Punta and traditional Garifuna music
In a nutshell, we could say that the country's musical traditions are above all those of its three main communities: Garifunas, Maya-Métis and Creoles. It is among the former that we find the most widespread tradition throughout the territory: the punta.
The punta. A cornerstone of Garifuna culture, this style combines West African and indigenous rhythms, and recounts the daily problems of the community through songs accompanied by percussion, xylophones and wind instruments. Over time, this traditional music welcomed more modern influences - and new instruments such as the electric guitar, synthesizers and bass - giving birth to punta rock in the 1980s.
One of the country's most famous artists, Andy Palacio (1960-2008) is appreciated for his broad aesthetic range, from traditional Garifuna styles to punta rock. Born in a small village in the Toledo District called Barranco, he distinguished himself early on through his practice of Garifuna music, to which he liked to add a variety of sounds, often taken from neighboring Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala or Jamaica and Cuba. Known not only for his music, but also for his political commitment, he has established himself as an ambassador for his country around the world and as a hero of Garifuna heritage. Co-founded by the late Andy Palacio, let's not forget to mention The Garifuna Collective, a group that blends the vibrant musical traditions of the Garifuna with those of the African diaspora.
The other big name in punta and Garifuna culture is Chico Ramos. Famous in the country for his hit Sopa de Caracol, he has enjoyed worldwide success, and every one of his releases is eagerly awaited by punta lovers. In fact, he's considered the country's godfather of the genre. Two other names to know: Pen Cayetano, considered one of the pioneers of punta rock, and Lova Boy, a more recent success with a more modern formula.
Punta is as much to listen to as it is to dance to. A languorous dance practised in couples, it relies on hip movements and delicate footwork. At certain celebrations, punta dancing can take the form of competitions between couples. It's also worth noting that while it's particularly popular at celebrations such as carnivals, popular events such as the Cashew Festival - held in mid-May in the village of Crooked Tree - are often the occasion for punta concerts.
La Paranda. Similar to punta, but slower and heavily influenced by Latin music, paranda is both a rhythm and a Garifuna music. Set to melodies drenched in acoustic guitar lamentations, the lyrics are generally a frank social commentary. Paul Nabor (1928-2014) is widely regarded as the artist who popularized the genre, and is often cited as its most talented musician.
Less well known but very much a part of Garifuna culture are the chumba and hunguhun, circular dances and polyrhythmic music (with call-and-response songs for the latter), as well as work songs such as theEremwu Eu or Laremuna Wadauman.
Punta Gorda hosts an annual "Battle of Drums", a competition celebrating Garifuna music. Alternatively, you can get up close and personal with Garifuna music in Dangriga, at the Pen Cayetano Gallery, where concerts are often organized, or in San Antonio, at the Warasa Garifuna Drum School, where live performances are often held.
Other traditional music and dance
Among the maya-mestizo peoplean ethnic group with Mayan and/or Mestizo/Spanish ancestors, who account for almost half the country's population, play the marimba, an authentic Mayan instrument, albeit with West African xylophone roots, as well as the Mayan harp. To appreciate this instrument, we recommend listening to the works of Florencio Mes, a renowned Mayan harpist.
Within the Creole community, the leading musical practice is thebrukdown. Similar to calypso, this music dates back to the days of slavery and features often satirical lyrics, accompanied by donkey jaw(quijada), drums and banjo. While Brad Pattico is one of the most popular musicians in the field, it is Wilfred Peters (1931-2010) who is considered the pioneer and king of the genre. The title of "brukdown queen" is held by Leela Vernon (1950- 2017).
Popular and contemporary music
There's more to Belize than just punta. Belizeans are particularly fond of such names as Dan Man (rap), Melonie Gillette (pop-R&B), Leroy Young (spoken word) and Gerald Rhaburn, a local icon of calypso and soca (who has also exported brukdown abroad). Further afield from the island's aesthetic canons, we also find Verge of Umbra, a band fusing elements of hip hop and reggae with rock and heavy metal.
Otherwise, the best-known Belizean musicians are undoubtedly those from the diaspora, such as Errollyn Wallen, a composer and pianist born in Belize but raised in London, with an equal interest in avant-garde classical and popular music. That said, she receives commissions from major scholarly music institutions such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Ballet, the Welsh National Opera and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The other great artist of the diaspora is Shyne. Born (Moses Michael Levi Barrow) in Belize, he moved to Brooklyn as a child and began rapping in his teens. He was noticed at an early age and went on to collaborate with some of the biggest artists in the field, often on commercially successful albums such as Usher's Confessions, Lil Wayne's Carter IV, Notorious B.I.G's Born Again and Puff Daddy's Forever.
In Belize City, the Bliss Centre For The Performing Arts is typically the kind of venue where you can get close to young Belizean artists.
