Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Celebrating African Fashion… Main St. Emancipation village offers clothing galore

Jul 30, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....ers-clothing-galore/

As Guyana prepares to celebrate 179 years of Emancipation on Tuesday, Main Street, Georgetown has been transformed into a shopping arcade of specifically afro-centric clothing and accessories.

Since last week Monday, seamstresses, craft producers and vendors erected tents to sell clothing, beaded jewellery and African-Guyanese food and beverages.

Seamstresses came out with tie-dyed and African print materials to create head wraps, dresses, skirts, shirts, pants and even swimwear to entice buyers.

There were also distinctively patterned fabrics significant to African countries on sale.

Persons who were not eager to purchase sought advice on how to create head wraps and how to secure accessories for clothing they had already.

Then there were others who purchased matching outfits for their wives, husbands and children.

Beverly, a seamstress, had some unique garments on display.

She sews the majority of her clothing and even offered to sew a top on site for a young lady who wanted something to go with a pair of leggings. The woman explained that although sales were not good, she was pleased with her efforts thus far.

Her outfits were reasonably priced. A woman could have got an entire outfit of either a dress, jumpsuit or skirt suit for $6,000.

It was observed that sellers exchanged contact information with shoppers who desired authentic garments and hand-painted fabrics.

Shoppers requested contact numbers from seamstresses just in case they required someone to sew a desired piece of clothing.

It was evident that 76-year-old Yvonne O’Donoghue was enjoying her first experience. With a bright smile, Ms. O’Donoghue, a knitter and seamstress related that she specializes in hats, tote bags, swimwear and much more.

Meagan King, the owner of King’s Creation, explained that Ms. O’Donoghue is one of her students who she began training about a year ago.

Juliana Hughes from ‘JAH Works’ had a collection of necklaces made from natural seeds on display. She said that the company is co-owned by her husband, Wesley James, and they are on a mission to make Guyana’s natural resources marketable. According to Hughes, “Natural resources are not just what are under the ground. We have a lot of natural resources that are above the ground.”

Hughes disclosed that she was out there to impart her craft to the nation and explained that some of the items she had on display were made respectively from velvet, buck bead, flamboyant, stinking toe and locust seeds.

While Hughes loves working with seeds, she said that it is much more difficult since the process involves a lot of drilling.

She however related that this aspect of the work is done by her husband.

Hughes tries to keep her work as natural as possible and said that she rarely incorporates painting.

She has also worked with natural fibres to create crochet necklaces.

“In this period it is noticeable that a lot of the choker and Egyptian collars are being worn. So I am imparting by crochet ability in that area.”

In 2010, Hughes received a UNESCO Award of Excellence for handicraft.

Most of the vendors said they were satisfied with the revenues earned and that they will continue vending during the morning hours of Emancipation Day to cater for last minute shopper

FM

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

Prashad
Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

Bai, how can you make this statement? Have you given up on partitioning Guyana so the dalit coolies can live in peace?

FM

Skeldon man I still believe in an independent country for Guyanese East Indians, Douglas who embrace their Indian heritage and Allies of the Guyanese East Indian people as the only way forward to grow and develop as a people but that does not mean Prashad cannot see that our Dravidian ancestors originally came from East Africa.

Prashad
Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

A few years ago the Africans who lived in Guyana were laughing at this. As one said you cannot go mixing Congolese attire with that of Senegal.

Leave that where it is. We are a creole people with strong African elements existing within this culture. Nothing wrong with wearing African inspired attire provided that we know that this doesn't exist in Africa itself.

FM
Prashad posted:

Skeldon man I still believe in an independent country for Guyanese East Indians, 

Your wife doesn't believe in it though, and I suspect your kids agree with her.

FM

THis RACIST DAAG frequently come here and talk his ignorant crap about Afro Guyanese not concern with their african heritage and that Indians are clannish. He is nothing but Afro Ian Smith and a DUMB one at that!!!!!

Nehru
caribny posted:

A few years ago the Africans who lived in Guyana were laughing at this. As one said you cannot go mixing Congolese attire with that of Senegal.

Leave that where it is. We are a creole people with strong African elements existing within this culture. Nothing wrong with wearing African inspired attire provided that we know that this doesn't exist in Africa itself.

The problem is that you and your brothers don't support your culture. Look how jackass Granger tell customs to tax Indians when they bring in Indian attire.  Meanwhile a man can bring in a dashiki and even the bum on the street would not wear it.  Yall Afros fully adapted the white man's culture and abandoned your own. 

FM
Drugb posted:

The problem is that you and your brothers don't support your culture. 

And what is my culture? Just know that there is NO SUCH thing as "African" culture.  Nigeria, one country, has hundreds of ethnic groups, all with their own cultures.  When you go from Senegal to Angola, regions from where enslaved peoples were taken to the Caribbean thousands of cultures exist.  This is what Africans are trying to tell you.

I know that Afro Guyanese have their own culture which was developed over the 350 years of being in Guyana.  A blend of many cultures all pulled together within a Caribbean context.

