The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport through its Music Department will be hosting an Indigenous Song Festival under the Theme “The Voices of the Forest”.

At a press conference, yesterday, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony pointed out that the Ministry has been discussing this particular festival for some time now. The decision was taken to host such a festival because it was recognized that the indigenous languages are being overlooked.

He explained that UNESCO sites Guyana’s indigenous languages as unique and endangered. In the regard, the song festival is one way of keeping the languages alive.

Aside from this festival, the Ministry has republished dictionaries for 7 of the 9 indigenous languages. Additionally, grammar books were also produced.

Minister Anthony noted that there is a rich music heritage in the Amerindian communities, however the people on the coastland are not exposed to such. With this in mind, it is hoped that the festival would encourage appreciation of the languages, the songs would become popular in Guyana, and foster preservation through the recording of the songs. The Ministry is also planning to produce music CDs to disseminate the music.

Traditional language and culture have played and continue to play an important and sacred role in maintaining rights and identity of Indigenous communities in Guyana and all across the globe. Many communities assert that their language and culture is at the heart of what makes them unique.

There are nine (9) Amerindian groups in Guyana that speak nine (9) distinctive languages. Wapishana, Macushi, Wai Wai, Akawaio, Arecuna and Patamona languages are spoken routinely in the villages and communities.  In the Amerindian Villages of Baramita and Kurutuku mostly Carib is spoken. However, with the exception of these two villages the Carib, Warrau and Arawak languages are facing extinction. Arawak can be described as the most “endangered” language due to the fact that most of the coastal Amerindian communities – those closer to the city and towns – are Arawak communities.

The Coordinator of the Festival, Ovid Williams indicated that thus far 7 of the 9 nations have been contacted. He added that some of the tribes will be engaged later this month and those that are unable to attend this year’s festival will be engaged in the next one.

The Objective of the Festival is to promote the singing of Amerindian Songs in its original dialect, showcase the creativity of our Indigenous peoples through song and dance, record and distribute the Music of our Indigenous peoples and foster the integration of indigenous music into mainstream Guyanese culture.

In an attempt to revive and maintain Amerindian languages, efforts are constantly being made to ensure that Amerindian languages are kept alive. The biggest challenge is to have these languages written phonetically correct using trained linguists as there are variants amongst the speakers in the various communities. This will require painstaking work with each linguistic group to construct a written language which is accepted by all concerned.

However, it has been proven that music can be used a powerful medium in the preservation and dissemination of indigenous music. For instance, the Australian Government through the Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan has record success in using music and technology as a means of preserving, disseminating and promoting the Language of their Indigenous peoples. It is against this background that this festival is being proposed.

This is the first festival of this nature and the widest ranging participation is being encouraged. The festival is opened to groups from all ten administrative regions and all nine Amerindian tribes.

http://culture.mcys.gov.gy/mcys-launches-first-indigenous-song-festival/