Garifuna Collective and Umalali Women’s Group return from Washington

The Garifuna Collective and Umalali Women’s Group is back in Belize from Washington D.C. It was a particularly memorable tour for the group because they retraced the steps of their mentor, Andy Palacio. For the past two weeks the group participated in a music festival as a part of the Peace Corps fiftieth anniversary. Josh Arana stopped by our newsroom today to share their experience.

Josh Arana, Member of Garifuna Collective

“The recent trip we came back from is the Smithsonian folk life; it’s a festival put together every year to celebrate the anniversary of the Peace Corps. Umalali was there when Andy Palacio received the Womex award in Spain. Since Andy Palacio passed away, Umalali the women’s project has been the one to carry on that torch from Andy Palacio’s Watina.”

Andrea Polanco

Josh Arana

“How long were you guys there? What were the performances like?”

Josh Arana

“We were there for two weeks. It was brutal so to speak. I personal believe it was the hardest tour that the group has been on. We performed twice a day for ten days. That’s like twenty shows. But the reception kept us going we were one of the favorites at the festival this year. So I hope that they would send back for us some other time.”

The eight band members received certificates from the Smithsonian Institute.