I feel sorry that you think that your version of Caribbean culture lacks validity that you must make yourself look like a laughing stock to people from India.  You are not and will never be culturally the same as the people of India.  I know for a fact that you aren't walking down any street in G/T dressed like Mahatma Gandhi.  You will be wearing the same western clothes just like every one else in Guyana.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-jU5l33ljg

 

This is for druggie.  Play this in front of people from India and guess what their reaction will be.

 

Druggie we are all some sort of creole.  The notion that any Guyanese of any Trinidadian maintains the ancestral culture is hogwash.  What we have is mishmash of all who we encounter.

From the red dye you know what day it was yet I see no one dressed in any attire that is different from how others dress in the Caribbean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEExTelTjk

Not only is there no difference in how the groups dress but it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell who is of which group from the distance if they are dark or their hair is cut low.

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Cultural deviation was the norm for the suppressed who had no choice but to adapt to what we know today as the norm, ignorance prevents us from assimilating what the original customs are to be true, prejudices still prevail. Go figure.     

ball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
ball posted:

Cultural deviation was the norm for the suppressed who had no choice but to adapt to what we know today as the norm, ignorance prevents us from assimilating what the original customs are to be true, prejudices still prevail. Go figure.     

It is not cultural suppression as Afro Caribbean culture was also repressed during the colonial. In fact it was BANNED and people ARRESTED. 

The reason why steel pan was invented was that drumming was banned, and in fact the authorities also tried to ban it as well, except the US soldiers that were present in Trinidad at the time (this was WWII) liked it.

Go find another excuse.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Caribj, your people conformed to the European culture. You lost yours along the way and now make excuses as your ancestors turn over in their graves at not being honored by their offspring. 

FM
caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

Wow! Whine up and whine down like a sixteen century Englishman pirate. All they need now is an open rum bottle in their hand. Sir Francis would have been so happy to see this.

Prashad
skeldon_man posted:
Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

Bai, how can you make this statement? Have you given up on partitioning Guyana so the dalit coolies can live in peace?

I was starting to wonder. like he get a change of heart, or he's just one confused cat.

Sheik101
Drugb posted:

Caribj, your people conformed to the European culture. You lost yours along the way and now make excuses as your ancestors turn over in their graves at not being honored by their offspring. 

And apparently yours conformed to Afro Caribbean culture as seen in how they dress (like Afro Caribbean people) and how they dance.

What is interesting is that if you beat a drum both Indo and Afro Caribbean people dance the same.

So go pretend as if you are still an Indian and then explain all that skimpy attire and gyrating female bottoms.

FM
Sheik101 posted:
 

I was starting to wonder. like he get a change of heart, or he's just one confused cat.

He really is, His wife is a "pirate" as she is a Guyanese of mixed black and white ancestry (a red woman) who sucks her teeth every time he whimpers that he is going to "start a coolie country".  This being after she yells at him and tells him that she is a feminist woman so doesn't plan to run behind any man.

Prashad damns creole culture as pirate culture and given that his wife, being a red woman is definitely creole you can see that he is a hell of a state.  I really feel sorry for the man.

FM
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

Wow! Whine up and whine down like a sixteen century Englishman pirate. All they need now is an open rum bottle in their hand. Sir Francis would have been so happy to see this.

Yes all of those Indo girls wining like pirates. NONE of them are going to your Indesh, where they will be expected to cover themselves from head to toe, walk with their heads down, and wash their husband's feet when they get home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH8z7bq4UGU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA4eDDVr-bY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC8wmyF7TM8

African "pirates".  Prashad please go find British (WHITE) people dancing like this. Sorry no twerking to hip hop or its equivalent. I want to see wining to English folk music.

FM
Drugb posted:

CaribJ, you should wear your penis sheath in honor of African tradition on emancipation day. 

If literacy wasn't a major problem of yours you would have read that Guyanese didn't come from that part of Africa. 

Now please walk around G/T with a loose loin cloth wiped around your private parts (not much to cover based on your own admission).  This is how your ancestors dressed upon arrival in Guyana.  You claim to have kept your culture dress like this and in fact go to the office like that.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when those Indian coders debate as to whether you are undergoing a nervous break down.  Of course they dressed in a shirt and a pants and dressing exactly as they do in India as well.

FM
ball posted:

One word Assimilation.  

Correct. People of Indian, African and other ancestries lived next to each other in a colonial setting dominated by the British. We had to adjust to this system as well as to each other.

So there is NO difference in how Guyanese of varying ancestries dress, which is why druggie amuses me when he screams that he is not going to walk down the street with a loin cloth wrapped around his waist and private parts as his ancestors did when they came to Guyana.

FM
caribny posted:

And apparently yours conformed to Afro Caribbean culture as seen in how they dress (like Afro Caribbean people) and how they dance.

What is interesting is that if you beat a drum both Indo and Afro Caribbean people dance the same.

So go pretend as if you are still an Indian and then explain all that skimpy attire and gyrating female bottoms.

True enough there is some assimilation by some Indos. But when at indo weddings or religious functions, the dress and act appropriately according to the cultural norms inherited and passed down from generation to generation. 

