professor emeritus of
communication studies at
Ohio University in Athens,
Ohio. “The village also offered
young attendees an opportunity
to paint. From their faces,
it was a good experience.”
The Old Boys and Girls
High School grounds in Brooklyn
was filled with everything
Guyanese on Family Fun Day.
Booths along the perimeter
offered arts and crafts, fashion
creations by batik and tie-dye
designers, and footwear made
from genuine Guyana leather.
Like every year, Guyanese
and friends travel from across
the world, to enjoy their culture
at the folk festival, the
biggest event, next to the
Annual Labor Day carnival on
Easter Parkway.
Some greeted each other
with hugs, while others
stopped to chat, and share in
the music that permeated the
atmosphere.
Guyana’s Arrowhead flag
was visible everywhere, and
was especially waved during
the cultural showcase of
music and dance that highlighted
the Family Fun Day
program.
The list of performers
included Courtney Noël,
Pablo G, international dancer
Zaman, Adrian Dutchin, Gavin
Mendoca, Flantis, the Kwe
Kwe Ensemble, Randy Ramdin
and the Tassa band, Tobago
Roxborough Police Youth
Club, Jamaan Victor and Classique
NYC and Friends, and
many others, who kept the
crowd entertained for hours.
Dr. Rose October served as the
event’s emcee.
Some of the most notable
acts included the top-ranking
Ninja Band and Angels Caribbean
Band, both of whom
kept attendees on their feet
with Calypso, Soca, and chutney
music that lasted until
twilight.
First Lady of Guyana Sandra
Granger and Guyana’s
Consul General to New York
Barbara Atherly also enjoyed a
walkabout to greet nationals.
Mrs. Granger interacted
with nationals, while others,
photographed the gracious
lady, who posed with expatriates,
their children, and
grandchildren.
Sen. Kevin Parker, Public
Advocate Jumaane Williams
and Guyana Minister of
Finance of Guyana Winston
Jordon also had a grand time
with their Guyanese friends.
“It’s a wonderful experience
enjoying my culture and
meeting my fellow Guyanese,
especially my old-time school
friends from St Mary’s School
in Guyana,” said Karen Richards,
a Long Island resident.
“I have been coming to the
folk festival with my parents
George and Dori Hall, since it
was held in the Crown Heights
area.”
Cornel Ferdinand, who lives
in Maryland, has been attending
the festival annually to
reconnect with friends and
family.
“I have traveled from Maryland
to New York for several
years, since the festival was
held at the Brooklyn Children’s
Museum,” said Ferdinand, a
former broadcaster with the
now-defunct Guyana Broadcasting
Corporation. “There’s
always new artists each year
highlighting the culture and
people of Guyana. It is also
wonderful reuniting with distant
family and seeing friends.
The energies of the artistes
and the exhilaration of the
attendees coming together to
support vendors, and to be a
part of the activities makes it
enjoyable.”
Zaena Ali, a first-time
patron from Long Island,
excitedly described her experience:
“It was a very nice day,
and as summer was coming
to a close, myself and buddy
Nazeela, decided to attend the
festival. It was a very welcoming
atmosphere. After visiting
the food court, that had
snapper, peas and rice, and
ginger beer, we went to the
main tent. The atmosphere
of camaraderie, laughter, and
fun, rippled with typical Guyanese
colors and chatter.”
Cultural Director Claire A.
Goring expressed gratitude to
all who participated in the
weekend festivities, thanking
Alumni Associations, Queens
College, Central, St. Roses,
and Tutorial High Schools.
“This year we had an extra
event, and the festival was
successful only because of
team work. It took months of
rehearsal,” Goring said. “The
Valerie Rodway concert had
much support, from churches
in Brooklyn. The vendors
were on point providing the
food patrons wanted. The kids
played games and learned at
the same time. The games,
were constructed to reflect our
festivals and Guyanese traditions.
The children enjoyed
the paint party, and Picasso
painting experience.”
Goring described the festival
as inclusive, starting with
Kew Kew night that blended
Indo Mattacore and Afro-Kwe
Kew wedding ceremonies.
Plans are in the works next
year for a special celebration
of Guyana’s 50th anniversary
as a republic, in February
2020.
A lad of Guyanese heritage
shows his pride by waving
a Golden Arrowhead fl ag.
Tangerine Clarke