Dear Editor,
As Guyana continues to grapple with daily occurrences of domestic violence, sexual abuse and femicide, I find myself reflecting on the lyrics of our traditional folk song, “Sanko Boy”:
“Sanko boy you betta run,
Sanko boy big fat police a come.
Sanko lick he lova pon de dam and de gyal ah holla fuh murder.”
While the song may have been intended as humorous folk entertainment, I am struck by the image of a woman crying “murder” while the man is warned that the police are coming. What was once accepted as cultural humour invites an uncomfortable question today: Have we sometimes trivialised women’s distress while making light of men’s sexual behaviour?
I am not suggesting that this song causes or endorses violence against women. Rather, I believe it offers an opportunity to examine the attitudes our society tolerates. When a woman’s cries of distress become part of a humorous refrain, we should ask whether we are sufficiently sensitive to the distinction between consensual intimacy and coercion, romantic pursuit and abuse, or masculine confidence and domination.
This reflection is particularly relevant as Guyana confronts alarming reports of violence against women, including femicide. Behind every statistic is a human tragedy, a family shattered and a society forced to confront its failures. We must stop treating domestic violence as a private matter, blaming victims for remaining in abusive relationships, or excusing aggressive behaviour as simply the way men behave.
Our cultural heritage deserves preservation, but tradition must never become an excuse for indifference. We can celebrate “Sanko Boy” as part of our folk tradition while teaching our children that consent is essential, that a woman’s refusal must be respected, and that cries for help must never be dismissed as entertainment.
Perhaps the most important question is not whether we should continue singing “Sanko Boy,” but whether we have progressed sufficiently as a society to recognise when the humour of yesterday intersects with the injustices of today.
We must preserve our songs without perpetuating harmful attitudes. A nation’s cultural maturity is measured not only by the traditions it celebrates, but also by the dignity, safety and respect it affords its women.