Mashramani Masquerade Competition illuminates Plaisance

The 2017 Mashramani calendar of activities continued with the annual Masquerade Competition on Sunday, which illuminated the community of Plaisance, on the East Coast of Demerara, as revellers flounced through the streets. Masquerade bands from across Guyana gathered just outside Georgetown to showcase their colourful costumes and ritualistic moves, as they competed within several categories in this year’s Masquerade Competition.
A total of six bands, including groups from Demerara, Essequibo and Linden, paraded from the Railway Embankment, through the streets and into the Plaisance Community Centre Ground. The bands were greeted by Judges, scrutinising detailed aspects of their floats, to derive winners for the various categories. Bands were judged on the best flounce, best music and best overall band among other criteria.
The event is an annual display organised by the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. The Department organised this event several years ago as one of the numerous activities to complement Guyana’s Mashramani celebrations. It also recognises the work of those famous for their contributions to the art form. This year Rudolph “Putagee” Viveros was honoured, with the parade commencing at his residence. The masquerade icon joined in the procession on Sunday.
The organiser of the competition, Linda Griffith, gave an overview of the origins of the event as well as the history of masquerade in Guyana. Griffith explained that masquerade transcended plantation society, as one of the many traditions the Africans brought with them.
The enslaved Africans masqueraded for the entertainment of the plantation masters but used this opportunity to imitate and ridicule the planters in their performances. A reveller representing Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) also expounded on the roots of the art form, stating that masquerade parades were celebrations after gaining freedom from the inhumane life of the plantation system.
The display on Sunday highlighted both the historical features of masquerade while commemorating Guyana’s Republic celebrations – Mashramani. Residents and other members of the public were drawn to the parade by the bright Guyanese colours and flounce of the revellers as they proudly traversed the streets.