Sweet Steelpan music rocks CASH in pre-mash jump up
MASH-2012 - Steel Bands at CASH
Sweet, sweet steelpan music echoed through the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) last Sunday evening (February 19), as the 2012 Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-o-rama Steel Band Competition delivered in full throttle, another evening of splendid metallic symphony under its “Power to make a difference” banner.
The night’s events which were hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Russell Lancaster, and begun with the subtle sounds of the Belladrum Community Band and the Shemroy Anthony Programme which performed the classic Bob Marley tune, ‘By the rivers of Babylon’ in memory of a youth who had lost his life to violence in his community and whose name was the band’s title. [more]
— Post#1132
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FEBUARY 23RD IS MASHRAMANI IN GUYANA
Mashramani is a Country wide annual celebration in observance of the anniversary of the Republic. This is a relatively new tradition was started on Feb 23rd 1970, when Guyana became a republic
It is probably the most colorful of all the festivals. There are spectacular costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands, and dancing in the streets to the accompaniment of steel band music and calypsos.
Masquerades frequent the streets performing acrobatic dance routines, a vivid reminder of Guyana’s African heritage. Calypso competitions with their witty social commentaries are another integral part of “Mash”, and this culminates in the coronation of King or Queen for that year. The word Mashramani is Amerindian in origin and means “the celebration of a job well done”.
This festival originated in Linden in 1966 to celebrate independence. However, it was agreed that the festival would become a national one to celebrate the Republican Anniversary and in 1972 it became a national event and for the first time in 1973 it was controlled and organized by the Government of Guyana.
HISTORY OF MASHRAMANI
Jimmy Hamilton formerly of Linden and the Bauxite Industry and “is credited as a founder of this festival” had this to say on “Mashramani”
“The word Mashramani was spelt that way by me, because that is how it sounded. But let me go back a bit. The Junior Chamber of Greater Mackenzie started celebrating the Independence of Guyana with a Trinidad type Carnival, which was intended to keep the free spending bauxite workers and their families within the mining town. When it was announced in 1969 that Guyana would become a Republic in February 1970, the Mackenzie chapter, in keeping with the Government’s Socialist agenda, which excluded the monarchy, decided to Guyanise the celebrations. Jour Ouvert became fo-daymawnin jump-up. Ole Mas became the Revolt Dance and the Calypso Contests became the Shanto Contest. The search then began for a name to replace Carnival Queen. It was during this time that we contacted every known source for an appropriate name. It was sometime in November 1969 that Basil Butcher, Chairman of the celebrations committee, suggested that we look for an Amerindian name. Several persons were contacted including Mr. Albert Fiedtkou, who at that time was an instrument man with a geological team of the Demerara Bauxite Company. Mr. Fiedtkou, who had just returned from an exploration mission in the interior informed us that he can’t think of anything, but he was visiting his grandfather, who lived somewhere in Malali, Upper Demerara River, and he promised to find out if there is any Amerindian festivity that will suit our purpose. On his return a week or two later, Mr. Fiedtkou said the ‘old man’ remembers an Arawak festival that was something like ‘muster many’ but in Arawak language sounded like Mash-ra-mani. An example, he said, was like when a young couple was getting married, the men would go hunting and fishing for meat, while the women and children will be busy preparing Piwari and sleepy tonic and gathering materials for building a benab. When the men returned, the benab will be built, the meat prepared and the entire village and surrounding neighbours travelling by trail or canoe will congregate and the celebration will begin. This story prompted me to declare ‘hey that’s a celebration after a co-operative effort, ideal for the co-op Republic of Guyana.’ The Committee agreed, but subsequent efforts to qualify the word and its meaning proved futile. It was Mr. Adrian Thompson, the late historian, who confirmed the use of the word with these final remarks “I don’t know of the word and its meaning, but I suspect no one else does, therefore go ahead and use it.” Mashramani was born, and the 1970 celebrations were a huge success.”
[Jimmy or James Hamilton is part of my family tree. Anne {Pearl Anne} Allicock/ James Hamilton- Children: Keino, Anastasia.
Anne Allicock is the daughter of Clinton Allicock {DOB 4/17/1915} and Elsa Griffith and is descending from the two children John and Charles Allicock of Robert Frederick Allicock owner of Plantation Noitgedacht/ Retrieve-died 1822]
Albert Fiedtkou is my family and belongs to the Fiedtkou family linage.
Basil Fitzherbert Butcher (born September 3, 1933, Port Mourant, British Guiana (now Guyana)) is a former West Indian cricketer who played in 44 Tests from 1958 to 1969. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970. Basil Butcher’s wife was one of the kindness and sweetest person I knew and was my good friend when she ran their Sports and hardware store on Arvida Road, now called Republic Avenue.
Regarding the use of the word Muster or “Musta” as it was called by the family.
When I was a child in Upper Demerara, the Churches in the riverain area were used as a meeting area to conduct personal and public business.
The famous Musta were agreed on after Church Service. “Musta” is a cooperative effort of others to band together and help another in a specific task. All was assured help in this manner by each individuals taking turns.”
They agreed to band together in a co-op and assisted each other with major work like cutting a farm, construction and extensive manual labor. They would take turns helping each other in this manner. The person receiving the help was responsible for providing meals. This was a very successful way around many enormous tasks and it also cemented healthy relationships
Dmitri Allicock
I find this article to be quite informative, I was chosen in 1972 to be the Mash Queen, and wonder why there is no compilation which included the ladies who represented this festival in the beginning. They are a part of Mash’s history as well.