Reggae from Guyana

September 4 2023

The first day of classes in our graduate journalism program, our beloved RW1 professor smartly assigned us NYC immigrant communities to cover, instead of the standard “beats.” We pulled pieces of paper out of a hat and I got Guyana, which I had to immediately look up on a map because I had no idea where it was. Thus began four months of spending several days a week in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, Queens aka Little Guyana - interviewing travel agents, filming skate rats, and writing about aging boxers. And, of course, everywhere I went there was incredible music from Guyana blasting out of every bar, nail salon, and jerk chicken joint - a heady mix of African and East Indian influences.

A special first reggae Monday of the month with dancehall, roots, dub, and calypso from the “Land of Many Waters.”

Highlights include:
Natural Black, First Born & Sonjah

Listen to the full episode!

Or to the playlist!