MoE Launches Mash Band
February 18 2025 – The Ministry of Education officially launched its annual Mashramani Band on Monday at its Brickdam office under the theme “One Stage, One Nation.” The band’s costume and float were designed by award-winning designer Neilson Nurse, who has collaborated with the Ministry since 2013.
The Ministry of Education’s Mashramani presentation, titled “One Stage, One Nation,” reflects the vibrancy of Guyana’s culture blended with the transformative power of theatre and expressive arts. This year’s band will highlight how students explore the nation’s rich cultural diversity through dance, drama, music, and visual storytelling, culminating in a vibrant and dynamic parade presentation.
“One Stage, One Nation” emphasizes unity through the arts, showcasing how Guyana’s cultural diversity becomes a unified narrative when expressed creatively. The band aimsto inspire students to appreciate, celebrate, and preserve Guyana’s cultural legacy while emphasizing the importance of self-expression, education, and shared heritage.
Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Technical Education and who has been assigned leadership responsibilities for Mashramani events Dr. Ritesh Tularam, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “It is a colorful spectacle featuring elaborate costumes. When we come out on the road on February 23rd, we will see vibrant floats, dance groups, and performers in a magnificent celebration of Guyana’s cultural diversity.
People in dazzling costumes will showcase our rich traditions, with calypso, soca, reggae, and modern music filling the streets. The festival is a fusion of cultures, exhibiting traditional foods, dances, and crafts from various ethnic groups.”
Neilson Nurse, the band’s designer, expressed his passion for the arts and education, noting that gold will be a prominent color in this year’s band. “This year, we’re actually going to play a lot when it comes to the arts and theatre arts in education. One colour that we’ll also see in the band which was predominant over the years for (the Ministry of) Education is gold.
Most times, when people talk about investing in something, like wealth, the always say to buy gold. And to me, I think education is wealth and knowledge is priceless and it’s not something you can put value on. I think when you compare education to gold it makes a perfect comparison.
The band, for me this year, is special when it comes to the arts. Over the years, I’ve had to opportunity to work with the Ministry of Education in terms of doing workshops in schools and specifically during January and February, working with kids. And I can say that the arts are something that have helped me and I see it helping a lot of children also.
When you give children the opportunity to use the arts in school, the skills that they develop when it comes to memorization and so forth, you put them back in the classroom and you see a different child. Because, they use that knowledge throughout the arts and apply that into regular studies and you’ll see a vast improvement. So, i want to encourage you to support the arts and support the band. This is gonna be one for the road.”
The Ministry’s Mashramani Band will feature 175 revellers parading through the streets of Georgetown on February 23rd. The presentation will celebrate Guyana’s unity, creativity, and cultural heritage under the national theme of “Expressing Our Culture and Creativity as One Guyana.”
On Saturday last, Minister of Education, the Honourable Priya Manickchand, led the Children’s Mashramani Road Parade and expressed her deep pride at the excellence that usually emanates from the Ministry.
The Minister stated that national occasions provide an opportunity for Guyanese to pause and reflect on the nation’s rich history and recognize the value of every individual in advancing the “One Guyana” vision being championed by His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
