International flautist Keith Waithe

Music inspired by his Guyanese heritage

As we celebrate Black History Month, we focus on notable African-Guyanese who have represented their homeland internationally. One such Guyanese is Keith Waithe, an award- winning flautist, composer, teacher and expert proponent of vocal gymnastics.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo congratulates flautist Keith Waithe on his musical performance in Guyana 2008

Keith, who grew up in Shell Road Street, Kitty in Georgetown, produces and promotes an international musical style, exploring an original fusion of jazz, classical, African, Caribbean, Asian and Western influences. He mixes many sounds, fusing enigmatic musicals forms in performance in addition to working on radio, theatre and television pieces, utilising his unique drive for a sound that moves audiences chilled out spiritually and sensually. Keith’s enormous stage presence and his sense of showmanship help to make the audience at each live concert a unique experience as was highlighted at the Ealing Jazz Festival and The Brecon International Jazz Festival, which were all attended by thousands. The musician first learned to play the trumpet from his late father in Guyana, and during his formal music training, transferred to the flute. He developed a passion for the instrument, mastering it at the University of Surrey and the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, where he gained an LRSM Diploma and the PGCE A Teaching Certificate. Keith now lives and works in the United Kingdom. He formed The Macusi Players, (taking the name from the powerful Macushi Amerindian tribe from Guyana). 

The Arts Council of England commissioned Keith as part of their ‘Three Cities create and connect project’ to develop and lead a new World Music Super group “Musicque et Espectacio”.  The project spanned Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, and was a great success. As part of his collaborative project “Across”, Keith turned to New Delhi, India, to conduct research and to work with Kathak dancer Sushmita Ghosh creating new rhythms and melodies based on the complex structures of Kathak dance, jazz improvisation, African Caribbean and western musical styles.  Subsequently, Keith recorded the first part of the project in India, leading to a second recording in the UK to be released in 2008.

In 2007, Keith was touring Devon and Cornwall Schools in the UK working with young musicians from The Purcell School’s ‘Impulse’ project.  Schoolchildren of all ages and abilities were given the opportunity to exchange ideas with Purcell musicians.  Workshops enabled all students to expand their musical scope through exposure to Keith’s technical expertise on the flute and his presence as animateur.  All participants thoroughly enjoyed a new experience of African and Caribbean musical culture.  Keith performed during the tour in headline concerts at the Two Moors Festival and a recital at the Bude Music Festival in England. Keith successfully conducted several music workshop sessions and performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as part of their “A taste of Africa” 2010 series. He also played with Mercury Prize winner Nitin Sawhney in The Macusi Players.

 The flautist and members of the Macusi Players has been invited to festivals and performances all over the world including India, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, Sudan, Ghana, France, Geneva, Peru, Guyana, New York, Columbia and The Cayman Islands, sponsored by the British Council. In Nov. 2008, Keith travelled to Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Kampala.  He had been asked to lead performances and workshops as part of an exciting programme of cultural events.  Some of his concerts, workshops and Commonwealth ceremonies were attended by various heads of state.  This trip involved bringing together classically trained British musicians with traditional Ugandan music players, as well as working with The African Children’s Choir Uganda.  There was a great atmosphere at the opening ceremony and Keith was delighted to be greeted personally by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of Uganda.  The president congratulated the performance, and expressed his enjoyment of Keith’s flute playing and the diverse nature of his music; he was particularly surprised that this pan-continental sound was created in England.

 In August of 2008, Keith returned to his homeland, Guyana, to participate in Carifesta X.  This bi-annual festival provided Keith with the opportunity to contribute to raising the profile of the cultures and artistic forms that have inspired his work.  In the headline performance at the opening ceremony held at the National Stadium in Providence, Keith performed with Surinamese Ala Kondre, a 21-piece percussion and drumming band. Both in Guyana and upon his return to the UK, Keith has contributed to the celebrations marking the 80th birthday of Sir Shridath Ramphal, the longest serving Commonwealth Secretary-General, and a fellow Guyanese. Because of his previous work in Devon and Cornwall, Keith now has a residency at Landewednack C P, Grade-Ruan Church of England School and three other schools in the Lizard Peninsula area of Cornwall.

Additionally, Keith is the director of Essequibo Music, an umbrella organisation that has on its books a range of quality contemporary British artists and musicians working in educational, cultural and performances arenas. Essequibo Music runs workshops in storytelling, and poetry, African and Caribbean dance, carnival costume design, live music and digital imaging. The Essequibo Music works as a team with teachers and project workers to develop skills and talent in all these areas, and to promote confidence and social skills. Themed weeklong projects give an opportunity to bring these many arts experiences together. Themes it works with include myths and legends, the rainforest and Caribbean Christmas. For more information on this notable Guyanese, visit his website www.keithwaithe.com