Celebrating African Fashion… Main St. Emancipation village offers clothing galore

Jul 30, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....ers-clothing-galore/

As Guyana prepares to celebrate 179 years of Emancipation on Tuesday, Main Street, Georgetown has been transformed into a shopping arcade of specifically afro-centric clothing and accessories.

Since last week Monday, seamstresses, craft producers and vendors erected tents to sell clothing, beaded jewellery and African-Guyanese food and beverages.

Seamstresses came out with tie-dyed and African print materials to create head wraps, dresses, skirts, shirts, pants and even swimwear to entice buyers.

There were also distinctively patterned fabrics significant to African countries on sale.

Persons who were not eager to purchase sought advice on how to create head wraps and how to secure accessories for clothing they had already.

Then there were others who purchased matching outfits for their wives, husbands and children.

Beverly, a seamstress, had some unique garments on display.

She sews the majority of her clothing and even offered to sew a top on site for a young lady who wanted something to go with a pair of leggings. The woman explained that although sales were not good, she was pleased with her efforts thus far.

Her outfits were reasonably priced. A woman could have got an entire outfit of either a dress, jumpsuit or skirt suit for $6,000.

It was observed that sellers exchanged contact information with shoppers who desired authentic garments and hand-painted fabrics.

Shoppers requested contact numbers from seamstresses just in case they required someone to sew a desired piece of clothing.

It was evident that 76-year-old Yvonne O’Donoghue was enjoying her first experience. With a bright smile, Ms. O’Donoghue, a knitter and seamstress related that she specializes in hats, tote bags, swimwear and much more.

Meagan King, the owner of King’s Creation, explained that Ms. O’Donoghue is one of her students who she began training about a year ago.

Juliana Hughes from ‘JAH Works’ had a collection of necklaces made from natural seeds on display. She said that the company is co-owned by her husband, Wesley James, and they are on a mission to make Guyana’s natural resources marketable. According to Hughes, “Natural resources are not just what are under the ground. We have a lot of natural resources that are above the ground.”

Hughes disclosed that she was out there to impart her craft to the nation and explained that some of the items she had on display were made respectively from velvet, buck bead, flamboyant, stinking toe and locust seeds.

While Hughes loves working with seeds, she said that it is much more difficult since the process involves a lot of drilling.

She however related that this aspect of the work is done by her husband.

Hughes tries to keep her work as natural as possible and said that she rarely incorporates painting.

She has also worked with natural fibres to create crochet necklaces.

“In this period it is noticeable that a lot of the choker and Egyptian collars are being worn. So I am imparting by crochet ability in that area.”

In 2010, Hughes received a UNESCO Award of Excellence for handicraft.

Most of the vendors said they were satisfied with the revenues earned and that they will continue vending during the morning hours of Emancipation Day to cater for last minute shopper

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

East Africa foods reminds me very much of Guyana East Indian food.

Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

Bai, how can you make this statement? Have you given up on partitioning Guyana so the dalit coolies can live in peace?

Skeldon man I still believe in an independent country for Guyanese East Indians, Douglas who embrace their Indian heritage and Allies of the Guyanese East Indian people as the only way forward to grow and develop as a people but that does not mean Prashad cannot see that our Dravidian ancestors originally came from East Africa.

Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

A few years ago the Africans who lived in Guyana were laughing at this. As one said you cannot go mixing Congolese attire with that of Senegal.

Leave that where it is. We are a creole people with strong African elements existing within this culture. Nothing wrong with wearing African inspired attire provided that we know that this doesn't exist in Africa itself.

Prashad posted:

East Africa foods reminds me very much of Guyana East Indian food.

Virtually no one was brought from East Africa to Guyana.

Prashad posted:

Skeldon man I still believe in an independent country for Guyanese East Indians, 

Your wife doesn't believe in it though, and I suspect your kids agree with her.

THis RACIST DAAG frequently come here and talk his ignorant crap about Afro Guyanese not concern with their african heritage and that Indians are clannish. He is nothing but Afro Ian Smith and a DUMB one at that!!!!!

caribny posted:

A few years ago the Africans who lived in Guyana were laughing at this. As one said you cannot go mixing Congolese attire with that of Senegal.

Leave that where it is. We are a creole people with strong African elements existing within this culture. Nothing wrong with wearing African inspired attire provided that we know that this doesn't exist in Africa itself.

