AYUBE HAMID: A 90th birth anniversary tribute

The man with the golden voice in the golden age of broadcasting

In the history of broadcasting in Guyana, few people have made their mark as indelibly as Ayube Hamid Khan. On the occasion of what would have been his 90th birthday on September 20, 2016, we take a look back at the life of this true son of the soil.

For 55 years, his mellow and mesmerizing voice made time stand still as he ushered in the country’s favourite programme, “Indian Memory Album” every Monday night at 8.30 p.m. Irrespective of cultural backgrounds, a hush would descend upon thousands of households in Guyana.  A hush followed by mounting excitement as familiar strains of “Suhani Raat” and the distinctive voice of Ayube Hamid introduced his programme.

This awesome power was attributed to his arresting voice and impeccable delivery in English and Urdu, which would make this programme become the longest running radio show in the Caribbean.  It is probably safe to say that Uncle Ayube, as he was respectfully called, had created the second national anthem of the Caribbean in the song “Suhani Raat” even though it was sung by Indian playback singer Mohammed Rafi.

 His esteem grew as he single-handedly bridged the two divides of musical harmony with the programme “East Meets West”, adding informative fillers that took you down different and sometimes overlapping lanes of memory. Additionally, on Thursdays and Sundays, he brought the classical music genre to the fore.

Then came a programme that would become another staple – “The A.H. Show”. It began as Saturday night jamboree when for one hour on Saturday nights, partygoers would pause spinning their popular vinyl discs to tune into big band music of the era, and making “Everybody loves Saturday Night” a signature tune of that programme.

With his wide audience for popular music secured, he turned his attention to the local music scene. Promoting, along with others, the home-grown, live talent programme – “Local Indian Performers”. That programme showcased gifted singers like Gobin Ram, Mohan Nandu, Bal Gangadhar Tillack, Davindra Pooran and Sudama, and helped encourage the musical aspirations of others down through the ages.

At the advent of the new millennium and the increasing television age in Guyana, Uncle Ayube reinvented himself as a TV host, finally giving his fans a view of the distinguished face behind that mesmerizing voice.

He introduced the television version of Memory Album with Hindi film songs of yesteryear enhanced with film clips, along with an Islamic programme – “Reflections”.

Even with his success as a broadcaster and his ever increasing workload he found time to make invaluable contributions to the formation of the Gandhi Youth Organisation, the Muslim Youth Organisation, and the setting up of the Indian Monument Gardens on Merriman’s Mall.

Uncle Ayube, got his pioneering spirit from his grandfather, Mazahar, who came on the Plassey to British Guiana in 1882 from Meerut, India. Uncle Ayube’s search in 1998 for his ancestral roots, which took him to the village of Somdut, and to actually meet his cousin still alive at 110 years old, was one of the greatest highlights of his life.A life that was started in 1926 in Danielstown on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana.

He grew up in a Muslim home and attended Madrasah at the local mosque where he learnt the fundamentals of Urdu and Arabic. He excelled at St. Agnes Primary School and in 1937was awarded one of the two scholarships offered to that region, which took him to the revered Queen’s College in Georgetown.

Georgetown became the base for his many exploits when in 1952 he landed a job at the local radio station as an announcer. However, at that time there was another Khan (Rafiq) in residence, so with a few alterations of his middle name there evolved Ayube Hamid. A name that would begin a lifelong adventure in communication and into the annals of Guyanese broadcasting history.

His communications skills were noticed by his managers when in 1953 as a rookie, he was chosen to read on air, the proclamation from Government House when the Guyana Constitution was suspended. So it was no surprise when in that same year he was given control of “Indian Memory Album” at ZFY Radio on North Road (later moved to High Street and renamed Radio Demerara, (now defunct).

His first major event was representing Radio Demerara at the Queen’s visit to Guyana in 1966. From then on he was entrusted the role of official concert emcee when international Indian troupes visited Guyana, featuring superstars like Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Vyjayanthimala and Kishore Kumar.

His sterling contribution to our musical and multi-cultural heritage did not go unnoticed. He was the recipient of many awards: a Medal of Service (MS) and an Arrow of Achievement (AA) from the Government of Guyana for “Long and dedicated service of a consistently high standard as a broadcast journalist and for service in the social, cultural and religious fields.” At our country’s Independence in 1966, he was the recipient of a special Medal of Excellence.

In addition, Ayube Hamid Khan was honoured by the National Communications Network for his “consistent support to regional and international cricket”, the Muslim Youth Organisation, the Indian Commemoration Trust, the Indian Arrival Committee,  the Guyana Cultural Association (New York) and the Queenstown Jama Masjid, where he served as a trustee and treasurer for more than sixty years. He was also an avid tennis player and was closely associated with the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association, managing a Guyana tennis team to Boa Vista, Brazil in 1977.

Notwithstanding these awards and achievements to his credit, he declared that his greatest honour was his marriage to Jinnette (d.1994), his helpmate for some 46 years, who graciously shared him with generations of countless Guyanese fans.

In January 2009, the man and the voice that caused time to stand still each week for more than50 years fell silent. Former president Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, who gave the eulogy at his funeral, said that there has never been and will never be again such a voice and force of personality to grace the airwaves of Guyana.

Over his distinguished radio career, he interviewed many famous personalities, and his last interview the day before he died, was with another notable radio broadcaster, Mr. Eshri Singh.

In his congratulatory 90th birthday message to Ayube, Mr. Singh wrote, “Ayube was my mentor in radio broadcasting on Radio Demerara. He selflessly shared his knowledge and expertise with me. Ayube and I had great respect for each other. He was a great son of Guyana. His voice and Indian Memory Album will forever linger in our hearts. To you my brother I salute you on your 90th birthday in heaven.”

Throughout his broadcasting career, Ayube mentored numerous radio personalities some of whom are still in broadcasting today, not least of which is his daughter, Safi, who proudly continues his legacy over the airwaves of Radio Guyana Inc. 89.5 FM.