Press release.

Paloma Mohamed ISBN: 0-912469-42-0 2004. 216 pages. 6 illustrations. Paperback CARIBBEAN MYTHOLOGY AND MODERN LIFE: Book of Plays for Young People, in "Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life: 5 Plays for Young People," has just been published by The Majority Press and UNESCO (Guyana.). The book of one act plays, written by prizewinning playwright Paloma Mohamed is a first in Guyana and perhaps the wider Caribbean. It attempts to bring back into the public consciousness mythic characters once widely known and understood in the region.

Such characters as Anansi, Sukuyant, Fire Rass and Fairmaid (Water Mama, Mami Wata) find themselves interwoven into colorful tales about young people trying to find answers to modern problems which they confront.

Mohamed throws some rather obscure folk characters into the mix as well. For this reason "Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life" is also a valuable reference tool. Not many people have heard of the Indian folk character, Sukanti or the Indian vampire characters Vetala and Chedipe, or of the Mexican Cuitala or Chinese Chaing. They may not have known what a Piaman is or heard of Makonaima or Kanima, the great spirits of Guyanese Amerindian mythology either.

The plays in the book are about a wide range of characters and various important issues of modern life such as HIV/AIDS, violence, gender and environmental concerns. In Anansi's Way, teenagers overcome schoolyard violence and bullying using non-violent methods as exemplified by Anansi; In Massacuraman a mythical beast returns to the present in protest of assaults against the environment; Sukanti engages recently orphaned siblings of Hindu descent on issues of religion, race, class and tradition; A Fair Maid's Tale explores gender issues as an Amerindian girl asserts her independence and challenges the male dominated society into which she was born.

Finally, in Chupucabra several blood sucking and vampire characters of the Caribbean and the wider world discuss and try to solve the pandemic of HIV/AIDS.

Al Creighton, arts critic, writer, academic and international literary judge has written an authoritative introduction to the book. Creighton's introduction not only spans the socio-historical development of Guyanese theatre, but analyses Mohamed's plays in the context of fable and myth. He also outlines the playwright's contribution to Guyanese and Caribbean theatre. He notes that" ... A Calypso Trilogy (Rawle Gibbons) and Caribbean

Mythology and Modern Life stands alone as collections of drama rooted both in the oral tradition and in popular culture. But Mohamed's is unique because it was designed for a school audience." The book also contains "Notes on Theatre for Children and Young People", by veteran dramatist, dramaturge and lecturer at theCreative Arts center of the University of the West Indies, Lester Efebo Wilkinson In his contribution, Wilkinson invokes the "Genius of the Griot" and makes a strong case for the importance of folk, fable and fairy tale in teaching children about life. There are six powerful illustrations of the main mythical characters in the book, researched and rendered by master artist and illustrator Barrington Braithwaite. There is also a glossary of terms following each play. "Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life" is a celebration of Caribbean social history, language, culture and people. It is a welcome addition to the ' sparse dramatic fare for children and young people. Moreover, it is a teaching tool for bringing life skills issues into the formal education system through the existing language and performing arts curricula. One thousand copies have been supplied free to schools in Guyana.

For further details, contact: Ramona Francis (1-508-533-4497); Email: [e-mail] Caribbean Mythology and Modern Life by

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