By News Americas Now Staff Writer
News Americas Now, NY, NY, Sat. Nov. 14, 2026: Guyana is set to honor the life of Eusi Kwayana, a distinguished politician, educator, and cultural advocate, during his funeral at the Buxton ball ground in Friendship as part of a four-day series of public tributes.
Kwayana, affectionately known as the “Sage of Buxton,” passed away on October 10 at the age of 101. His death signifies the end of an era, as he was one of the last prominent figures from the country’s independence movement. Participants in the funeral procession are expected to gather at 10 a.m. at the intersection of the Lusignan main road and the Public Road.
The procession will lead to the Buxton ball ground, where the public will have the opportunity to pay their respects starting at noon. The observances commenced on Thursday with a series of tributes at Moray House in Georgetown, followed by a walk through Buxton on Friday, culminating in a wake at the Cockfield residence in Friendship North.
The final commemoration will take place on Sunday with a “Congasaw,” a communal repast and celebration of Kwayana’s life, at the Buxton ball ground starting at noon.
FROM SYDNEY KING TO EUSI KWAYANA
Eusi Kwayana, originally named Sydney Evanson King, was born on April 4, 1925. His extensive public service began during the anti-colonial movement and continued through Guyana’s journey toward self-governance and independence.
He played a pivotal role in establishing the People’s Progressive Party and served as Minister of Communications and Works in the short-lived PPP government of 1953. Later, Kwayana became a founding member of the Working People’s Alliance in the 1970s, working alongside notable figures such as historian Dr. Walter Rodney.
Kwayana remained politically active well into his later years and also distinguished himself as an educator, playwright, columnist, and prolific writer, exploring themes of race, political authority, village life, labor, national identity, and Guyana’s development. His notable works include Guyana: No Guilty Race and Walter Rodney: His Last Days and Campaigns.
He was deeply involved in the Buxton community, where he taught, organized events, and earned the respect of many as a community elder.
PRESERVING GUYANA’S MEMORY
Historian Nigel Westmaas has spoken highly of Kwayana, commending his deep understanding of Guyana’s political and communal history. Westmaas highlighted Kwayana’s commitment to documenting marginalized communities within the historical narrative, along with his diverse contributions that included poetry, plays, journalistic commentary, political discourse, and community organizing.
Kwayana’s political endeavors transcended party and ethnic lines, emphasizing public accountability and the empowerment of ordinary citizens. The Working People’s Alliance remarked on his passing, honoring him as an elder, mentor, and leader whose impact spanned generations.
A legacy website, EusiKwayanaLegacy.com, was launched in October to facilitate a broader remembrance initiative across Atlanta and Guyana. Today’s funeral in Buxton symbolizes not merely the burial of a politician, but the farewell to a key figure in the narrative of Guyana’s political, cultural, and social evolution. For those unable to attend, the funeral service can be streamed live HERE.
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