Movement continues to gain recognition and support for Belizean artists

According to Wright, the book has two aims: to recognize the many men and women who have entertained us for decades, and to bring awareness to the need to preserve Belizean culture. At the short launch ceremony held at the Image Factory, Yasser Musa in his remarks made note of the fact that this coming weekend, no less than twelve international artists will be coming to the Jewel to perform for huge fees, with Belizean artists booked as opening acts for peanuts. Wright says that circumstances must change if Belize is to preserve and maintain its cultural identity.

Tony Wright, President, Association for Belizean Artists First

Tony Wright

“We from the Association for Belizean Artists First Sound Fest will be 15 years old and we have never ever really got a full backing from none of these people, the Minister of Culture and none of these people. So, sometimes we think that well they font really care about arts and culture and they just want to see jump up and bramming and what not. More and more the Belizean artist are turning to different genre of music because they think that that is the only way that they are going to be heard. And we are losing our culture more and more and that is what we are fighting for. Keep Lord Rhaburn, keep Mr. Peters, keep Brother David and all these other people, keep them alive because all of these people that we have, they are great. And the young people once they see these people getting the respect, then they will want to join us and be a part of it and they will then know that we really appreciate them.”