Belize and Garifuna Community Website - www.apalacioexchange.com
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Hello My Peeps,
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LAUNCHING OF NYASHA LAING’S “PUNTA” SOUL DOCUMENTARY FILM
BELIZEANS PACK LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY THEATER TO WATCH THE LAUNCHING OF NYASHA LAING’S “PUNTA” SOUL DOCUMENTARY FILM
By: Wellington C. Ramos
On Friday the 13th of March 2009, hundreds of Belizeans packed Long Island University Theater in Downtown Brooklyn to witness the launching of a documentary Garifuna film titled “Punta Soul” that was produced by a Belizean Lawyer and music Promoter Nyasha Laing who has been working with a popular Garifuna musician, singer, educator and director of the Afrigarifuna Youth Ensemble, which is the only organization that is dedicated to teach young children all aspects of the Garifuna Culture in New York State. Over the years many of the young children who have been members of this organization, have learnt how to play various types of musical instruments especially the Garifuna drums the primera and the secunda..
These two drums have been the predominant musical instruments that have provided the mainstay of the punta, mali, wanaragua, gunje, and several other types of Garifuna music for dance, ceremonial and other occasions. Many people identify the Garifuna music with just the punta and wanaragua dances. The Garifuna culture possess several other types of dances and music that should also be highlighted to the general public, in order to improve the public’s knowledge of the culture. In fact wanaragua which is popularly known as Jonkunu is not even a Garifuna dance. This dance came about because of the African slave experience in ceremonies that were held for a white man by the name of John Canoe who was a slave trader in West Africa during the slave period. Africans throughout the continent and the Caribbean region all dance Jonkunu with some similarities and differences.
Punta Soul is a documentary that tells a story about a Garifuna music called “Punta” that has developed into a new music now known as “Punta Rock” that was composed by a Dangriga native son musician and artist Pen Cayetano in Dangriga Town Belize Central America. The main differences between Punta and Punta Rock is that Punta Rock is faster, more energized and has more bass. The differences between Punta and Punta Rock could be compared with the differences between skaw and Reggae Music. Due to the differences in these music, the dancing of Punta Rock requires the exertion of more energy by the person who chose to dance this music. One who chose to dance Punta must be in top notch shape to withstand all the leg and body movements over a long period of time without getting exhausted. The improvements in musical instruments and technology has brought about a significant change in the playing of Punta music but it is difficult to eradicate the drums from the music.
The drums in Punta is such an important element, that even with modern technology the music is not the same without the drums. For the Garifuna people the drums are used to bring in their ancestor’s spirits in order to communicate with them and start a dialogue. The playing of certain type of music and the singing of certain songs could have an adverse effect on the people who are listening to the music and song at some occasions. In Garifuna culture, it is strongly suggested that Garifuna musicians do not sing or play certain type of music at some occasions. Some Garifuna musicians who have strayed away from this cultural practice, have experienced some strange episodes at their cultural events.
Before the documentary film was staged, the Master of Ceremonies Ms Melanie Martinez introduced several distinguished guests who were in attendance and the people who contributed to make the film such as; Professor Michael Stone from Yale University. Also in attendance was a Belizean Politician by the name of David Grinage who is seeking to unseat City Councilman Al Van in the 36th City Council District which is concentrated in Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn. After the introduction was completed, James Lovell and his group the Afrigarifuna Youth Ensemble, gave a cultural show which displayed the musical talents of the children who are currently enrolled in the cultural learning institute. The people in the audience were applauding the talents of the young children that were playing the musical instruments. The only thing that was missing from the presentation was showing the various types of Garifuna dances and that was probably due to the small space that was available on the stage.
Overall, most people in the audience were pleased and seem to be satisfied with the show that was given by the group and the documentary film. After the show, food and refreshments were made available for the audience and the DVD’s were available for everybody to purchase from the producer for $15.00 a piece. For me the moment of surprise came when it came to questions and answers. A young Belizean child asked Ms Nyasha Laing, what motivated her to do the documentary and she responded by saying the love for music and the culture. Any documentary that is done to promote our cultures in Belize should be commended. Belize is not a place that is known by too many people in the world and surprisingly among many citizens from the Caribbean and Latin America. In my travels in the United States and Europe, I find that more Europeans know more about Belize than people in our region. We as Belizeans should continue to be proud of our Belizean heritage and the various cultures from our country. This documentary launching will set the pace for more documentaries to come on the Garifuna people and the other cultures of Belize.
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