By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
In celebration of Black History Month, the spotlight has been cast on Janelle Persaud, a dynamic Guyanese media and communications specialist whose latest project, “Before Us: Capturing Ancestral Wisdom in the Rupununi,” has secured a prestigious grant from the Caribbean Culture Fund (CCF).
Selected as one of only two Guyanese grantees in the CCF’s Cohort 3, Persaud’s initiative is part of a $400,000 regional pool aimed at using art and culture as a catalyst for social change.
Preserving the “Firelight Tales” in a Digital Age
Persaud, a native of Lethem, Region 9, launched the project to address a growing disconnect between the younger generation and their heritage. She observed that the traditional practice of families gathering around fires to share oral histories is fading, replaced by modern technology and shifting communication habits.
- The Goal: To document and safeguard the lived experiences and traditional knowledge of elders in the Rupununi.
- The Format: The project will produce a printed booklet for national archives and a series of multimedia documentaries (90 seconds or longer) to be shared on digital platforms like YouTube.
- Pilot Areas: The initial phase will focus on five sub-districts in the Rupununi, capturing tales ranging from ancestral healing practices to the history of the Rupununi Uprising.
A Career Built on Excellence
Janelle Persaud’s trajectory is a testament to resilience and strategic growth. After overcoming personal tragedies in her youth, she built a career spanning over two decades in the Guyanese media landscape.
- Academic Roots: She holds a BSc in International Relations from the University of Guyana and previously served within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Corporate Leadership: She spent several years at ExxonMobil Guyana, where her work ethic earned her a promotion to Media and Communications Manager in under three years.
- Entrepreneurship: She is the founder of Cacique Consulting, a firm named in honor of her grandmother’s guesthouse. The consultancy helps local companies navigate the modern economy and assists international players in understanding Guyanese cultural sensitivities.
Project Snapshot: “Before Us”
| Detail | Information |
| Grant Amount | US$10,000 (part of the $400k CCF total fund) |
| Theme | Art for Change (Multimedia Category) |
| Lead Artist | Janelle Persaud |
| Mission | Safeguarding Rupununi ancestral wisdom |
| Outputs | Digital documentaries and a printed archival booklet |
“Everyone is so busy with their phones… so I am like, okay, how can we capture the knowledge so that we know who we are as people? And how can we meet the younger people where they are so they can understand it?” — Janelle Persaud
