Garifuna culture to explode at Old Belize

On November nineteenth Belize’s Garifuna population will commemorate their historic arrival on Belize’s shores some one hundred and seventy-four years ago. To mark the important milestone the National Garifuna Council has been planning a long list of events leading up to the big day. One of those activities, dubbed the “Garifuna Explosion” takes place this weekend.

Dativa Martinez, Assistant Treasurer, N.G.C.
?The Garifuna Explosion is going to be showcasing Garifuna culture at its best. So really and truly we are having performances from some of our top performers, dancers, singers, music and drumming. The food of course, our attire, everything is going to be showcased and we?re hoping to have just classy pieces of Garifuna to be showcased to the general public.?

Michael Polonio, President, N.G.C.
?The purpose first of all is to provide funds and revenues for a Garifuna Trust Fund that we have launched. It was already registered a number of years ago, but this year we selected the board of trustees and basically we are launching the fund, so the revenues from here goes into that fund and the purpose of that fund is to provide N.G.C. with the sustainability that it has been striving to attain over all these twenty-fives years, to provide funding for scholarships for our many deserving but needy young students. To provide funding for the many social needs that keep coming up.?

Garifuna Explosion takes place at Old Belize on Saturday night from eight to eleven. Tickets are seventy-five dollars each and can be purchased at the door or in advance at WorldCom Technologies and Record Shack. We understand the N.G.C. plans to make the event an annual fundraiser.