MYO Qaseeda finals set for Saturday

The Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO) will host the Grand Finals of the National Qaseeda Competition 2026 on Saturday, September 12, at 18:30h at the MYO Complex, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The event, according to a release from the MYO, marks the culmination of an initiative aimed at reviving the tradition of Qaseeda singing in Guyana while promoting the preservation of the Urdu language. The competition has brought together male and female participants in Junior and Senior categories, providing a national platform for contestants to showcase their talents and renew interest in an art form that has formed part of the religious and cultural heritage of Guyanese Muslims for generations.

Qaseeda, through Urdu poetry and melody, has traditionally been used by Muslims to express love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Although the practice has declined over the years, the response to this year’s competition has highlighted continued interest in preserving and reviving the tradition.

The Patron of the National Qaseeda Competition is President Dr Irfaan Ali, who has been recognised for his support of Qaseeda and efforts to promote the preservation of the Urdu language in Guyana and the wider Caribbean. Following the preliminary stage, 10 contestants will compete in the Senior category and five in the Junior category at Saturday’s finals. The competitors will vie for national honours and cash prizes ranging from $500,000 to $100,000. Consolation prizes will also be awarded. The MYO is also looking beyond this year’s competition, with plans being considered for a Regional/International Qaseeda Competition in 2027, with Guyana proposed as the host country. The proposed competition would bring together participants from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the United States (US), Canada and England. According to the MYO, the initiative would help strengthen cultural ties among Muslim communities, provide opportunities for young Qaseeda singers and establish a sustainable regional platform for preserving Qaseeda and the Urdu language.