– hails revival of Guyana Prize for Literature, other initiatives
By Jarryl Bryan Professor
Advances being made by Guyana in terms of improving the creative industry have been lauded by one of Guyana’s most accomplished scholars and authors: Professor David Dabydeen, now based in the United Kingdom (UK), an intellectual who has expressed optimism at the direction Guyana’s burgeoning creative and film industries are going, and one who has welcomed recent discussions around copyright legislation.
In a sit-down with this publication, Professor Dabydeen spoke on the advances being made in Guyana’s creative industry — which include return of the Guyana Prize for Literature and plans for a national film commission.
Professor Dabydeen has said these are important steps that Guyana is making in the right direction. “The present Minister of Culture has decided to kind of resurrect the cultural landscape of Guyana, and what he has done is to revive the Guyana Prize. For some reason, it lapsed in five years. And he’s also extended the Guyana Prize to young people, and one for girls and one for boys; so, there’s equality there. They’ve also expanded it to non-fiction, and, finally, a festival of Guyanese literature. And then he’s also paying for the performers of plays. Normally, if they win the Guyana Prize, it would be on a shelf collecting dust. So, that is a good beginning, but of course, it is a beginning,” Professor Dabydeen has said.
Acknowledging that hurdles remain, such as access to publishing opportunities, he recalled that he had held a class with young drama students five years ago at the University of Guyana (UG). According to the Professor, he was left impressed by what he had seen and heard, and he praised Guyana’s pool of creative talent.
“I must say there were about six or seven people who turned up. Very good! They were really good! They have a commitment to their passion and an ability to write. So, I’m very optimistic, especially in the field of drama,” Dabydeen has said.
“People write very fine short stories here. Maybe the vehicles for publication are not here, so maybe that is one impediment: that young people don’t have a path for publishing,” he explained.
Growing prominence
Dabydeen’s comments come on the heels of Guyana’s growing prominence on the global stage; and that is not just for oil and gas. For instance, Guyana has since attracted to its shores Guyanese-born actress Letitia Wright, who starred as Shuri in both of the blockbuster Black Panther movies.
Following the success of the ‘Bad Boys’ movie, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, actor Jacob Scipio, who played the son of Lawrence’s character and who has Guyanese roots, also recently visited and made promises to help develop the local film industry.
Other prominent celebrities, such as Gordon Ramsay, Dylan Efron and Saint John, have all showcased a different side of Guyana to a global audience.
Jamaican dancehall stars Nigy Boy and Kraff have also chosen Guyana as the filming destination of choice for some of their latest music.