The problem is that you and your brothers don't support your culture. Look how jackass Granger tell customs to tax Indians when they bring in Indian attire.  Meanwhile a man can bring in a dashiki and even the bum on the street would not wear it.  Yall Afros fully adapted the white man's culture and abandoned your own. 

Drugb posted:

The problem is that you and your brothers don't support your culture. 

And what is my culture? Just know that there is NO SUCH thing as "African" culture.  Nigeria, one country, has hundreds of ethnic groups, all with their own cultures.  When you go from Senegal to Angola, regions from where enslaved peoples were taken to the Caribbean thousands of cultures exist.  This is what Africans are trying to tell you.

I know that Afro Guyanese have their own culture which was developed over the 350 years of being in Guyana.  A blend of many cultures all pulled together within a Caribbean context.

I feel sorry that you think that your version of Caribbean culture lacks validity that you must make yourself look like a laughing stock to people from India.  You are not and will never be culturally the same as the people of India.  I know for a fact that you aren't walking down any street in G/T dressed like Mahatma Gandhi.  You will be wearing the same western clothes just like every one else in Guyana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-jU5l33ljg

This is for druggie.  Play this in front of people from India and guess what their reaction will be.

Druggie we are all some sort of creole.  The notion that any Guyanese of any Trinidadian maintains the ancestral culture is hogwash.  What we have is mishmash of all who we encounter.

From the red dye you know what day it was yet I see no one dressed in any attire that is different from how others dress in the Caribbean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEExTelTjk

Not only is there no difference in how the groups dress but it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell who is of which group from the distance if they are dark or their hair is cut low.

Cultural deviation was the norm for the suppressed who had no choice but to adapt to what we know today as the norm, ignorance prevents us from assimilating what the original customs are to be true, prejudices still prevail. Go figure.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

ball posted:

Cultural deviation was the norm for the suppressed who had no choice but to adapt to what we know today as the norm, ignorance prevents us from assimilating what the original customs are to be true, prejudices still prevail. Go figure.     

It is not cultural suppression as Afro Caribbean culture was also repressed during the colonial. In fact it was BANNED and people ARRESTED. 

The reason why steel pan was invented was that drumming was banned, and in fact the authorities also tried to ban it as well, except the US soldiers that were present in Trinidad at the time (this was WWII) liked it.

Go find another excuse.

Dude I am not making any excuse, please reread what I have stated. The end

And proof that even white Caribbean people are also Caribbeanized.  Was he forced to adapt aspects of Afro Caribbean culture too?  I think not given that this is a white Bajan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I-fPehH9TI

One word Assimilation.  

Caribj, your people conformed to the European culture. You lost yours along the way and now make excuses as your ancestors turn over in their graves at not being honored by their offspring. 

CaribJ, you should wear your penis sheath in honor of African tradition on emancipation day. 

caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

Wow! Whine up and whine down like a sixteen century Englishman pirate. All they need now is an open rum bottle in their hand. Sir Francis would have been so happy to see this.

skeldon_man posted:

Prashad posted:

Prashad likes Africa Africans and the various Africa cultures.  Very good efforts to keep the Africa culture alive in Guyana in the face of relentless pressure from the Western creole culture of the British Caribbean to destroy it. 

Bai, how can you make this statement? Have you given up on partitioning Guyana so the dalit coolies can live in peace?

I was starting to wonder. like he get a change of heart, or he's just one confused cat.

Drugb posted:

Caribj, your people conformed to the European culture. You lost yours along the way and now make excuses as your ancestors turn over in their graves at not being honored by their offspring. 

And apparently yours conformed to Afro Caribbean culture as seen in how they dress (like Afro Caribbean people) and how they dance.

What is interesting is that if you beat a drum both Indo and Afro Caribbean people dance the same.

So go pretend as if you are still an Indian and then explain all that skimpy attire and gyrating female bottoms.

Sheik101 posted:

 

I was starting to wonder. like he get a change of heart, or he's just one confused cat.

He really is, His wife is a "pirate" as she is a Guyanese of mixed black and white ancestry (a red woman) who sucks her teeth every time he whimpers that he is going to "start a coolie country".  This being after she yells at him and tells him that she is a feminist woman so doesn't plan to run behind any man.

