But They Need Your Help In Getting There
And so to get to Spain, the Garifuna Collective needs more funds. Al Obando, the long time road manager of the band, says that while they have not been back to the World’s Music Expo since the days of the late Andy Palacio, the event itself is significant for Belize’s music. However, to get there, Obando says they need your support.
Al Obando, Road Manager, Garifuna Collective
“In terms of achievement, this sets the precedent of what Belize music is and they conditions that we have to live up to now to showcase that talent at the World Music Expo. This will decide at the same time what will happen to the music of Belize and especially the music that we play in the Garifuna Collective for the next three years in terms of being able to meet new agents, new festival owners and everybody else in the World Music market.”
Andrea Polanco
“Now you guys are still waiting to get a bit more cash to go. Would you want to make an appeal to the public to help send you guys?
Al Obando
Al Obando
“Now tonight we will be show casing at the KTV finals. We will have the account and anybody who wants to support and help with the initiative. This initiative is like we are setting the path for any other Belize artist who would dream of this stuff coming true. We are supporting the entire country of Belize. We are supporting the music, the people who are in it keeping it alive. Tonight we will be appealing to everyone who would want to support. We wish we can get some more. But we have had good feedback, just like we did just now with BTL and BTB. It took a while for everybody to get it and to understand what we are doing but at this point we are happy that there are people who understand the initiative and the importance of having Belize on the international scene.”
Andrea Polanco
“How much more do you guys needs?”
Al Obando
“We have the tickets all set already. We are doing the visas ourselves. For the Garifuna Collective, it is like between twenty thousand to thirty thousand dollars more. There is an element of the showcase. The festival expo itself has an element of a trade fair, a booth and we are working closely with NICH. They are working closely with BELTRAIDE to fund and support his area and I am sure they will going to get it together. It only makes sense for Belize to have a presence at the trade fair as well as us being there to perform at the showcase.”
