Umana Yana

The Umana Yana is a tall conical thatched structure in Georgetown, built in the traditional style of the Wai-Wai indigenous people using wooden poles and palm leaves without nails. First raised in 1972 for an international conference, it has been rebuilt after fires and serves as a venue for cultural events and gatherings near the seawall. Its towering benab form, meaning a meeting place, celebrates the building techniques of Guyana's Amerindian communities. The landmark links the coastal capital to the country's interior heritage.