Umana Yana, Indigenous meeting hall in Georgetown, Guyana.
The Umana Yana is an indigenous meeting hall in Georgetown featuring a distinctive conical shape that rises approximately 17 meters high. It was constructed from palm leaves and wallaba posts using traditional handcrafted methods.
The first structure of its kind was built in 1972 by sixty Wai Wai craftsmen for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference. The current building represents the third iteration, completed in 2016 with modified materials.
The structure reflects Wai Wai building knowledge passed down through generations, using traditional techniques without metal nails and relying on native vines instead. Visitors can observe these handcrafted details throughout the interior and exterior.
The building serves today as an exhibition and conference center hosting various events and gatherings. The open interior design allows good views of the traditional construction and natural materials used throughout.
Visitors often overlook that the roof is made from dhalibanna leaves, a modern adaptation from the traditional troolie material used previously. This material choice demonstrates how indigenous techniques are maintained today while adapting to new circumstances.
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