List of Afro-Guyanese people

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The following is a list of prominent Afro-Guyanese, or people of Afro-Guyanese descent.

Contents

Notable people of Afro-Guyanese descent

Letitia Wright, actress (Shuri in Black Panther) Letitia Wright by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Letitia Wright, actress (Shuri in Black Panther)

Arts

Eddy Grant, musician Eddy Grant at Supreme Court Gardens cropped.jpg
Eddy Grant, musician

Sports

Ezekiel Jackson, Professional wrestler Ezekiel Jackson 2012.jpg
Ezekiel Jackson, Professional wrestler

Politicians and social leaders

Forbes Burnham, President of Guyana from 1980 to 1985 Forbes Burnham (1966).jpg
Forbes Burnham, President of Guyana from 1980 to 1985
Hamilton Green, 1st Muslim Prime Minister of Guyana, and in the Western world, 1985-1992 Hamilton Green mayor (cropped).jpg
Hamilton Green, 1st Muslim Prime Minister of Guyana, and in the Western world, 1985-1992

Academics

Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima, associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University IvanVanSertima1995.jpg
Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima, associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University

Models

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown, Guyana</span> Capital of Guyana

Georgetown is the capital and largest city of Guyana. It is situated in Demerara-Mahaica, region 4, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, at the mouth of the Demerara River. It is nicknamed the "Garden City of the Caribbean." It is the retail, administrative, and financial services centre of the country, and the city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP. The city recorded a population of 118,363 in the 2012 census.

The history of Guyana begins about 35,000 years ago with the arrival of humans coming from Eurasia. These migrants became the Carib and Arawak tribes, who met Alonso de Ojeda's first expedition from Spain in 1499 at the Essequibo River. In the ensuing colonial era, Guyana's government was defined by the successive policies of the French, Dutch, and British settlers. During the colonial period, Guyana's economy was focused on plantation agriculture, which initially depended on slave labor. Guyana saw major slave rebellions in 1763 and 1823. Following the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa were freed, resulting in plantations contracting indentured workers, mainly from India. Eventually, these Indians joined forces with Afro-Guyanese descendants of slaves to demand equal rights in government and society. After the Second World War, the British Empire pursued policy decolonization of its overseas territories, with independence granted to British Guiana on May 26, 1966. Following independence, Forbes Burnham rose to power, quickly becoming an authoritarian leader, pledging to bring socialism to Guyana. His power began to weaken following international attention brought to Guyana in wake of the Jonestown mass murder suicide in 1978.

The music of Guyana encompasses a range of musical styles and genres that draw from various influences including: Indian, Latino-Hispanic, European, African, Chinese, and Amerindian music. Popular Guyanese performers include: Terry Gajraj, Eddy Grant, Dave Martins & the Tradewinds, Aubrey Cummings, Colle´ Kharis and Nicky Porter. Eddie Hooper The Guyana Music Festival has proven to be influential on the Guyana music scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Guyana</span>

Islam in Guyana is the third largest religion in the country after Christianity and Hinduism, respectively. According to the 2012 census, 7% of the country’s population is Muslim. However, a Pew Research survey from 2010 estimates that 6.4% of the country is Muslim. Islam was first introduced to Guyana via slaves from West Africa, but was suppressed on plantations until Muslims from British India were brought to the country as indentured labour. The current President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the first Muslim president.

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Afro-Guyanese are generally descended from the enslaved people brought to Guyana from the coast of West Africa to work on sugar plantations during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and enduring conditions that severely constrained their ability to preserve their respective cultural traditions contributed to the adoption of Christianity and the values of British colonists.

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Citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose origins lie in Guyana are a part of the country's British Caribbean community. Guyana was a former British colony, British Guiana, responsible for moving large numbers of Africans and Indians for labour in the sugar industry. British Guyanese are notable for their contributions to literature and music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quamina</span> Leader of the Demerara Rebellion of 1823

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Guyanese Americans are American people with Guyanese ancestry or immigrants who were born in Guyana. Guyana is home to people of many different national, ethnic and religious origins. As of 2019, there are 231,649 Guyanese Americans currently living in the United States. The majority of Guyanese live in New York City – some 140,000 – making them the fifth-largest foreign-born population in the city.

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