Garifuna and Kekchi museum opens
The Museum of Belize may still be a work in progress, but one family has already made their dream of opening a museum a reality. Sebastian and Isabelle Cayetano and their sons invite you to visit the Garifuna Cultural and Resource Center on Fern Lane. Although the official opening is tomorrow, News Five got a preview of this coming attraction. We also met some people at the House of Culture who want to continue Garifuna musical traditions.
Sebastian Cayetano
“It’s a welcome idea, and as I see it, it’s long overdue.”
Since 1977, Sebastian Cayetano and his family have been collecting artifacts. After a visit to the Chicago Field Museum, the family was inspired to move the artifacts out of the cupboards and into a museum of their own.
Sebastian Cayetano
“I have the unique ability to speak the six languages of Belize and because of this ability, I am also in tune with the six cultures of Belize and this has come out of me. The two major cultures we’ve been working on so far have been the Garifuna and the Kekchi.”
Cayetano hopes that someday with some additional finance he will be able to include other Belizean cultures in his museum. When that time comes, Cayetano will change the center’s name. This husband, father, and teacher says the center requires a lot of time and energy but he has not regretted the decision.
Sebastian Cayetano
“I don’t experience the hardness, because it’s a labor of love so I just enjoy it.”
The Garifuna Culture and Resource Center displays artifacts like the water bottles of our great grandfathers among the more familiar items like the Kekchi grinding stones and the Garifuna drums.
Janelle Chanona
“And if you think just looking at Garifuna drums is interesting, this week some young Belizeans got the chance to learn how to beat out a song of their own, courtesy of the House of Culture.”
Jason Guerrero, Music Coordinator
“We feel that the younger they are some formal Garifuna drumming certificate could be offered later on where they learn every single rhythm involved and become certified in it; that’s why.”
Aaron Usher, Drummer
“I want to learn how to drum so that when I know how to drum good I can show my mom and dad.”
Joshua Arana, Drum Teacher
“I’m teaching so that they get to learn new things in drumming. I admire their courage because as you know we don’t only have Garifuna people learning to drum, so I admire that.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
The drum classes, which began on November first and end Friday, are sponsored by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young, Vernon Bevans and Belize Electricity Limited. Teachers Roysus Bregal and Joshua Arana were brought to the city from Dangriga.
