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.

-End-

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This contest tests the participants’ ability to translate words, phrases, sentences, and proverbs from standard English to Garifuna.

In this Contest, each school is represented by 2 students. Ten primary schools participated in 2024. The participating schools were as follows: St. Joseph R.C. School from Barranco Village; P.G. Methodist School, St. Peter Claver R.C. School, St. Benedict RC School and Bethel Seventh Day Adventist School from Punta Gorda Town; St. Alphonsus RC School from Seine Bight Village; Richard Quinn Primary School from Georgetown Village; Holy Family RC School from Hopkins Village and Sacred Heart Primary School and Gulisi Community Primary School from Dangriga Town. This year’s contest was extremely competitive, with a 3-way tie for second place and a two-way tie for third place.

2024 Primary School Garifuna Translation Contest Winners winners were as follows:

The prizes awarded are as follows:

Prizes for Participants:                    

1^st Prize                        1 Mini Laptop and 1 bicycle

2^nd Prize                       1 Tablet and $100.00 Savings Account

3^rd Prize                       1 Tablet and $75.00 Savings Account

4^th Prize                       1 Tablet and a $50.00 Savings Account

5^th Prize                       1 Tablet and a $25.00 Savings account

Consolation Prizes      $50.00 Savings account

Celia Martinez Award**        Celia Martinez Plaque

Prizes for Participating Schools:

1. $25.00 for each participant that the school provides for the contest
2. $100.00 to the school of the 1^st place winner
3. $75.00 to the school of the 2^nd place winner
4. $50.00 to the school of the 3^rd place winner

We are thankful to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology for providing one bus to each school to attend the event and to the following persons for providing the Laptops, tablets, and bicycles for the prizes: Dean Pollard, Raju’s Variety Store, Herman Flores, Sandra Flores, Richard Cacho, and Garreth Herbie Clarke.

First-place winners of the Primary Schools’ Garifuna Translation Contest for past years are as follows:

This contest is an initiative under the Battle of the Drums Garifuna Language retrieval strategic objective, and it is also an initiative under our Garifuna Language in Schools program led by the Battle of the Drums and the National Garifuna Council.

~End of Release~

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Celebrating the Participants: Five high schools proudly participated in the 2022 High Schools Battle of the Drums:

1. Sadie Vernon Technical High School
2. Delille Academy
3. George Town Technical High School
4. Independence High School
5. Toledo Community College

Each of these schools brought their unique style and energy to the stage, making it a memorable event for all who attended.

Objectives of the Event: The High Schools Battle of the Drums serves several important purposes:

1. Showcasing Youth Talent: The event provides a platform for high school students to showcase their talents in Garifuna drumming, singing, and dance.
2. Cultural Exchange: It brings together youths from different parts of Belize, allowing them to interact and engage in a positive cultural experience. This fosters cultural exchange and strengthens their sense of community.
3. Self-Sustainability: The event aims to generate funds that can be reinvested in future editions of the High Schools Battle of the Drums, ensuring its self-sustainability.
4. Cultural Preservation: Funds raised are also used to support Garifuna cultural retrieval projects in participating high schools, preserving and passing down cultural traditions to the next generation.
5. Talent Pool: High Schools Battle of the Drums creates a talent pool that can participate in the Annual (Adult) Battle of the Drums Competition and Show, ensuring the continuity of this cultural celebration.

The Winners and Their Achievements: The event’s climax was the announcement of the winners, who demonstrated exceptional skills and passion for Garifuna culture:

1st Place – Independence High School: Independence High School took home the coveted 1st place, along with a cash prize of $500.00. They also received 1st Place medals, a pair of Garifuna drums, and a trophy valued at $800.00, making their victory even more special.

2nd Place – Delille Academy: Delille Academy secured the 2nd place position, earning a prize of $400.00 and 2nd Place medals. Their dedication to preserving Garifuna culture shone through their performance.

3rd Place – Georgetown Technical High School: Georgetown Technical High School claimed the 3rd place, winning $300.00 and 3rd Place medals. Their impressive display of talent delighted the audience.

Special Awards: In addition to the top three schools, several individual awards were given out to recognize exceptional talent:

• Best Chumba Performance: Georgetown Technical High School received a special award of $100.00 for their outstanding Chumba performance.
• Best Wanaragua Dancer: Erei Ramos of Independence High School was awarded $100.00 for being the Best Wanaragua Dancer, captivating the audience with his dance moves.
• Best Sisira Player: Steven Valentine from Delille Academy was recognized as the Best Sisira Player, receiving a well-deserved $75.00 prize.
• The Best Gayusa Award: Georgetown Technical High School won the Best Gayusa award and received $50.00 for their remarkable performance.