While it is true that AfroG's were forbidden to embrace their culture, the fact remains that now that they have free will, they still do not embrace the culture. You for example are ashamed of your Afro roots therefore you fully assimilated to European culture, even eating with knife and fork. Meanwhile the whites will privately snicker behind your back and joke that a monkey can now eat civilized. 

FM
caribny posted:

If literacy wasn't a major problem of yours you would have read that Guyanese didn't come from that part of Africa. 

Now please walk around G/T with a loose loin cloth wiped around your private parts (not much to cover based on your own admission).  This is how your ancestors dressed upon arrival in Guyana.  You claim to have kept your culture dress like this and in fact go to the office like that.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when those Indian coders debate as to whether you are undergoing a nervous break down.  Of course they dressed in a shirt and a pants and dressing exactly as they do in India as well.

We are not saying that you should wear your penis sheath or dashiki every day, only on appropriate occasions as a ceremonial gesture in respect for your ancestors. That is what the Indo's do when going to cultural events.  The ancestral garments are not meant to be worn every day. However even at work the Indian women will at times dress in traditional garments from time to time, especially if there is a party or other social occasion. 

FM
Drugb posted:
.

True enough there is some assimilation by some Indos. But when at indo weddings or religious functions, the dress and act appropriately according to the cultural norms inherited and passed down from generation to generation. 

While it is true that AfroG's were forbidden to embrace their culture, the fact remains that now that they have free will, they still do not embrace the culture. You for example are ashamed of your Afro roots therefore you fully assimilated to European culture, even eating with knife and fork. Meanwhile the whites will privately snicker behind your back and joke that a monkey can now eat civilized. 

Let me answer in two parts.

1. Given that most Indians aren't that religious and that weddings don't occur every day and that people who aren't part of the wedding party dress in western wear you are chatting share nonsense.  As soon as they finish their religious ceremonies, that they most likely don't even understand these "Hindus" go and eat a beef roti, something that could lead to their deaths if they tried that in India.

The fact remains that most of the times Indo Guyanese do not lead lives that are radically different. They speak no Indian languages and they really don't adhere to Indian culture, apart from the ceremonial.

2. A DNA test that I did suggests that I am part Senegal, part Guinea, part Ghana, part Togo/Benin, and part Nigeria, and maybe part Congo. It doesn't indicate what specific African ethnicities that I have.

So can you please tell me which African culture should I adopt. Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Fon, Ewe, Igbo or any number of ethnicities in the Congo basin.  There is NO AFRICAN culture. There are THOUSANDS of African cultures.

 

I will also ask you why don't you think that Guyanese aren't capable of creating our own diverse cultures. Why do you see us as making jackasses of ourselves copying ancestral cultures that we don't know. Like the woman who tied her headtie and gave the Ghanaian the impression that she was a single woman looking for a man.

People of African descent have been living in the Caribbean for over 400 years. The "Africa" that we left no longer exists.

People of Indian descent have been living in the Caribbean for coming up on 200 years.  The "India" that your ancestors left no longer exists.

So cease being a jackass and just draw pride in what you are. A GUYANESE! 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

FM
caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

 

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad

We, East Indians of Guyana, are in the most dangerous time of our existence as a people.  If we don't take drastic steps now to ensure our survival on the South American continent then we are finished as a people.  

Prashad
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

 

Does he have a gun to the heads of those girls or of the crowds who are massively enjoying it.  In fact the Guyanese in the crowd were quite proud that a Guyanese can out wine a Trini given their usual prowess at this.

Yes this AFRICAN style of dancing as I know you cannot find English people wining to traditional English folk music.

FM
caribny posted:
Prashad posted:
caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

 

Does he have a gun to the heads of those girls or of the crowds who are massively enjoying it.  In fact the Guyanese in the crowd were quite proud that a Guyanese can out wine a Trini given their usual prowess at this.

Yes this AFRICAN style of dancing as I know you cannot find English people wining to traditional English folk music.

You are making a mockery of African women who are some of the most conservative women on this planet. 

Prashad
Prashad posted:

We, East Indians of Guyana, are in the most dangerous time of our existence as a people.  If we don't take drastic steps now to ensure our survival on the South American continent then we are finished as a people.  

I can only wonder what you would do if you discovered that these Indo girls left the party with black men.  There aren't many Indo men who can handle what they put down.

I bet that your kids aren't fully Indo identified.  Just accept the fact that you all left India behind 170 years ago and much has changed since then.

You will actually be a happier person, because even the Indo KKK don't seem to share your enthusiasm for New Indesh.  Certainly those girls don't because the last thing that they want will be some miserable old man telling them that all they should aspire to is clapping roti and washing their husband's feet as their great grand mothers were forced to do.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
caribny posted:

Let me answer in two parts.

1. Given that most Indians aren't that religious and that weddings don't occur every day and that people who aren't part of the wedding party dress in western wear you are chatting share nonsense.  As soon as they finish their religious ceremonies, that they most likely don't even understand these "Hindus" go and eat a beef roti, something that could lead to their deaths if they tried that in India.

The fact remains that most of the times Indo Guyanese do not lead lives that are radically different. They speak no Indian languages and they really don't adhere to Indian culture, apart from the ceremonial.