Prashad damns creole culture as pirate culture and given that his wife, being a red woman is definitely creole you can see that he is a hell of a state.  I really feel sorry for the man.

Prashad posted:

caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

Wow! Whine up and whine down like a sixteen century Englishman pirate. All they need now is an open rum bottle in their hand. Sir Francis would have been so happy to see this.

Yes all of those Indo girls wining like pirates. NONE of them are going to your Indesh, where they will be expected to cover themselves from head to toe, walk with their heads down, and wash their husband's feet when they get home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH8z7bq4UGU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA4eDDVr-bY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC8wmyF7TM8

African "pirates".  Prashad please go find British (WHITE) people dancing like this. Sorry no twerking to hip hop or its equivalent. I want to see wining to English folk music.

Drugb posted:

CaribJ, you should wear your penis sheath in honor of African tradition on emancipation day. 

If literacy wasn't a major problem of yours you would have read that Guyanese didn't come from that part of Africa. 

Now please walk around G/T with a loose loin cloth wiped around your private parts (not much to cover based on your own admission).  This is how your ancestors dressed upon arrival in Guyana.  You claim to have kept your culture dress like this and in fact go to the office like that.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when those Indian coders debate as to whether you are undergoing a nervous break down.  Of course they dressed in a shirt and a pants and dressing exactly as they do in India as well.

ball posted:

One word Assimilation.  

Correct. People of Indian, African and other ancestries lived next to each other in a colonial setting dominated by the British. We had to adjust to this system as well as to each other.

So there is NO difference in how Guyanese of varying ancestries dress, which is why druggie amuses me when he screams that he is not going to walk down the street with a loin cloth wrapped around his waist and private parts as his ancestors did when they came to Guyana.

caribny posted:

And apparently yours conformed to Afro Caribbean culture as seen in how they dress (like Afro Caribbean people) and how they dance.

What is interesting is that if you beat a drum both Indo and Afro Caribbean people dance the same.

So go pretend as if you are still an Indian and then explain all that skimpy attire and gyrating female bottoms.

True enough there is some assimilation by some Indos. But when at indo weddings or religious functions, the dress and act appropriately according to the cultural norms inherited and passed down from generation to generation. 

While it is true that AfroG's were forbidden to embrace their culture, the fact remains that now that they have free will, they still do not embrace the culture. You for example are ashamed of your Afro roots therefore you fully assimilated to European culture, even eating with knife and fork. Meanwhile the whites will privately snicker behind your back and joke that a monkey can now eat civilized. 

caribny posted:

If literacy wasn't a major problem of yours you would have read that Guyanese didn't come from that part of Africa. 

Now please walk around G/T with a loose loin cloth wiped around your private parts (not much to cover based on your own admission).  This is how your ancestors dressed upon arrival in Guyana.  You claim to have kept your culture dress like this and in fact go to the office like that.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when those Indian coders debate as to whether you are undergoing a nervous break down.  Of course they dressed in a shirt and a pants and dressing exactly as they do in India as well.

We are not saying that you should wear your penis sheath or dashiki every day, only on appropriate occasions as a ceremonial gesture in respect for your ancestors. That is what the Indo's do when going to cultural events.  The ancestral garments are not meant to be worn every day. However even at work the Indian women will at times dress in traditional garments from time to time, especially if there is a party or other social occasion. 

Drugb posted:

.

True enough there is some assimilation by some Indos. But when at indo weddings or religious functions, the dress and act appropriately according to the cultural norms inherited and passed down from generation to generation. 

While it is true that AfroG's were forbidden to embrace their culture, the fact remains that now that they have free will, they still do not embrace the culture. You for example are ashamed of your Afro roots therefore you fully assimilated to European culture, even eating with knife and fork. Meanwhile the whites will privately snicker behind your back and joke that a monkey can now eat civilized. 

Let me answer in two parts.

1. Given that most Indians aren't that religious and that weddings don't occur every day and that people who aren't part of the wedding party dress in western wear you are chatting share nonsense.  As soon as they finish their religious ceremonies, that they most likely don't even understand these "Hindus" go and eat a beef roti, something that could lead to their deaths if they tried that in India.

The fact remains that most of the times Indo Guyanese do not lead lives that are radically different. They speak no Indian languages and they really don't adhere to Indian culture, apart from the ceremonial.

