Guyana shines at Festival de Guianas 2025 stage

History was made as Guyana left a resounding impression at the Festival de Guianas 2025, which was held from August 1–3 in Nickerie, Suriname.
The Festival de Guianas brought together delegations from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, in a vibrant display of regional unity and cultural exchange. Guyana’s presence was a bold showcase of its rich heritage, creativity and diversity, leaving a lasting impression on regional and international audiences.
The Guyanese delegation, led by the Together We Win Business Network, in collaboration with Unique Art Entertainment, overcame last-minute preparations and logistical challenges to deliver a truly outstanding performance.
Speaking in a recent telephone interview, visionary leader Kelton Jennings, who spearheaded the team, shared the journey of leading a cohort of artists to another country to proudly showcase Guyanese culture through art.
“My passion has always been to travel the world and entertain – to let people see the talents of our youth, to kick down doors so others can walk through. My goal is to develop and enhance hidden talent. That has been my passion since I was a teenager,” he said. Jennings emphasised that the entire production was a team effort involving all participants.
“We express ourselves on stage. We create. We live in creation. We literally enter our own world where we build ideas and illusions. This production wasn’t just my doing – everyone sat together to brainstorm our next moves. The majority of the work was done by the youngsters, teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18, from Queen’s College and the Riverside Angels,” he shared.
One participant Adriel Thompson amongst others, was also highlighted.
“We have a supporter, Mr Thompson, who is doing all of our writing. We also have our own camera guy and a stilt walker with us. To be honest, the experience has been amazing.”
Two dedicated parents also joined the journey, lending their unwavering support.
“We had two parents on board – the parents of the Queen’s College students. They’ve been helping with costumes and cooking our meals here.”
Despite the tight timeline, the Guyanese team rose to the occasion.
Unique Art Entertainment took the lead in curating and delivering powerful cultural performances that wowed audiences – from traditional music and dance to theatrical and visual presentations that reflected the nation’s identity and pride.
The event offered a platform to promote cross-cultural collaboration, tourism and regional friendship. Guyana’s participation was hailed as one of the highlights of the festival. Amidst all of the positive remarks the delegation experienced, behind the scenes weren’t easy. The Guyanese delegation’s resilience, passion and professionalism stood out as a testament to the strength and spirit of the country’s creative sector. Their successful representation underscored Guyana’s commitment to cultural diplomacy and its readiness to command the regional stage – even under pressure. Representatives included: Elizabeth Davis from Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD); Jenesia Rodney and Adriel Thompson from Linden; Kelsey Vyphius from Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Makala Glasgow from Bagotstown, EBD; Leahna Emmanuel from Leonora, WCD; Jahzarra Ramdat from Farm, EBD; Inezi Emmanuel from Leonora, West Bank Demerara (WBD); Janae Seepersaud from Parfaite Harmony, WBD; Omali Adams from New Amsterdam; stilt walker Abdul Waddle from Zeelugt, WBD; photographer Kelton Jennings; creative director Venus Seepersaud from Georgetown; and Zoisa Fraser from Farm, EBD.