An African man, dressed in traditional wear, was painted by Brain Clark, a University of Guyana Arts graduate. The rod in his hand is synonymous with authority or stature. Juxtaposed are sharp objects, symbolizing the demoralizing of a people by slavery. It forms part of the Indentureship exhibition at the National Museum.

And so the system of indentureship came into existence. People from different continents were trafficked to this part of the world, unsuspecting that their hearts brimming with joy of a bright future would be plummeted in despair.

Four groups of people were sailed to these shores under indentureship, and although the system came to resemble the face of slavery, it has left legacies of cultural traditions which influence our daily lives and which today forms modern day multi-cultural Guyana.

May 5 is observed as Arrival Day here, and even though the holiday takes on more significance for East Indians, who celebrate the arrival of the first batch of workers on May 5, 1838, it is also meant to reflect on the life of the Portuguese, Chinese and Africans who came under the indentureship system.

This painting by final year University of Guyana Arts student Brian Tankoon depicts a Chinese woman performing ancestor worship. In the background are dragons, mythical to Chinese culture. It forms part of the Indentureship exhibition at the National Museum.

Presented in displays of artifacts, written material, photographs and paintings, it is a rich collection wrapped intrigue, disbelief, and wonder and delightful discoveries.

The exhibition opened Wednesday and runs until May 16.

The Chinese
A simple bird kite hangs at a section dealing with the Chinese, but it tells a truth not known about today’s kite flying craze at Easter time.

Philbert Gajadhar, University of Guyana Arts lecturer, says this painting of an Indian peasant girl, adorned in traditional dress, addresses the custom of Indian Hindus and Muslims wherein girls were not allowed to venture out alone, but accompanied only by a male of the household. She looks to the future, her peers are in the background. It forms part of the Indentureship exhibition at the National Museum.

It was a clever argument, as at that time, Christians celebrated Easter to the glory of the risen Christ.

The Chinese came to Guyana from 1853-1879. Among the favourite pastimes of the Chinese was opium smoking. There were many instances when the plantation owners had to deal with the fact that they were too “high” to work.

MASKS are an important component for African rituals and other celebrations. Knitted doileys adorned the homes of the Portuguese immigrants from Madeira.

An Indian girl who came to Guyana under indentureship.

An African fish vendor who came to Guyana from Liberia. Cooking is one of the most important daily ritual of an Indian wife. Familiar implements, including the brick used for grinding massala, are displayed.

For example, displays of the “lorha” and “sil”, stones used to grind massala, showcases what were primary objects in the Indian woman’s kitchen. Though she too toiled on the plantations, cooking was one of the most important daily routines of an Indian wife. Many will tell you that coconut choka made from grinding roasted coconut with seasoning and pepper far out-tastes those made from today’s modern methods.

The Opium pipe Chinese used. Opium smoking was popular among the Chinese immigrants, with complaints that they were too “high” to work.

A Chinese immigrant family.

They came from the island of Madeira, and supposedly one of the reasons for bringing them was to balance the black to white ration on the colony.

Two Portuguese dancers.

It is not hard to imagine why there was skepticism. Many feared that it was the revival of the slave trade.

On display at the exhibition are mask and drums, which are important components of African rituals and celebrations.