2. A DNA test that I did suggests that I am part Senegal, part Guinea, part Ghana, part Togo/Benin, and part Nigeria, and maybe part Congo. It doesn't indicate what specific African ethnicities that I have.

So can you please tell me which African culture should I adopt. Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Fon, Ewe, Igbo or any number of ethnicities in the Congo basin.  There is NO AFRICAN culture. There are THOUSANDS of African cultures.

I will also ask you why don't you think that Guyanese aren't capable of creating our own diverse cultures. Why do you see us as making jackasses of ourselves copying ancestral cultures that we don't know. Like the woman who tied her headtie and gave the Ghanaian the impression that she was a single woman looking for a man.

People of African descent have been living in the Caribbean for over 400 years. The "Africa" that we left no longer exists.

People of Indian descent have been living in the Caribbean for coming up on 200 years.  The "India" that your ancestors left no longer exists.

So cease being a jackass and just draw pride in what you are. A GUYANESE! 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

We, East Indians of Guyana, are in the most dangerous time of our existence as a people.  If we don't take drastic steps now to ensure our survival on the South American continent then we are finished as a people.  

Prashad posted:

caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

 

Does he have a gun to the heads of those girls or of the crowds who are massively enjoying it.  In fact the Guyanese in the crowd were quite proud that a Guyanese can out wine a Trini given their usual prowess at this.

Yes this AFRICAN style of dancing as I know you cannot find English people wining to traditional English folk music.

caribny posted:

Prashad posted:

caribny posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbnnmxwioU

This is for Prashad who was ranting about his Indesh where the "pure"  culture of 19th century India will be preserved.

I don't think too many people will be there.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsy6aB5noY

I think that this will be proof that many people from India have that Indo Caribbean people are Africanized Indians.

If I was still in the Caribbean I would have given that man, who is encouraging those East Indian women to wine their behinds like women of the side walk on a Friday night, a visit he would never forget.

 

Does he have a gun to the heads of those girls or of the crowds who are massively enjoying it.  In fact the Guyanese in the crowd were quite proud that a Guyanese can out wine a Trini given their usual prowess at this.

Yes this AFRICAN style of dancing as I know you cannot find English people wining to traditional English folk music.

You are making a mockery of African women who are some of the most conservative women on this planet. 

Prashad posted:

We, East Indians of Guyana, are in the most dangerous time of our existence as a people.  If we don't take drastic steps now to ensure our survival on the South American continent then we are finished as a people.  

I can only wonder what you would do if you discovered that these Indo girls left the party with black men.  There aren't many Indo men who can handle what they put down.

I bet that your kids aren't fully Indo identified.  Just accept the fact that you all left India behind 170 years ago and much has changed since then.

You will actually be a happier person, because even the Indo KKK don't seem to share your enthusiasm for New Indesh.  Certainly those girls don't because the last thing that they want will be some miserable old man telling them that all they should aspire to is clapping roti and washing their husband's feet as their great grand mothers were forced to do.

caribny posted:

Let me answer in two parts.

1. Given that most Indians aren't that religious and that weddings don't occur every day and that people who aren't part of the wedding party dress in western wear you are chatting share nonsense.  As soon as they finish their religious ceremonies, that they most likely don't even understand these "Hindus" go and eat a beef roti, something that could lead to their deaths if they tried that in India.

The fact remains that most of the times Indo Guyanese do not lead lives that are radically different. They speak no Indian languages and they really don't adhere to Indian culture, apart from the ceremonial.

2. A DNA test that I did suggests that I am part Senegal, part Guinea, part Ghana, part Togo/Benin, and part Nigeria, and maybe part Congo. It doesn't indicate what specific African ethnicities that I have.

So can you please tell me which African culture should I adopt. Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Fon, Ewe, Igbo or any number of ethnicities in the Congo basin.  There is NO AFRICAN culture. There are THOUSANDS of African cultures.

 

I will also ask you why don't you think that Guyanese aren't capable of creating our own diverse cultures. Why do you see us as making jackasses of ourselves copying ancestral cultures that we don't know. Like the woman who tied her headtie and gave the Ghanaian the impression that she was a single woman looking for a man.

