Guyana

In South Africa, we are very aware of the 'Scramble for Africa' where nation states were arbitrarily parcelled off like Secret Santa Gifts in Berlin. The north coast of South America had a similar thing happen. Left to right, Venezuela has Spanish links, Guyana British, Suriname Dutch, French Guiana French, and then Brazil Portuguese. Guyana is the only South American nation where English is the official language. The population speak Guyanese Creole - you take an English base, and throw in some West African, Dutch, Indian and Arawakan (Indigenous South American) spices. As in Fiji, Malaysia and South Africa, the English brought with them flavours of India. 43% of Guyanese have Indian heritage.

The Hoatzin - the national bird of Guyana