Georgetown: Valentine has never before held the promise of such flamboyance as it does this year, with the opportunity to be ‘in rhythm with nature’ as the music of the world filters through air and flows through the heart.
The first ever Rupununi Music and Arts festival is intended to fulfill all the promises of a magical experience and an unforgettable adventure with a captivating concert to be held in Annai, Central Rupununi beginning February 14th through 16th.
International Artistes from as far as Africa, North America, the Caribbean, England, Europe Ukraine and Brazil are expected to grace the stage, and will thrill the audience with a wide array of jazz, reggae and contemporary rhythms, while Guyana’s own Keith Waithe, renowned flutist, is sure to captivate.
The Rupununi will provide the perfect backdrop for this unique concert, which will allow guests to reconnect with nature while camping under the stars; it will also afford them the chance of experiencing firsthand the Community Based Tourism product of the region.
The organizers have emphasized that the primary aim of the occasion is to establish the Rupununi as a brand and to propel the destination onto the forefront of the Rediscover Home campaign.
The three-day event is unique in many ways and the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, has indicated that the festival would be another signature event on the Tourism Calendar of Events, which will also add to the existing events taking place in the Rupununi; given the potential of this event, the Ministry of Tourism and the GTA have again pledged their full support for the inaugural Rupununi Music and Arts Festival.
“The festival gives you a reason to leave your home to discover another part of Guyana, in this case Annai, and it is a good way to promote the “Re-discover Guyana” campaign being promoted by the Government in collaboration with the GTA,” Haralsingh explained.
He also reminded patrons that the event entails camping, sleeping under the stars, eating indigenous foods, using eco toilets, and being “at one with nature”.
Coordinator of the festival, Mr. Bob Ramdhanie, noted that the present accommodation caters for only 16 persons; however, he also said that works have been ongoing with Mr. Collin Edwards, owner of the Rock View Hotel, to construct a village consisting of benabs, outdoor showers and eco-toilets that would accommodate 150 persons.
“This venture will therefore create employment for the surrounding villages, because the aim is not to destroy nature but to complement it. Foods would also be catered from the surrounding villages,” Mr. Ramdhanie explained.
While journeying to the Rupununi, chances to explore the area abound, and a quick detour to glimpse the giant anthills, the canopy walkway, the butterfly project, the rapids, the Pakaraima foothills, and a taste of local hospitality will remind guests that are experiencing one of the Best Destinations in the World to visit in 2014, as declared by the National Geographic Traveler.
Tickets for this event can be purchased from the GTA, Giftland or online, for those who require additional information about the festival, contact the Guyana Tourism Authority or visit www.rupununifestival.com.
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