Stanleytown man ‘upbeat’ about keeping culture alive

The Congo Nya Cultural Foundation in Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, started 43 years ago by the late Ivelaw James, known as ‘Brooks.’

And it is still buzzing with activity today as his son, Lij James, has taken up the mantle of ensuring the skills taught there are passed down to young children.

Starting up a drumming school about a year ago, James was at this year’s Berbice expo at Rose Hall, playing his drums and encouraging young ones to come for a free, on-the-spot crash course.

His intention is to do all he can to preserve the Guyanese culture and bring back old folk drumming.

“The foundation started in 1981 by my dad and I have been playing as a kid coming up and it’s been passing from generation to generation. We incorporate the Guyanese culture, mixed with a little of African, and we blend it and it’s like a Guyanese fusion. It’s local folk songs with the drums,” James related in an interview with News Room on Sunday at the expo.

Sponsored by the Small Business Bureau this year, James is also into handmade craft and had his items displayed at the expo. Meanwhile, he continued to entertaining passersby with his drumming.

“At the expo, you have the opportunity to learn to play the drum without coming to a drumming school. It’s like the drumming school coming to you. Kids can come and play with the group free of cost,” he said.

The drumming school he started up has 17 students at the moment, ages five to 15 years old. “I realised that the culture is dying out, so I am trying to bring it back to people; bring back the Guyanese, old folk drumming back to them,” he shared.

“I love doing this. I was born into it and I am passionate about it. Whatever I have in me I bring it out in the drums,” he added.