Support for All Participants: While some schools achieved top honors, every participating school received recognition and support. Other schools received consolation prizes of $200.00, and all schools were granted $50.00 each to contribute to their uniforms. This inclusive approach ensures that every school can continue to participate and thrive in the High Schools Battle of the Drums.

The 2022 High Schools Battle of the Drums was a resounding success, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Garifuna people and the remarkable talents of Belizean high school students. This event not only serves as a platform for youth to showcase their abilities but also as a means to preserve and nurture their cultural traditions. It promotes unity, positivity, and self-sustainability, enriching the lives of those who participate and attend.

The High Schools Battle of the Drums is a shining example of how cultural events can empower young generations, ensuring the preservation of cultural traditions for years to come. We eagerly look forward to the next edition, where even more youth will have the chance to shine and keep the heartbeat of Garifuna culture alive in Belize

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1. Stann Creek Ecumenical High School
2. Delille Academy
3.  George Town Technical High School
4.  Independence High School
5. Julian Cho Technical High School
6. Toledo Community College
7.  Wesley College
8.  Maud Williams High School

The objectives of this event are as follows:

1. Allow high school-aged youths to compete in a meaningful way while showcasing their talents in the expressive art of Garifuna drumming, singing, and dance;
2. Provide a forum for high school-aged youths from different parts of the country to interact with each other while engaging in a positive cultural experience and environment;
3.  Generate funds that will be re-invested in the High Schools Battle of the Drums thereby making itself sustaining;
4. Generate funds that will be used to pursue various Garifuna cultural retrieval projects in the participating high schools;
5. Provide a talent pool that will provide future participating groups for the Annual (Adult) Battle of the Drums Competition and Show.

The winners of the High Schools Battle of the Drums are as follows:

1st Place – Independence High School who won $500.00, 1st Place medals, a pair of Garifuna Drum & a trophy valued at $800.00

2nd Place – Georgetown Technical High School who won $400.00 and 2nd Place medals

3rd Place – Delille Academy who won $300.00 and 3rd Place medals

Best Chumba Performance – Independence High School, who won $100.00
Best Wanaragua Dancer – Leroy Gonzalez from Ecumenical High School, who won $100.00
Best Sisira Player – Steven Valentine from Delille Academy, who won $75.00

Independence High School, Delille Academy, and Georgetown Technical High School tied for The Best Gayusa Group award. They will share $150.00 Other schools received consolation prizes of $200.00. All schools received $50.00 each for contributions to their uniforms. The High Schools Battle of the Drums is an activity under the Garifuna drumming, singing, and dance strategic objective of the Battle of the Drums Garifuna Cultural Retrieval and Preservation Initiative.

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At the end of the Competition, the following winners were declared:
1st Place – Hanigi Wagübürigu from Dangriga
2nd Place – Liderebugu Familia from Seine Bight 
3rd Place – Ecumenical High School from Dangriga

Best Chumba Performance – Heretimatiwa Úwara from Dangriga
Best Wanaragua Dancer – Ecumenical Junior College
Most Exciting Sisira Performance – Ecumenical Junior College from Dangriga
Maura Lopez Award for Best Group Gayusa – shared by Hanigi Wayunagu and Liderebugu FamiliaFrom Seine Bight.

Olivia Palacio Avila Award for Best Uniform –shared by Walangante Huchelo from Honduras and Ecumenical Junior College from Dangriga 

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1. The song of the Year Award went to Elroy “Elstar” Martinez for his song Aba Meme Mutu (The same people)
2. The single Genre Song of the Year Award went to Sheldon Petillo for his song, Namule (My younger brother)
3. Budding Artist of the Year went to Chantal Williams for her song, Panta Wama Lau (Let’s be proud of it)

Song of the Year Winner Elroy “Elstar Martinez”

Single Genre Song of the Year Winner
Sheldon Petillo

Budding Artist of the Year Winner
Chantel Williams

The song entries were judged on originality, melody, composition, and lyrics and each song entry had to be in the Garifuna Language. The judges were Lucio Enriquez, Aurelio Martinez and James Lovell. The Song of the year award won a total of $7,000 in tangible and intangible prizes; while the Single Genre award received $4,400 in tangible and intangible prizes and the Budding Artist award received $3,900 in tangible and intangible prizes. The Judges also recognized Henry Miguel and Rodney “Bam Bam” Avila for their songs in their respective categories. The Belize Garifuna Song Competition is part of the Garifuna cultural retrieval and preservation initiative of the Battle of the Drums Secretariat of Punta Gorda Town. The objectives of the Competition are:

