By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
Highlight: An array of artistic and cultural displays at Whirlwind Village; Indigenous booths put on a show of cuisines and beverages.
Several booths at the National Exhibition Site in Sophia, Georgetown, did not hesitate to display their cultural heritage and liveliness on Tuesday, making the Whirlwind Village the epicentre of indigenous cuisine, beverages and crafts.
When Nightly News visited these booths, the exhibitors were excited to be a part of this year’s celebrations of Amerindian Heritage Month.
Although patrons were trickling in, Mary Joseph of Moraikobai Village in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) did not hesitate to show Nightly News the famous Indigenous delicacies and beverages such as cassava bread, bush cow, tuma, piwari, and potato wine, which is commonly known by the Guyanese parlance “fly wine”.
Joseph explained that she works in the food industry.
“This is my living. “I like doing it,” she happily said.
Additionally, Marjorie of Santa Rosa Village, Moruca (Region One – Barima Waini), had a booth with Indigenous drinks and treats, potato wine, and cassava bread.
A young businessman from the village of Moraikobai (Region 5) named Allan, who was featured on Nightly News, stated that he and his mother are excited to take part in this year’s Heritage Month festivities.
The young man said that later in the afternoon, patrons can try the famous kebab bush cow, wild hog, labba and tuma.
“Each year I would be at the heritage village … every single year,” he divulged.
Pinky and her mom, who hails from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and is from the Macushi Nation, said that patrons are enjoying the roasted Haimara and beef tuma.
Other delicacies such as farine, roasted fish and wild hog were also on display.
There were other booths which showcased similar delicacies.
Notably, Nightly News interacted with Guyana’s first Indigenous aviator, Ovid Williams, who expressed elation at participating in this year’s Heritage Month activities.
Indigenous Heritage Month activities culminate on September 30 with a talent display by the nation’s first peoples. This year’s theme is “Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress, Advancing Our Culture”.
