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The Society for African Guyanese Empowerment – Buxton (SAGE Buxton) in collaboration with others, on Sunday, celebrated the 96th birth anniversary and impact of the life of Guyanese icon, Eusi Kwayana.
Several persons gathered in a socially distanced setting at Tipperary Hall, Buxton to listen to poetry, songs, steel pan and drum renditions, a libation ceremony and numerous persons who recounted his countless contributions to Guyana. Representatives of SAGE thanked Kwayana for his empowerment of African Guyanese in Guyana and the diaspora and for continuing, even in age, to be their teacher and mentor.
Meanwhile, remarks on behalf of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) came from its Chairman, Vincent Alexander. He said that Kwayana is an “African Guyanese beacon” who helps to guide the lives of current Guyanese and his legacy will do the same for future Guyanese.
Alexander said that the ideas shared by Kwayana have always been timely and relevant to the time in which he shared them. Giving an example, he drew attention to the 1999 doctrine of Kwayana that there is ‘no guilty race’ which came to Guyana during a period of tense political and ethnic impasse. Kwayana’s message respected the interest of both the Afro and Indo Guyanese.
Kwayana is also a lyricist, poet, playwright, former politician, author, educator, former primary school teacher, statesman, law-maker and former Member of Parliament (MP). Also delivering remarks was Professor Stafford A. Griffith, former Vice-Chancellor, Principal of Five Islands Campus in Antigua, University of the West Indies (UWI). “Brother Eusi was more than a teacher, he was an educator in the broader sense of life and was a tremendous source in counselling young people,” Professor Griffith said. “I’m hoping that given the role that Brother Eusi has played in the growth and development of Buxton that we will make him a central figure in the continued education of Buxtonians and indeed Guyanese across the country.” Throughout the ceremony, there was a pride expressed for African heritage and those who spoke encouraged African Guyanese to remain informed about the contribution of their fore-parents and live their lives to become a positive influence to others. Guyanese were also encouraged to use technology and other resources in reach to develop their communities.
