Promoters going it alone
With ideas to showcase and honour Guyanese musicians and create a network, major financial sacrifices and the backing of 21 Guyanese artistes from 13 countries in the diaspora; the Guyana Artistic Music Awards sounds like an excellent package. Its sponsorship package deal offers are relative as compared to the many mega shows that featured no show international artistes. But this idea being sold by Canada based promoter Sherlock Shepherd and his team is not getting the support that it should have gotten from Corporate Guyana nor local promoters, entertainers and to a lesser extent the local media.
Thus far there are no sponsors and this publication understands that the lone sponsor that was on board pulled out at the last minute.
That is not all, even some of the local artistes who have been listed as possible honorees have not responded favourably, and they often complain that they are not getting recognition. According to Shepherd this is not because of any negative vibe on his group’s part. ” We believe that there is as deliberate attempt to frustrate this effort by persons known and unknown but we will persevere and prove ourselves as genuine people who believe in honouring and celebrating our own while they are alive with no strings attached. America and Canada and most countries do it so on Saturday April 25we will; come what may, Shepherd said.
As the countdown to the first annual Guyana Musical Splash and the Guyana Artistic Music Awards continue the promoter is reporting that there are some teething problems but they are assuring that the “show must and will go on”.
“We thought this would have been easy and Guyana; corporate and otherwise would have bought into it but with a few days to go we have no response,” Shepherd said
They have thus far invested a tardy sun and are still spending to make this happen even as we await sponsorship. We had one which pulled out at the last minute but we are not fazed we believe that the public will support their own.” He personally refuses to conclude that “Guyanese don’t believe in their own because the artistes are all here as a sign of support for networking and honouring our own and its now up to the public to come out to the National Culture Centre on Saturday April 25 and show solidarity.
Meanwhile several more Guyana born artistes based in Canada and the USA have arrived and are optimistic that they will get the local support to build a Guyanese music network.
Yesterday, this publication met with Redemption, Kapa Shanti, Cyborg, Yontte Hooper and Donna Makeeda; some of the artistes and they are all excited about being back home and about the events.
Donna Makeeda back after 11years…ready to network and share music
Canada based Donna Makeeda a singer and magazine producer grew up and has won several international awards for her musical abilities in Kwakwani but she has not been home in 11 years. “I’ve live in Canada for quite a while but there is no place like home so I’m home to perform for my people,” she said yesterday.
She said when she heard of the idea for the awards and the Guyana Musical Splash she became excited and encouraged that someone has taken on the mantle to create a network for musicians and also honour their own on home soil.
She said she is encouraged by the music she hears coming out of Guyana and added that back in the day “we did not have that many studios and artistes popping up but this I believe will ensure that locals and Guyanese artistes internationally are honoured and encouraged. So my being her is two fold: to promote my music and to also promote the idea of the need for a united music industry where we can network to all our benefit.”
She is asking for local officials to realise the talent Guyana possess and harness it in a regulated industry where stake holders get their just deserts.
Kapa shanti gives up Germany show to come home after 24 years
US based Guyanese singer Kapa Shanti aged 35 has not been home since 1986 and the former Craig East Bank Demerara resident said “Guyana is like the closest thing to heaven and the people are really warm and friendly, its feels great to be home.”
Speaking to this publication yesterday he said he was on a card to perform in Germany with other artistes but cleared his calendar after he heard of the Guyana Musical Splash. “I’m ready to perform and give my people a taste me as I also experience the local boys, girls and veterans that are resident here.
The Guyana Musical Splash caught my attention first then when I heard of the Awards I said this is historical and come what may I’ve got to be in Guyana and here I am to perform, hopefully win an award and also build the networking bridge for Guyanese music,” the elated artiste said.
In his musical career thus far he has produced one album titled Kapa Shanti as well as a mix tape and is currently working on a single as well as a few music videos. Of Guyanese music he said though it has not hit mainstream he likes the sounds coming out of his homeland and hopes that local artistes do not loose faith that one day the relevant legislation will be in place to their benefit. I’m not an authority on music but based on my interaction thus far with my Guyanese brothers and sisters in the entertainment struggle I found that they repeatedly say that their music is being shelved and ignored by radio and television Deejays for foreign music.
In his appeal he said “our music and its stake holders will only be able to develop, maintain their families, be encouraged to produce more at a better standard and quality and hit main stream if we create a demand. This is done by making the music popular Deejays please make an extra effort to help your own.” He also encouraged Guyanese to come out on April 23 and 25 and be part of the start of a Guyanese musical revolution.
Redemption ready to redeem
With a name like Redemption US based reggae artistes Colin Nigel Simpson said he is home to support this “all Guyanese effort- the Guyana Artistic Music Awards.” The Lindener who became popular in Georgetown as the singing ital seller said too that he’s excited about the idea of “Guyanese honouring Guyanese in the music industry on home soil.” Reflecting he had his share of “fight downs” in his efforts to get studio time at home, not because he couldn’t sing but because he did not have the right linkage.
The positive vibes artiste who has an album out titled ‘Redemption: Good Health Long life’ expressed the hope that this event helps to confirm to all the studios, artistes and music producers “that fighting down artistes and sidelining them does not help to build an industry and we need to unite to charter a way forward so we can actually reap the benefits and create a Guyanese network.” He said too that he fully supports the GAMA and that’s we he came home. “I’m a firm believer that we as Guyanese peoples are talented and can make this work. This is an event to build on and we will reflect on in years to come.
“It’s a great idea to give people flowers while they are alive and so I’m on the boat in the interest of the development of the Guyanese music industry as an artiste,” says Sherlock Whyte, aka Daddy Rusty.