19th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show

The 19^th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show was held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the Sporting Auditorium in Punta Gorda Town, Belize.

The Battle of the Drums Competition and Show is one where drumming groups comprised of 6 members compete to be recognized for the prestigious title of Masters of the Garifuna Drums. The following drumming groups participated in the event:

At the end of the Competition, the following winners were declared:

1^st Place – Independence Junior College. They received $1,800.00 sponsored by Belize Port Authority, pair of drums valued at $1,000.00, sponsored by Evan and Sylvia Cayetano and a trophy valued at 1,000.00 sponsored In Memory of Leticia Duncan Young.

2^nd Place – Hawani Wayunagu from Dangriga. They received $1,200.00 sponsored by the Martin Petillo Family Memorial Account and $200 sponsored by Mayor Robert Mariano and the Dangriga Town Council of Dangriga Town.

3^rd Place – Ibayani Georgetown from Georgetown. They received $800.00 sponsored Justo and Joan Augustine

Consolation Prizes of $300 each, went to Heretimatiwa Uwara of Belize City, Uwaraguati Peini of Peini, Punta Gorda, Iseri Lumali Bahama of Honduras and Luwaruguma Gulfu of Guatemala. The consolation prizes are sponsored by Dr, Corine Lambey, Mrs. Elma Brown, Ms. Olive Woodye and Ms. Martha Serano.

Best Chumba Performance – Ibayani Georgetown from Georgetown village, who received $150.00 sponsored by Shantae Morrison and Mike Novelo.

Best Wanaragua Dancer – Hawani Wayunagu, from Dangriga Town, who received $100.00, sponsored by Dr. Dez Ann Avila and a plaque sponsored by Dr. Rita Enriquez/Lan Barangu luba Garifunaduou.

Most Exciting Sisira Performance – Luwaruguma Gulfu from Guatemala, who received $100 sponsored by In memory of Zack and Justo Flores.

Maura Lopez Award for Best Group Gayusa – shared by Independence Junior College of Independence Village and Iseri Lumalali Bahama of Honduras. They each received $250 each, sponsored by Family of the late Winston and Maura Lopez.

Olivia Palacio Avila Award for Best Uniform –shared by Ibayani Georgetown of Georgetown Village and Independence Junior College of Independence Village. They received $250 each, sponsored by the family of the late Modesta Palacio.

Mayor Robert Mariano and his wife also offered cash prizes of $125.00 to each of our visiting teams from Guatemala and Honduras.

The annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show is held each year in Peini Punta Gorda, Belize. The event showcases various aspects of the Garifuna culture while at the same time creating income generating opportunities for the Battle of the Drums Secretariat so that we can support our Garifuna cultural retrieval and preservation initiative which is pursued under the 3 main pillars:

1. Garifuna Language retrieval and preservation
2. Garifuna Drumming, Singing and Dance retrieval and preservation; and,
3. Garifuna Community support.

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