2. A DNA test that I did suggests that I am part Senegal, part Guinea, part Ghana, part Togo/Benin, and part Nigeria, and maybe part Congo. It doesn't indicate what specific African ethnicities that I have.

So can you please tell me which African culture should I adopt. Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Fon, Ewe, Igbo or any number of ethnicities in the Congo basin.  There is NO AFRICAN culture. There are THOUSANDS of African cultures.

 

I will also ask you why don't you think that Guyanese aren't capable of creating our own diverse cultures. Why do you see us as making jackasses of ourselves copying ancestral cultures that we don't know. Like the woman who tied her headtie and gave the Ghanaian the impression that she was a single woman looking for a man.

People of African descent have been living in the Caribbean for over 400 years. The "Africa" that we left no longer exists.

People of Indian descent have been living in the Caribbean for coming up on 200 years.  The "India" that your ancestors left no longer exists.

So cease being a jackass and just draw pride in what you are. A GUYANESE! 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

As usual your retort is utter nonsense. Without the propagation of culture throughout the centuries where would we be today? Go tell that to the Jews who carry on their tradition from time immemorial.  Go buse down the pope and tell him that he shouldn't carry on the tradition of Peter and the early Christians.  

We as humans have an obligation to honor our ancestors by carrying on their traditions even if only ceremoniously. This is what makes each and everyone of us unique. Your people on the other hand seem so ashamed of their culture that they abandoned the rich African traditions to embrace the European tradition, even embracing their religion. 

FM
Drugb posted:
caribny posted:

 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

As usual your retort is utter nonsense. Without the propagation of culture throughout the centuries where would we be today? Go tell that to the Jews who carry on their tradition from time immemorial.  Go buse down the pope and tell him that he shouldn't carry on the tradition of Peter and the early Christians.  

We as humans have an obligation to honor our ancestors by carrying on their traditions even if only ceremoniously. This is what makes each and everyone of us unique. Your people on the other hand seem so ashamed of their culture that they abandoned the rich African traditions to embrace the European tradition, even embracing their religion. 

Your original ancestors were people who derived out of Africa. Yes the ones with the penis sheath.  So if you are so into ancestry worship this is what you should do.  Parade down the street wearing nothing but a penis sheath and a bow and arrow.  This is the ancestor of 100% of the people on this planet.

I invite you to go tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they don't have a culture. In fact they often accuse Guyanese of lacking a culture and when I see people like you who are ASHAMED of the cultural creativity that Guyanese have been engaged in and you ignore this and you refuse to recognize this I can see why so many think the way that they do about Guyanese.

Now as to my "ancestors" Druggie which ones are there.  There is NOTHING called an "African". No "African" culture exists.  Some one from Senegal is extremely different from some one from Nigeria.  People derived from Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Ga, Ewe, Asante, Fon, Igbo, Ibibio, and numerous others were brought to Guyana.  

Druggie do not dishonor these diverse cultures by reducing it to wearing a dashiki.

And FYI Christianity reached India and Africa before it reached northern Europe.  Christianity was derived out of a Middle Eastern religion. It is NOT a "white man" religion.

 

FM
caribny posted:

Your original ancestors were people who derived out of Africa. Yes the ones with the penis sheath.  So if you are so into ancestry worship this is what you should do.  Parade down the street wearing nothing but a penis sheath and a bow and arrow.  This is the ancestor of 100% of the people on this planet.

I invite you to go tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they don't have a culture. In fact they often accuse Guyanese of lacking a culture and when I see people like you who are ASHAMED of the cultural creativity that Guyanese have been engaged in and you ignore this and you refuse to recognize this I can see why so many think the way that they do about Guyanese.

Now as to my "ancestors" Druggie which ones are there.  There is NOTHING called an "African". No "African" culture exists.  Some one from Senegal is extremely different from some one from Nigeria.  People derived from Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Ga, Ewe, Asante, Fon, Igbo, Ibibio, and numerous others were brought to Guyana.  

Druggie do not dishonor these diverse cultures by reducing it to wearing a dashiki.

And FYI Christianity reached India and Africa before it reached northern Europe.  Christianity was derived out of a Middle Eastern religion. It is NOT a "white man" religion.

 

These are all just a bunch of excuses to cover up your shame of the African roots. IndoGs will not nitpick in their choice of Indian clothing, as long as it looks pleasing and conveys the message that they are from Indian roots. Similarly the Dashiki has become a universally accepted African wear even among Africans. So haul your lying tail da side with your excuses. 

As for Christianity, you know very well that Christ is depicted universally as a white man. 

What cultural creativity are you prattling about? Why don't you just say AfroG cultural creativity, as there is no shared Guyanese culture per say across all 6 races. 

FM
Drugb posted:
 

These are all just a bunch of excuses to cover up your shame of the African roots. 

What cultural creativity are you prattling about? Why don't you just say AfroG cultural creativity, as there is no shared Guyanese culture per say across all 6 races. 

