Every year”s Christmas in Guyana is another time for masquerades to hit the streets of towns and cities to celebrate their African origin and traditions in grand style..
This tradition of Masquerades is said to have come from the West African tribes of Yoruba and Ibo in Nigeria.
According to history this beautiful festival is thought to have been a component of numerous traditions of African captives transported to that part of the World during the slave trade.Slaves were mostly prohibited from practicing anything related to their native African customs.However, during Christmas, they were given the chance to celebrate along..
The African natives took this as an opportunity to visit other plantations and celebrate with others during the season.Drumming and dancing on the street were equally permitted during this time..
In many West African countries,the Christmas comes during the Harmattan(a dry,dusty wind blowing season).These were actually the time where the Yoruba and Igbo tribes celebrate crop harvest festivals which demonstrated by dancing,drumming,colourful customes and
masquarades.Masquarades are believed to be representatives of African gods and ancestors during the festive seasons..
Just as their African ancestors did,they tried to produce something similar and that’s how come the masquarades bands in Guyana came about.Some popular elements of the masqurade bands are bull cow,the long lady,stilt dancers and the founcers.
The Black Tower 