The Youth Committee of The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana (IDPADA-G) will be hosting another insightful session with young Guyanese relating to matters of African People, their culture and history, called “Leh we gyaff”.
The event is one occurring under the United Nation’s declared decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).
The event, which will be held tomorrow (Sunday May 12) from 14:00 hrs at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre Woolford Avenue, is intended to facilitate a dialogue between young Guyanese and multi-disciplinary scholar Dr. Kimani Nehusi to help fill in gaps in understanding African history and culture. So says IDPADA-G Youth Engagement Officer, Shonetta Lowe.
In his presentation, Lowe has shared that Dr. Nehusi will highlight and focus on prominent female figures who played a role in shaping local Guyanese and African Guyanese history. The discussion will work to provide youths with a comprehensive understanding of African History, while facilitating questions they might have regarding related matters. The discussion will also work to encourage stimulating discussions on how history affects present day policies, actions, behaviours and other factors.
While the “gyaff” seeks, most importantly, to raise the consciousness of African Guyanese youths, it is especially important for commencing related discussions given the disconnect between youths and their African history.
“It is no secret that the disconnect may have arisen due to lack of information, and the failure to emphasise the importance of history and its connection to present day activities,” Lowe noted. Moreover, the IDPADA-G finds it important to “capitalize on opportunities that not only bridge information gaps but highlight the glorious roles played by those before us, and in this case, the important roles of women and mothers who helped in shaping what we now call our ancestral history,” Lowe added.
