Umana Yana
Demerara-Mahaica
Umana Yana is a large conical palm thatched hut located in Georgetown, Guyana, originally built in 1972 to serve as a VIP lounge and recreation center for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference. Designed by Guyanese architect George Henry, the structure was constructed using traditional indigenous techniques by about sixty Wai-Wai Amerindians, one of Guyana's indigenous tribes. The hut is made entirely without nails, using allibanna and manicole palm leaves for thatching and wallaba posts lashed with vines, covering an area of 460 square meters and standing 17 meters tall. Its design reflects the traditional Wai-Wai benabs, or meeting shelters, found deep in Guyana's interior, making it both a cultural symbol and functional space. Next to the Umana Yana stands the African Liberation Monument, unveiled in 1974 by President Forbes Burnham to honor those who have struggled for freedom from bondage, consisting of five polished Greenheart logs on a granite boulder. The Umana Yana was declared a National Monument in 2001 alongside the African Liberation Monument. After suffering a devastating fire in 2014, the structure was rebuilt and completed in 2016 with improved ventilation and safety features. Today, it remains a prominent landmark in Georgetown, widely admired and used for exhibitions and conferences, embodying Guyana's indigenous culture and history.
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Consejo: Visitors are advised to explore the Umana Yana during daylight hours for the best experience of its architectural details and cultural significance. Advance booking for events or conferences held here is recommended, and visitors should check for any scheduled exhibitions or cultural activities to enhance their visit. The site is accessible year-round, with the dry season offering more comfortable weather conditions. While no specific ticketing is generally required, visitors should verify current access arrangements or possible guided tours.
Datos interesantes
- •The Umana Yana is the largest thatched structure of its kind in Guyana, covering 460 square meters.
- •No nails were used in its construction; the entire structure is held together by vines and wooden posts.
- •It was built by about sixty Wai-Wai Amerindians, one of Guyana's nine indigenous tribes.
- •The African Liberation Monument beside it consists of five polished Greenheart logs on a granite boulder, unveiled in 1974.
- •The name 'Umana Yana' means 'Meeting place of the people' in the Wai-Wai indigenous language.
Historia
The Umana Yana was constructed in 1972 as a meeting place for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference in Georgetown, designed by architect George Henry and built by Wai-Wai Amerindians using traditional methods without nails.
In 1974, the African Liberation Monument was added nearby to commemorate struggles for freedom.
The structure was designated a National Monument in 2001.
In 2014, the Umana Yana was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt and reopened in 2016, preserving its cultural and architectural heritage.
Guía del lugar
The Umana Yana Hut1972
A massive conical hut constructed with traditional indigenous techniques using palm leaves and wooden posts, serving as a cultural and conference center.
African Liberation Monument1974
A monument consisting of five polished Greenheart logs encased in jasper on a granite boulder, commemorating struggles for freedom from bondage.
Contacto
Teléfono: 226 3149