50th Anniversary literary festival launched

In commemoration of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary as a nation, the Academic Working Group (AWG) of the National Commemoration Commission (NCC) on Wednesday launched the literary festival activities, which includes a national symposium series and a digital tent.
Director of Culture and chairperson of the AWG, Dr James Rose explained that the digital tent, which will take the form of a website, would be capturing Guyana’s history and culture over the past half century.
Dr James noted that several activities would be held in keeping with the festival, including 50 days and 50 night of literature.
“There will be 50 sessions of interfacing with 50 communities, we have completed 23 sessions thus far and have 27 more by this end of the month,” Dr Rose explained, adding that, “a series of playwright workshop will be held in Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara in line of the literary festival”.
Dr Vibert Cambridge, Professor Emeritius, of Media Arts & Studies Scripps College of Communication, spoke of the significant amount of work that was put into the website by way of cooperation between the students of the University of Guyana and their counterparts from the Ohio University.
Archivist Nadia Carter expressed excitement over the website which she said would allow Guyanese and others at home and abroad to access information on Guyana’s history.
Carter noted the website was still in its demo format as additions are being made, but would soon be available.
The website is said to have a similar format of ancestry.com and will be rich in Guyanese history and music.
Interviews with various public figures over the past five decades are also expected to be uploaded.