Guyana celebrates World Story Telling Day 2014

The National School of Theatre Arts and Drama performing “Greek Myth” at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s evening of storytelling at the Umana Yana, KingstonGeorgetown: The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport recently held an evening of story telling at the Umana Yana, where literary fanatics were treated to local and regional storytelling in observance of World Story Telling Day 2014 under the theme “Dragons and Monsters”.

Many of the Guyanese storytellers at the event recited Guyanese stories about Anansi, the Ole Higue, the Water Mama and Balgobin stories, while the others recited stories from their respective countries.

The story tellers included Professor Al Creighton, Jessica Callendar, Ivor Thom, Petamber Persaud, Michael Khan a.k.a. Ole Man Papee, Petra Langevine, students from the National Drama School, National Dance School and the University of Guyana, and Deputy Head of the Russian Embassy in Guyana, Petr Sizov, Liliana Manoo and Aewha Accra from the Venezuelan Embassy, Alejamdro Martinez from the Mexican Embassy and representatives from the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana and the Embassy of the Federation of Brazil. Those storytellers told stories from their native countries.

The Culture Ministry facilitates storytellers to observe this event, which has over the years promoted and preserved the oral art of storytelling, while highlighting the country’s history, legends and myths to the younger generation.

On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.

The significance in the event lies in the fact that it is the first global celebration of storytelling of its kind, and has been important in forging links between storytellers often working far apart from each other. It has also been significant in drawing public and media attention to storytelling as an art form.