Call Me Guyanese
Guyana, Guyana, my Country, the place I call home; a land of a rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, flowing with many waters. Our rich culture is a melting pot of six (6) ethnic groups who came to the shores of Guyana at different points in our history.
As such, we are a land of six (6) people comprising the:
• Indigenous people (Amerindians)
• Africans
• Portuguese
• East Indians
• Chinese
• Europeans
These ethnic groups brought to Guyana with them unique individual cultures that over the years fused to develop into our now colourful Guyanese Culture. Just take for instances, Pepperpot, a traditional Amerindian dish, has now become a Guyanese custom/ tradition to eat during the Christmas season. Christmas would not be Christmas in Guyana without a taste of Pepperpot.
Another Guyanese custom is at the dawn of a New Year, it is traditional to prepare Cook-up, a traditional African dish. Our cultural diversity has also produced a rich variety of festivals (such as Diwali), celebrations, and development of the preforming arts, inclusive of Masqueraders. In addition, the fusing of our different backgrounds has established a form of broken English which we speak (besides Standard English), called Guyanese Creole.
In essence, what this all means is that Guyana is a land of unique diversity that makes us one. Our acceptance of each other despite our religions, despite our backgrounds has developed us into who we are now — A Guyanese.
Guyana is still growing, with hurdles to overcome. However, despite these difficulties, what we must hold to, and stand firm in, is that we are Guyanese first. God Bless Guyana, the place I call home, a land of six people, making strides with hope for a brighter tomorrow.
C.R.Bascom
