Indo-Guyanese Oral Traditions, Narratives, Landscape and the Suriname 2020 Elections
The Indo-Caribbean oral tradition was the only vehicle of thought and expression for the vast majority of Indian indentured labourers in the region. It took the form of chants, riddles, games, proverbs, tales, dramas, dances and songs. The tradition was transmitted orally from generation to generation by working-class people for the people. They heard and told tales (kheesas) sometimes serialized over days such as “Tota Maina”, “Raja Bikramajit” and “Sat Chulli”. Proverbs (kahawats and kahanees) also comprised one of the genres of the oral tradition/literature. One example is “andha desh mein kanwa hai raja”, meaning “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” Song games such as kabaddi, pakda pakdi, oka buka, guli danda, chor sipathi, and huliya were played by children in the barrack yards during indentureship. Source: Kumar Mahabir, “Folk Songs of the West Indies”, M.Phil. Thesis, 1989.
Next month (7th July) will mark the 2nd anniversary of the results of the 2020 elections in Suriname which resulted in the Indo-Surinamese Chandrikapersad Santokhi being elected as the President and Afro-Surinamese Ronnie Brunswijk as Vice President in a coalition government. Political scientist Professor Ruben Gowricharn has written that “[d]espite many commonalities, Suriname compares unfavourably with Guyana and Trinidad in one respect i.e. the acceptance of Creole dominance in politics and society…. Unlike in Guyana and Trinidad, the Creole hegemony in Suriname has never been questioned by Hindustanis [Indians]. This may explain the “harmonious” race-relations propaganda, but this myth comes with a price. i.e. a kind of subservience to Creole dominance.” Academic Dr. Hans Ramsoedh has also written: “Among Suriname, Trinidad and Guyana, there are similarities, but also clear differences in terms of inter-ethnic relations. A large proportion of the Afro community in these three countries sees its culture as the core of national identity. Correspondingly, the culture of the East Indians is denied that status.”
Please join us THIS SUNDAY for the 108th weekly ICC (GIHR)) ZOOM Public Meeting, June 26, 2022 at (1.00 p.m. Belize), (3.00 p.m. New York/Eastern time), (3.00 p.m. Trinidad/Atlantic time), (3.00 p.m. Guyana), (4.00 p.m. Suriname), (8.00 p.m. England), (9.00 p.m. South Africa), (Mon 12.10 a.m. India, ND), (Mon 7.00 a.m. Fiji).
TOPIC:
Indo-Guyanese Oral Traditions, Narratives, Landscape and the Suriname 2020 Elections
SPEAKERS:
DR. SEETA SHAH ROATH – Educator, researcher, journalist and performing arts director. Will speak on Memories, Narratives and Practices in Culture and Arts: An Indo-Guyanese landscape.
PETAMBER PERSAUD – Oral historian, writer, television producer, and president of the Guyana Heritage Society. Will present a docudrama based on his book The Balgobin Saga.
DR. KIRTIE ALGOE – Researcher at Institute for Graduate Studies and Research at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Will speak on the power struggles in Suriname 2020 elections.
Followed by Q&A
Join Zoom Meeting THIS SUNDAY by touching or clicking on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86971719814
Meeting ID: 869 7171 9814
No Passcode Needed
Live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre
https://www.youtube.com/user/dmahab
Hosted by www.indocaribbeanpublications.com
WhatsApp +1 868 756 4961 or +1 868 381 0386
indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com, dmahabir@gmail.com
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