1. To motivate musicians to produce quality Garifuna music that will be of world music standards;
2. To provide a forum that allows musicians to showcase their Garifuna music and possibly jump-start their careers;
3. To encourage Garifuna musicians to continue to produce songs in all genres of Garifuna music, thereby contributing to the library of Garifuna music across many genres;
4. To assist musicians in acquiring the skills and equipment; connecting them with professionals in the music industry and assisting them to secure their intellectual property and market their music;
5. To contribute to cultural tourism by attracting international musical enthusiasts to a competition and related events where the music of the world-class category is being promoted. 

For more information, you can visit www.battleofthedrums.bz.

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The Battle of the Drums 2021 summer camp was very different from previous years. It was done virtually using online platforms. However, this afforded the unique opportunity to engage a wide cross-section of participants from various geographic locations. As a result, we had participants from as far away as Alaska and California in the United States as well as from various villages, towns, and cities in Belize.  

The Summer Camp targeted children and youths between the ages of 5 to 15 years old and was held under the theme, Our Family and Home, with Grace” “Waban Hama Familia, Lau Inebesei”. The Camp was executed by Camp Coordinator, Mrs. Josephine Terry, Co-Coordinators, Dr. Carmen Lopez-Avila and Mrs. Martina Alvarez, Technical Coordinators, Mrs. Alexia Flores, Mr. Kyle Zuniga & Ms. Leticia Castro, and Producer, Darius Avila.

Camp sponsors are Love FM/TV, Wil Maheia and PGTV, Rob and Lilia Gutowski, Dr. Rita Enriquez and Lan Barangu Luba Garifunaduou and Cyril Sabal and Sabal’s Cassava Factory, and The Battle of the Drums.

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The Battle of the Drums 2020 Virtual will showcase 5 types of Garifuna Drumming. The drumming styles are Punta, Paranda, Hungü Hungü, Chumba, and Wanaragua. Each drumming group, comprising of 6 members, will provide choreography showcasing the 5 drumming styles. Each performance will be for a maximum of 8 minutes. The groups will come from Punta Gorda, Seine Bight, Dangriga, and Belize City. All groups are from the country of Belize. The Battle of the Drums Virtual Show will run for approximately 1.5 hours.

The Garifuna Musical Festival 2020 Virtual

The Garifuna Musical Festival 2020 Virtual will be shown to our viewers immediately following the Battle of the Drums 2020 Virtual Show. The Garifuna Musical Festival 2020 Virtual is a structured concert that displays 5 genres of Garifuna music in the following sequence: Hungü Hungü, Paranda, Gunjei, Punta, and Punta Rock. The Garifuna Musical Festival should run for approximately 2 hours. The performances for the Show will be provided by an impressive line-up of local and international bands and artists including:

1. Sweet Pain Band
2. Wageirale Drummers
3. Nuru Ellis and the Garifuna Heart Beat Band Artists
4. Chico Ramos
5. Mohobob Flores
6. Reckless Flores
7. Lloyd Augustine
8. Nuru Ellis
9. GCK

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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 – Ecumenical Junior College from Dangriga Town

2^nd Place – Lirahunu Seinbeidi from Seine Bight Village

3^rd Place – Heretimatiwa Úwara from Belize City

Best Chumba Performance – Wageirale Drummers from Dangriga Town

Best Wanaragua Dancer –

Most Exciting Sisira Performance – Wageirale Drummers from Dangriga Town

Best Uniform – Harisi Wayunagu from Dangriga Town

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In this Contest, each school was represented by students from 7 primary schools as follows: from Toledo District: St. Joseph R.C. School of Barranco Village; St. Peter Claver Primary School, P.G. Methodist School, St. Benedict R.C. School from Punta Gorda Town; St. Alphonsus R.C. School from Seine Bight Village; Richard Quinn Primary School from Georgetown Village and Holy Family R.C. School from Hopkins Village.

The winners for this year’s contest are as follows:

St. Benedict RC school
Tiana Arzu – 1st Place

Holy Family R.C.
Clifford Castillo – 2nd place

St. Benedict RC school
Naivi Shal – 3rd place

P.G. Methodist School
Lawrence Tillet – 4th place

Holy Family R.C.
Lynnae Lewis – 5th Place

The Annual Battle of the Drums Primary Schools Garifuna Translation Contest is an activity of the Battle of the Drums Garifuna Language retrieval and preservation program.

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