A History of Guyana and Its Culture

Guyana is a small country nestled in the northeast corner of South America. Its name means “the land of many waters” and holds some special characteristics that should be shared with the rest of the world. It is a rich land in every sense of the word. Even though its borders are nestled with Brazil, it is considered a part of the Caribbean, for its culture has a similarity with the northern islands and many other places. Their culture reflects the influence of African, Indian, Amerindian, Chinese, British, Dutch, Portuguese, Caribbean, and American culture. It may be more accurate to speak of African, Indian, and Amerindian Guyanese cultures than lumping it all together. Their population consists of 51% East Indians, 43% Afro-Guyanese, 4% Amerindians, and the remaining 2% made up of Americans, Chinese, and Europeans. The official language today is English, though a few local dialects can still be heard. Guyana started with two groups of indigenous nomadic people, who eventually spread to the rest of South America. First the Arawak Indians came to the land and called it Guiana. Joined later by the Carib Indians the Arawak were eventually killed and drove out for reasons unknown. One could guess the Carib were more territorial, certainly they were more warlike. European settlement began in 1615. The Dutch and British both established sugar crops and built their settlements along the coast, where today 90% of the population lives. The majority of the country is blessed by its vast tropical rainforests and savanna teeming with wildlife. Sugar became Guyana’s main export. Other exports came along including rice, rum, gold, diamonds, bauxite (the main ingredient in aluminum), alumna, timber, and shrimp. By 1796 the Dutch had to loosen their grip on the land, as the British expertly took over their settlements by use of force or treaties. The main cities today in Guyana are Georgetown (the capitol), Berbice, Bartica, (all of which lie around the main rivers), and

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