 I am proud of the African component of my creole culture. There are many in terms of our food preparation, speech patterns, music and dancing, etc.  Sorrel drink and the pepper sauce that you consume is AFRICAN! Bet you didn't know that.  Cooking with coconut milk is AFRICAN! Bet you didn't know that. And there are many other Africanisms.  Just look at the body language of Guyanese (including Indo Guyanese), Lots of arm waving and facial expressions. AFRICAN. 

When I was in college and I had a room mate for Ghana I used the term "stupidee stupidee" to describe some one. Who educated me of the fact that this was  a DIRECT translation from Twi.

In fact it is this component that makes a lie of the fact that you and other racists scream that blacks have no culture. 

And in fact you on a daily basis unwittingly engage in this Afro derived culture every time you use any Creolese expression.  Creolese is derived out of a form of pidgin English which was developed in West Africa.  The Africans "Africanized" English to suit their linguistic purposes and this language/dialect spread to the English speaking Caribbean where each society made their own adjustments.

So druggie the MAIN language of the vast majority of Indo Guyanese is an "Africanized" form of English. Yes this was developed so that the vast number of ethnic groups in various regions of Africa could communicate with each other, given that they didn't know each others languages.

Whenever Guyanese gather and sing Guyanese folks songs (Which EVERY Guyanese knows) there are singing Afro Caribbean music.  Why don't we also sing Indo Guyanese folks songs that we know exist. Because people like you are ashamed of every thing that is Indo Guyanese and want to slave behind pretending to be hidden, so few Guyanese are exposed to this songs. "Dis time nah lang time" is every bit as Guyanese as is "Hear Auntie Bess."  But you view this as "coolie culture" derived from illiterate peasants and so are ashamed of it!

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
caribny posted:

 I am proud of the African component of my creole culture. There are many in terms of our food preparation, speech patterns, music and dancing, etc.  Sorrel drink and the pepper sauce that you consume is AFRICAN! Bet you didn't know that.  Cooking with coconut milk is AFRICAN! Bet you didn't know that. And there are many other Africanisms.  Just look at the body language of Guyanese (including Indo Guyanese), Lots of arm waving and facial expressions. AFRICAN. 

When I was in college and I had a room mate for Ghana I used the term "stupidee stupidee" to describe some one. Who educated me of the fact that this was  a DIRECT translation from Twi.

In fact it is this component that makes a lie of the fact that you and other racists scream that blacks have no culture. 

And in fact you on a daily basis unwittingly engage in this Afro derived culture every time you use any Creolese expression.  Creolese is derived out of a form of pidgin English which was developed in West Africa.  The Africans "Africanized" English to suit their linguistic purposes and this language/dialect spread to the English speaking Caribbean where each society made their own adjustments.

So druggie the MAIN language of the vast majority of Indo Guyanese is an "Africanized" form of English. Yes this was developed so that the vast number of ethnic groups in various regions of Africa could communicate with each other, given that they didn't know each others languages.

Whenever Guyanese gather and sing Guyanese folks songs (Which EVERY Guyanese knows) there are singing Afro Caribbean music.  Why don't we also sing Indo Guyanese folks songs that we know exist. Because people like you are ashamed of every thing that is Indo Guyanese and want to slave behind pretending to be hidden, so few Guyanese are exposed to this songs. "Dis time nah lang time" is every bit as Guyanese as is "Hear Auntie Bess."  But you view this as "coolie culture" derived from illiterate peasants and so are ashamed of it!

 

No doubt there are some shared culture, but it is not uniform throughout the country.  In fact the case can be made that Indos did pick up some expressions from Afros, however limited, but especially those in the country area with little or no interaction with the GT Afros,  the impact was limited. 

You must be in a time warp, no one even knows those songs anymore.

FM
caribny posted:

So druggie the MAIN language of the vast majority of Indo Guyanese is an "Africanized" form of English. Yes this was developed so that the vast number of ethnic groups in various regions of Africa could communicate with each other, given that they didn't know each others languages.

In an extremely limited and localized way for Indo-Guyanese.

FM

Druggie we have a variety of creole cultures in Guyana and all operate on a continuum. People pick and chose which one or ones they wish, depending on context. NONE of us are exclusively of one culture. ALL of us borrow from other groups, involuntarily from our colonial masters and voluntarily from each other.

I can only wonder why Trinidadians are proud of this diversity (they being even more diverse than we are as they also have Spanish creole and Afro French creole elements).  They are proud of being a culture where the mosque, the Hindu temple and the Christian church exist side by side. Where an East Indian was instrumental in developing steel pan, a white Trini will gobble down a doubles and an Afro Trini will pick up a cuatro and sing parang at Xmas.

Druggie why do you negate societies like these and pretend as if cultural creativity doesn't happen?  The essence of Trinidad is the soca chutney parang which pulls together the three main musical traditions of that island.

Its the fact that Trinidad recognizes this to the extent that Guyana doesn't is why that society, despite having a similar ethnic mix, isn't stuck as is Guyana.  BOTH the PNM and the UNC must perform as neither can take their support base for granted.

And its not as if this cultural fusion and diversity doesn't also represent Guyana. I saw a group of Indo Guyanese American boys dancing some combination of chutney, hip hop, dance hall and soca.  I think that this is how they culturally define themselves.

