Mister Peters’ wake/concert will awaken heaven’s doors

wilfred peters

An official death announcement of Wilfred Peters was issued from the Government’s Press Office today. It highlighted the life of the musician and referred to him as the grandfather of Brukdong Music.  Peters was born in Gracie Rock Village on the fifteenth of April, 1931 and died on the ninth of June, 2010 at age seventy nine. He is survived by his wife Misses Martha Peters and ten children.  Mister Peters has performed Brukdong Music throughout the Caribbean: CARIFESTA in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba.  He also performed in Europe, the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.  He won numerous prestigious local and international awards.  Wherever he performed he was a huge hit, well known and loved.  A few weeks ago Peters performed in a coming home concert in Gracie Rock Village.  According to Greg Vernon, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts (I.C.A.), the wake on Sunday night is a musical homage by his peers and musicians from different genres.

Greg Vernon, Director, I.C.A.

greg vernon

“We’ll be having a celebration of his life at his home. Of course you know Mister Peters has a beautiful basketball court in front of his home. So we will be blocking the streets and we’ll be having artists from all over Belize. I know from Dangriga we are looking at Supa G, Reckless, we’re looking at Nuru. But Miss Barbara Noralez is arranging that. Al Obando is hsowing interest in coming in as being the engineer in this festival. Also we’ve gotten word from Paul Nabor said that he will be coming for the concert and also for the funeral. We are looking at the Malantee drummers coming in to celebrate Mister Peters. Of course, bredda David will be here. We are looking at Cheki and the Youth Connection band—Robert Usher from Orange Walk—Lucio said he was looking at making an appearance also.  It will be a very flowing artist expression. We’re looking at the Ugandani dance company, Harrison king out of Hattieville and you know his voice is a beautiful voice when it comes to Brukdong. So he will be there, the members of the Boom and Chime band will be on stage. We’re doing a whole stage, a beautiful setting as a good sendoff and a good wake for Mister Peters—I’m sure a good Creole wake, the way how he woulda mi wah see it done. Under the direction of Sergeant Major Mendez, the B.D.F. will be parading his body through the streets of Belize. The body will be moved from the morgue at eight a.m. in the morning, Monday. He will be paraded through the streets: going from St. Thomas into Freetown, into Douglas Jones over the B.E.L. China Bridge, Youth for the Future Drive, Johnson Street left into Cemetery Road on to Orange Street and then right on to Albert Street to St. John’s Cathedral. This will be a full regalia so we are inviting people to come out and view this body.”

Vernon says that food vendors are encouraged to call or contact the Institute of Creative Arts (I.C.A.) on Saturday because a large crowd is expected at the wake.  The wake is starting at six p.m. and is expected to end at twelve a.m. on Sunday night.  The funeral, which will be led by Canon Flowers, starts at ten a.m. at St. John’s Cathedral in Belize City on Monday.  Viewing of the body will be one hour before the start of the funeral. Peters will be laid to rest in Lord Ridge Cemetery next to another icon, George Gabb.