While, unfortunately, Guyana remains an ethnically and politically divided land, the celebration of Mashramani or Mash on Republic Day of each year is a breath of fresh air.
During the annual event, differences are forgotten, neighbours who may have quarreled often “make up,” and new friendships and relationships are often born. It’s as though on that day a spirit of friendship, sharing, and camaraderie envelopes Guyana.
The fact that no single group owns Mashramani may have something to do with the spirit of Mash, although Linden in Region # 10 is the birthplace of the celebration.
Mashramani was born out of an Independence Carnival in Mackenzie. The Jaycees — a humanitarian organisation of your people — of Linden had been organising the carnival since Guyana became independent in 1966.
When Guyana became a Republic in February 1970, they formed a Jaycees Republic Celebrations Committee. Batsman Basil Butcher was selected as Chairman but due to his being selected to tour Australia with the West Indies Cricket Team, Jim Blackman was appointed as the Deputy to carry on. A committee including resource personnel such as Wordsworth McAndrew, Arthur Seymour, and Adrian Thompson, began the organisation of the Republic Carnival activities.
The committee decided that a “Guyanese” name be adopted to replace the word “Carnival,and the search for a name began. Basil Butcher suggested that an Indigenous name be chosen. This was agreed to and several individuals including Mr. Allan Fiedtkou, an Indigenous man, were contacted. Mr. Fiedtkou held discussions with his grandfather who explained a type of Festival that was held by Amerindians whenever they gather to celebrate a special event. This event he said was like “Muster Many” (or Mashirimehi in Amerindian) and sounded in Arawak like Mashramani. Steps were taken to confirm this. Adrian Thomson concluded that since no one could have confirmed or denied that the Arawak word for Festival was Mashramani, then the Festival could be called Mashramani.
On February 23, 1970 the Festival called “Mashramani” was a huge success with people drawn from all Regions of Guyana to Linden welcoming Guyana’s status as a republic with over three days of frolic and fun.
Eventually, then President Forbes Burnham gave approval for Mashramani to be a National Event for Guyana’s Republic Day celebration.
Over the years, Mashramani became a nationwide celebration with the main activities being held in Georgetown.
Such activities include drumming, pageants, consumption of Indigenous foods and drinks, and numerous other social and cultural events.
Many Guyanese — Observing that the spirit of Mashramani seems to erase barriers and close gaps — if only for one day, wonder why Guyanese cannot maintain that unity every other day of the year.