As to religion 40% of Indians are now members of the two Middle Eastern religions (Christianity and Muslim) and there are now more Christian Indians than Muslim. Something tells me that the Indian Christians are more devout than are Indian Hindus, given that they are most often converts and were born as Hindus.  The Muslim population hasn't changed that much.

Druggie its the two Middle Eastern religions that are growing in Guyana, as more Indians become Christians and more non Indians become Muslims.  This is why the Muslim population hasn't changed that much even as the Indo population dwindles. 

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Prashad posted:

You can marry who ever you want because that is love but you must always keep your culture.

You cannot "keep" your culture if you marry someone from outside. Marriage necessitates compromise which means compromising culture.  The kids will be a blend or they will reject the culture which most limits their options and keeps them most isolated.

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:
caribny posted:

So druggie the MAIN language of the vast majority of Indo Guyanese is an "Africanized" form of English. Yes this was developed so that the vast number of ethnic groups in various regions of Africa could communicate with each other, given that they didn't know each others languages.

In an extremely limited and localized way for Indo-Guyanese.

A Nigerian can hear a group of Indo Guyanese and understand 90% of what they are saying. Bringing an India from India and they will wonder what sort of "African" language they are speaking, integrating not only the speech patterns but also the body language of Afro Caribbean people.

Those who scream that they "preserve" their culture fool themselves. Even India itself has changed drastically since 1880.

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8NLCsGWFZo

Folk Songs and Presidents of Guyana.

Published on Oct 20, 2010

Guyana Original Folk Songs Vol 03

My point exactly. Few Guyanese know that our folk traditions aren't limited to the Afro Guyanese, but there is also an Indo Guyanese input. Why aren't those songs promoted.  They certainly sing to themes that all Guyanese will be aware of given that we often live next door to one another and so aren't ignorant of what we do.

FM
caribny posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:
caribny posted:

So druggie the MAIN language of the vast majority of Indo Guyanese is an "Africanized" form of English. Yes this was developed so that the vast number of ethnic groups in various regions of Africa could communicate with each other, given that they didn't know each others languages.

In an extremely limited and localized way for Indo-Guyanese.

A Nigerian can hear a group of Indo Guyanese and understand 90% of what they are saying. Bringing an India from India and they will wonder what sort of "African" language they are speaking, integrating not only the speech patterns but also the body language of Afro Caribbean people.

Those who scream that they "preserve" their culture fool themselves. Even India itself has changed drastically since 1880.

Absolutely incorrect, Caribny.

During my university days when completing graduate, post graduate and advanced studies with a major in hydroelectric power developments, I have had the opportunity to make friends with numerous students from India, Africa and other parts of the world.

Granted a few localized expressions were new, we share the meanings of said words/expressions with each other.

However, communications were fluent between us; though at times with specific accents.

FM
caribny posted:.

I can only wonder why Trinidadians are proud of this diversity (they being even more diverse than we are as they also have Spanish creole and Afro French creole elements).  They are proud of being a culture where the mosque, the Hindu temple and the Christian church exist side by side. Where an East Indian was instrumental in developing steel pan, a white Trini will gobble down a doubles and an Afro Trini will pick up a cuatro and sing parang at Xmas.

Druggie why do you negate societies like these and pretend as if cultural creativity doesn't happen?  The essence of Trinidad is the soca chutney parang which pulls together the three main musical traditions of that island.

Its the fact that Trinidad recognizes this to the extent that Guyana doesn't is why that society, despite having a similar ethnic mix, isn't stuck as is Guyana.  BOTH the PNM and the UNC must perform as neither can take their support base for granted.

And its not as if this cultural fusion and diversity doesn't also represent Guyana. I saw a group of Indo Guyanese American boys dancing some combination of chutney, hip hop, dance hall and soca.  I think that this is how they culturally define themselves. 

Trinidad is a different animal, people live in much more close proximity to each other rather than as in Guyana where people are spread out and villages are still predominantly defined by being Indian or African. It is akin to saying that GT IndoG represent the Indian community across Guyana. Being from GT and growing up in a mixed village, I see distinct differences between Indos in GT vs the rest of the country. This may explain T&T where there is less isolation by race geographically. That is of course if what you are saying is correct about Trinis. I know some Trini Indians that hate Black Trinis, this goes against what you are peddling here about an integrated culture there. 

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:
to make friends with numerous students from India, Africa and other parts of the world.

Granted a few localized expressions were new, we share the meanings of said words/expressions with each other.

However, communications were fluent between us; though at times with specific accents.

Yes you spoke STANDARD English so understood one another.  If you spoke Creolese a Nigerian would understand after listening carefully. An Indian wouldn't have a clue.

 

FM
Drugb posted:
 

Trinidad is a different animal, people live in much more close proximity to each other rather than as in Guyana where people are spread out and villages are still predominantly defined by being Indian or African. It is akin to saying that GT IndoG represent the Indian community across Guyana. Being from GT and growing up in a mixed village, I see distinct differences between Indos in GT vs the rest of the country. This may explain T&T where there is less isolation by race geographically. That is of course if what you are saying is correct about Trinis. I know some Trini Indians that hate Black Trinis, this goes against what you are peddling here about an integrated culture there. 