People of African descent have been living in the Caribbean for over 400 years. The "Africa" that we left no longer exists.

People of Indian descent have been living in the Caribbean for coming up on 200 years.  The "India" that your ancestors left no longer exists.

So cease being a jackass and just draw pride in what you are. A GUYANESE! 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

As usual your retort is utter nonsense. Without the propagation of culture throughout the centuries where would we be today? Go tell that to the Jews who carry on their tradition from time immemorial.  Go buse down the pope and tell him that he shouldn't carry on the tradition of Peter and the early Christians.  

We as humans have an obligation to honor our ancestors by carrying on their traditions even if only ceremoniously. This is what makes each and everyone of us unique. Your people on the other hand seem so ashamed of their culture that they abandoned the rich African traditions to embrace the European tradition, even embracing their religion. 

Drugb posted:

caribny posted:

 

Please also don't be an idiot and tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they have no culture.  You will be tossed into the incinerator!

As usual your retort is utter nonsense. Without the propagation of culture throughout the centuries where would we be today? Go tell that to the Jews who carry on their tradition from time immemorial.  Go buse down the pope and tell him that he shouldn't carry on the tradition of Peter and the early Christians.  

We as humans have an obligation to honor our ancestors by carrying on their traditions even if only ceremoniously. This is what makes each and everyone of us unique. Your people on the other hand seem so ashamed of their culture that they abandoned the rich African traditions to embrace the European tradition, even embracing their religion. 

Your original ancestors were people who derived out of Africa. Yes the ones with the penis sheath.  So if you are so into ancestry worship this is what you should do.  Parade down the street wearing nothing but a penis sheath and a bow and arrow.  This is the ancestor of 100% of the people on this planet.

I invite you to go tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they don't have a culture. In fact they often accuse Guyanese of lacking a culture and when I see people like you who are ASHAMED of the cultural creativity that Guyanese have been engaged in and you ignore this and you refuse to recognize this I can see why so many think the way that they do about Guyanese.

Now as to my "ancestors" Druggie which ones are there.  There is NOTHING called an "African". No "African" culture exists.  Some one from Senegal is extremely different from some one from Nigeria.  People derived from Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Ga, Ewe, Asante, Fon, Igbo, Ibibio, and numerous others were brought to Guyana.  

Druggie do not dishonor these diverse cultures by reducing it to wearing a dashiki.

And FYI Christianity reached India and Africa before it reached northern Europe.  Christianity was derived out of a Middle Eastern religion. It is NOT a "white man" religion.

Africa Mother Africa Sweet Guyana the somewhat place of central support of Mandela, Fufu and Dashiki. Be proud and not be a FOOL!!!

caribny posted:

Your original ancestors were people who derived out of Africa. Yes the ones with the penis sheath.  So if you are so into ancestry worship this is what you should do.  Parade down the street wearing nothing but a penis sheath and a bow and arrow.  This is the ancestor of 100% of the people on this planet.

I invite you to go tell a Trinidadian or a Jamaican that they don't have a culture. In fact they often accuse Guyanese of lacking a culture and when I see people like you who are ASHAMED of the cultural creativity that Guyanese have been engaged in and you ignore this and you refuse to recognize this I can see why so many think the way that they do about Guyanese.

Now as to my "ancestors" Druggie which ones are there.  There is NOTHING called an "African". No "African" culture exists.  Some one from Senegal is extremely different from some one from Nigeria.  People derived from Mandingo, Wolof, Fulani, Fante, Ga, Ewe, Asante, Fon, Igbo, Ibibio, and numerous others were brought to Guyana.  

Druggie do not dishonor these diverse cultures by reducing it to wearing a dashiki.

And FYI Christianity reached India and Africa before it reached northern Europe.  Christianity was derived out of a Middle Eastern religion. It is NOT a "white man" religion.

 

These are all just a bunch of excuses to cover up your shame of the African roots. IndoGs will not nitpick in their choice of Indian clothing, as long as it looks pleasing and conveys the message that they are from Indian roots. Similarly the Dashiki has become a universally accepted African wear even among Africans. So haul your lying tail da side with your excuses. 

As for Christianity, you know very well that Christ is depicted universally as a white man. 

What cultural creativity are you prattling about? Why don't you just say AfroG cultural creativity, as there is no shared Guyanese culture per say across all 6 races.