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Guyana's scurrilous calypsos - and China's culinary heritage

Girish Gupta probes the controversy swirling over satirical lyrics and government "censorship" in Georgetown; Fuchsia Dunlop savours a visit to Hangzhou's Food Museum

Are they the "mouthpiece of the people", or a channel for "slanderous, vulgar and nakedly political assaults"? Girish Gupta probes the controversy that's been swirling over satirical lyrics and alleged government "censorship" in Georgetown. Guyana's historically been divided by ethnicity and party politics, and now some cheeky verses hinting at corruption and cronyism have been getting ministers hot under the collar. Plus, the most delicious banquet you'll never eat: the sumptuous historical feast offered in a Qing Dynasty court, now reborn in plastic at the Food Museum of Hangzhou. Fuchsia Dunlop savours a visit: there's plenty of culinary history to digest ... and a rather nice cafe attached.

Presenter: Pascale Harter. Producer: Polly Hope.
Photo: Guyanese calypsonian Ras Marcus, pictured in Georgetown. (Girish Gupta)

Available now

11 minutes

Broadcast

  • Thu 30 Jan 2014 20:50GMT