Total nonsense. Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.   Guyanese are less geographically isolated from each other than are Trinidadians who occupy almost every square inch of their island.

An Afro Guyanese from Hopetown and Ithaca is radically different from one from G/T as well. So what is your point.  In fact many Indos in G/T have more in common with their black neighbors than they do with some one from the Corentyne. You being a case in point, even though your hatred of blacks is very evident.

White and black Americans really don't like each other but what BOTH understand is that there is an AMERICAN identity. Just get in a line in front of a working class black American and hold up the line because you don't speak fluent English.  The xenophobic reaction that you will see will make Trump proud. 

And as to white Americans. Interesting. I was just in the Caribbean on vacation and I was amazed by the numbers of white Americans who approached me as an American. I guess living here after a while there are certain mannerisms that one develops.  Back in the USA I will be a black person they will stay away from. Outside of the USA suddenly we are fellow Americans.

Trinidadians also have that sentiment, as do Jamaicans.

Face it we Guyanese don't. Some people still pretend that they live on the banks of the Ganges River and so are utterly alien from all the others sharing the Demerara and the Essequibo and the Berbice with them.  In actuality they aren't and it took rejection from Indians from India to learn this.  But even now they cannot admit this.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
caribny posted:

Yes you spoke STANDARD English so understood one another.  If you spoke Creolese a Nigerian would understand after listening carefully. An Indian wouldn't have a clue.

 

Incorrect again.

A few may not; but the large majority will; understand.

FM
caribny posted:

Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.

No road runs from Pomeroon to the Corentyne.

Rivers and streams separate the various areas.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Demerara_Guy posted:
caribny posted:

Yes you spoke STANDARD English so understood one another.  If you spoke Creolese a Nigerian would understand after listening carefully. An Indian wouldn't have a clue.

 

Incorrect again.

A few may not; but the large majority will; understand.

Indians certainly do NOT speak anything remotely resembling Creolese. While in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and parts of Cameroon they speak pidgin English (called Krio in Sierra Leone). 

The varieties spoken in the urban areas, where there is less influence of the indigenous languages, can be understand by Caribbean people in the same way as a Trinidadian can eventually figure out what a Jamaican is saying.  Fela (a Nigerian singer) used to sing in pidgin English. Nothing that a Caribbean person, including an Indo Guyanese wouldn't understand.

Deny it as you wish but the mother tongue of most Indo Guyanese is an adaptation of a form of English which developed in West Africa.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Demerara_Guy posted:
caribny posted:

Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.

No road runs from Pomeroon to the Corentyne.

Rivers and streams separate the various areas.

A bridge over Demerara and one over Berbice, and a ferry over the Essequibo which accommodates cars.  Now get back to me about all of these coastal Guyanese living in those isolated communities. 

You will soon be telling me that there are no highway systems in North America as many of these also cross over rivers.   The Interstate 95 runs from FL to Massachusetts, crossing over several rivers. It is ONE highway.

FM
caribny posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:
caribny posted:

Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.

No road runs from Pomeroon to the Corentyne.

Rivers and streams separate the various areas.

A bridge over Demerara and one over Berbice, and a ferry over the Essequibo which accommodates cars.  Now get back to me about all of these coastal Guyanese living in those isolated communities.

Nonetheless, no road starts from Pomeroon and ends at Corentyne River.

There is a ferry on the Essequibo river; but not a road which connects the main land of the the Essequibo coast, Wakenaam, Leguan. Bartica, etc.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
caribny posted:

Total nonsense. Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.   Guyanese are less geographically isolated from each other than are Trinidadians who occupy almost every square inch of their island.

An Afro Guyanese from Hopetown and Ithaca is radically different from one from G/T as well. So what is your point.  In fact many Indos in G/T have more in common with their black neighbors than they do with some one from the Corentyne. You being a case in point, even though your hatred of blacks is very evident.

White and black Americans really don't like each other but what BOTH understand is that there is an AMERICAN identity. Just get in a line in front of a working class black American and hold up the line because you don't speak fluent English.  The xenophobic reaction that you will see will make Trump proud. 

And as to white Americans. Interesting. I was just in the Caribbean on vacation and I was amazed by the numbers of white Americans who approached me as an American. I guess living here after a while there are certain mannerisms that one develops.  Back in the USA I will be a black person they will stay away from. Outside of the USA suddenly we are fellow Americans.

Trinidadians also have that sentiment, as do Jamaicans.

Face it we Guyanese don't. Some people still pretend that they live on the banks of the Ganges River and so are utterly alien from all the others sharing the Demerara and the Essequibo and the Berbice with them.  In actuality they aren't and it took rejection from Indians from India to learn this.  But even now they cannot admit this.

You are a poor ignorant soul, you know so little of IndoG culture, a clear indication that you grew up in an isolated BlackG environment with little or no interaction with IndoG other than to spit at them in scorn. 

You pretend that you know IndoG. These folks know nothing about the Ganges, you ask them about the Berbice or Mahaica, Courantyne or Demerara and they will reply in the affirmative. 

