If you have never experience the soulful rhythm of Garifuna Parranda music – then Hopkins is a must stop for you. On April 15th, 2017, Palmento Grove offered a unique opportunity to experience the acoustic music of the Parranderos from Belize, Honduras and Guatemala.
Parranda is both a rhythm and a genre in music, a basic rhythm that can be heard in Garifuna traditional drumming styles that harkens back to St. Vincent and West Africa. Here, the Garifuna encountered the Latin music, incorporated the acoustic guitar which is how Parranda acquired its touch of Latin and Spanish rhythm. It is performed solely on acoustic instruments namely the guitar, Garifuna drums, shakers and turtle shells.’
The event is hosted by Palmetto Grove Cultural and Fishing Lodge, “…as a part of its mandate to retrieve and preserve our Garifuna culture through the genre of indigenous music that has been slowly dying in our Garifuna communities,” says Uwahnie Martinez, events coordinator and lodge owner. This annual folk music celebration is a part of events celebrated in Hopkins every Easter weekend. Belizeans and international guests enjoy a full day for cassava making classes, along with a tour of the Isaiah Nicholas Art Exhibit.
International Headliner for this even is Aurelio Martinez and the Garifuna Collectives, a Honduran master of Parranda musicians, and Ideal Castillo. Local headliners are Godfrey ‘the Mayan Parrandero’, Cewills, Aziatic, and 15 other artists who will be celebrating the Garifuna Culture through Music and Art.
Hamanasi showcased Aziatic and Ideal Castillo at the Singanga Cocktail Bar on Friday, April 15th, 2017, from 4:30 pm through 6:00 pm for Happy Hour. Mark, Ambro, Jose and Euart our Hamanasi Mixologists served our in-house fusion of non alcoholic beverages.