Your outlook on IndoGs is a function of the racist upbringing that you had in your isolated world of black power and putting the boot on the Indo head.

FM
Demerara_Guy posted:
.
 

Nonetheless, no road starts from Pomeroon and ends at Corentyne River.

There is a ferry on the Essequibo river; but not a road which connects the main land of the the Essequibo coast, Wakenaam, Leguan. Bartica, etc.

So the I-95 doesn't exist as it is a highway that is broken up by many rivers and bridges.

Listen it is easy to get from Essequibo coast to G/T so to argue that those people are isolated as druggie is trying to is plain stupidity.

FM
Drugb posted:
caribny posted:

.

Your outlook on IndoGs is a function of the racist upbringing that you had in your isolated world of black power and putting the boot on the Indo head.

You scoff at the notion of Guyanese cultural creativity.  You don't seem to think that there is anything worth celebrating that was created in Guyana. In fact you even scream that to talk of Guyanese cultural creativity is to talk of black people (who you accuse of lacking any culture).

Basically you negate any cultural creativity that Indo Guyanese have been involved with, so you clearly think that you live on the banks of the Ganges.

I am still waiting for an answer as to why every time we have a Guyanese cultural presentation the IndoG component is almost always very badly done Bollywood dancing, and not a portrayal of the IndoG culture that was created.

I stated that "Dis time nah lang time" is every bit as Guyanese as "Hear Auntie Bess".  So why isn't it recognized more? In fact Rickford Dalgetty when he was more active culturally used to sing this song loads of times and put it right within the context of Guyanese culture.

Thanks to your attitude the world actually thinks that chutney is a genre developed by Trinidadians and that Guyanese have nothing to do with it.  

I will leave aside the fact that you deny that there is cultural inter connectedness between different ethnic groups in Guyana. This cultural continuum that does exist you deny because you think that you live on the banks of the Ganges River and so have remained culturally unimpacted by the fact that Guyana is a multi ethnic and a multi cultural society.

FM

There is no one Guyanese culture but there are different combinations and continuums based on the fact that it was a British colony and based on the fact that the bulk of the population have their roots in India, various parts of West and West Central Africa, as well as among the peoples indigenous to the Americas.  And we have also some whose roots are in China and Portugal as well.

Druggie at some point EVERY Guyanese samples and has incorporated something that all of the 6 groups have been responsible for bringing. I already alluded to the fact that the dialect spoken by most IndoGs has more to do with the Niger River than it has to do with the Ganges.

But feel free to think that you belong to some isolated group bereft of all other cultural influences. Yes because you think you live on the Ganges River.

FM
caribny posted:
Demerara_Guy posted:

Nonetheless, no road starts from Pomeroon and ends at Corentyne River.

There is a ferry on the Essequibo river; but not a road which connects the main land of the the Essequibo coast, Wakenaam, Leguan. Bartica, etc.

So the I-95 doesn't exist as it is a highway that is broken up by many rivers and bridges.

Listen it is easy to get from Essequibo coast to G/T so to argue that those people are isolated as druggie is trying to is plain stupidity.

Read carefully, Caribny.

1. I-95 is absolutely unrelated to the topic.

2. Your statement is ...

caribny posted:

Over 85% of Guyanese live along one main road which starts on the Pomeroon and ends on the Corentyne River.

3. My statement is that there is no straight road from the Pomeroon to Corentyne River.

4. One can indeed state that there is a road with connecting bridges from the East Bank, Essequibo river to the Corentyne River.

5. Again, there is no direct road connection between Essequibo Coast and East Bank, Essequibo except by ferries and boats.

FM
caribny posted:
 
 

You scoff at the notion of Guyanese cultural creativity.  You don't seem to think that there is anything worth celebrating that was created in Guyana. In fact you even scream that to talk of Guyanese cultural creativity is to talk of black people (who you accuse of lacking any culture).

Basically you negate any cultural creativity that Indo Guyanese have been involved with, so you clearly think that you live on the banks of the Ganges.

I am still waiting for an answer as to why every time we have a Guyanese cultural presentation the IndoG component is almost always very badly done Bollywood dancing, and not a portrayal of the IndoG culture that was created.

I stated that "Dis time nah lang time" is every bit as Guyanese as "Hear Auntie Bess".  So why isn't it recognized more? In fact Rickford Dalgetty when he was more active culturally used to sing this song loads of times and put it right within the context of Guyanese culture.

Thanks to your attitude the world actually thinks that chutney is a genre developed by Trinidadians and that Guyanese have nothing to do with it.  

I will leave aside the fact that you deny that there is cultural inter connectedness between different ethnic groups in Guyana. This cultural continuum that does exist you deny because you think that you live on the banks of the Ganges River and so have remained culturally unimpacted by the fact that Guyana is a multi ethnic and a multi cultural society.

Your concept of culture is way too dated, from the Burnham days, a reflection of how long you have been away from Guyana. Ever since the culture has changed, if you go to Guyana you will see that the American culture has infiltrated. The most Guyanese idiosyncrasy you will recognize is when two aunty man having a fight and verbiage they use. 

What you old timers view as culture is no longer applicable today. 

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×