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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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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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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The Ms. Yurumein National Contest is a Garifuna Cultural Talent Show for women over 45 years of age. This Contest provides a forum where our more “matured” Garifuna women can display their creative talent. A Show of this nature provides great entertainment and is generally well-received by the audience. Ms. Yurumein National Contest 2019 featured Garifuna women from various Garifuna communities across the country of Belize, including, Ms. Bernadine Flores from Belize City, Ms. Dorine Castillo from Dangriga, Ms. Judith Williams from Seine Bight and Ms. Digna Franzua from Peini Punta Gorda.

At the end of the contest, 1^st place was awarded to Ms. Dangriga, Dorine Castillo. 2nd Place was awarded to Ms. Belize City, Bernadine Flores, and 3rd place was awarded to Ms. Punta Gorda, Digna Franzua.

The first-place winner received $700.00 while 2^nd place winner received $500.00. The 3^rd place and Consolation prize awards were $300.00 and $200.00, respectively.

The sponsors for this event included: Nurse Veronica Joan Avila, Ms. Stephanie Lambey, Nurse Lucy Cayetano, Mrs. Lilia Gutowski, Dr. Carmen Lopez Avila and Family and Battle of the Drums Secretariat.

Host families were: Mary Palacio and Family, Norma Paulino and Family, Radiance Jacobs and Family and Olivia Palacio Avila and Family.

Ms. Yurumein National Contest 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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The Goal of the camp is to assist in developing a more climate change resilient culture by fostering a sense of environmental awareness in the participants. This will be done through presentations and workshops which will be provided by various conservation organizations.

The objectives of the Camp are as follows:

1. To identify and share best practices in conserving, preserving and protecting our environment;
2. To provide a forum for participants to learn the Garifuna names of various plants and animals in our environment;
3. To learn Garifuna songs whose lyrics teach about our culture’s interaction with the environment;
4. To instill pride in our environment and culture as well as self-esteem in young Garinagu.

The Battle of the Drums Summer Camp 2019 will culminate with a visit to the Garifuna village of Hopkins, where the participants will be exposed to the Garifuna way of life in that community.  The Battle of the Drums annual summer camp is being financed from proceeds of the Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and show as well by in-kind and cash donations made by generous partners such as Oceana, Southern Environmental Association, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, BTIA-Toledo, James Bus Line and Romero’s Charters and Tours, among others.

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The annual Battle of the Drums Summer Camp was held during period July 30^th to August 4, 2018 and targeted children and youths between the ages of 5 to 18 years old.  Over 90 children and youths attended the Camp. The camp was held under the theme, “Lirasa Garifuna – Chülühali daan lun Lareidahoun” (which means, “The Garifuna Culture – The time has come for it to be preserved”).  The objectives of the Camp were as follows:

1. To provide a forum that will allow participants to learn about the Garifuna Culture;
2. To provide a forum for participants to learn the Garifuna language;
3. To transfer skills to young people in the making of craft to generate income;
4. To enhance participants’ knowledge of and singing of Garifuna songs and skills in Garifuna drumming;
5.  To instil self-esteem and pride in young Garinagu.

During the Camp, participants will be engaged in lessons in the Garifuna Language, Garifuna craft making, Garifuna singing, drumming and dance and Garifuna spirituality.

 The Battle of the Drums annual summer camp is being financed from proceeds of the Annual Battle of the Drums competition and show as well by in-kind and cash donations made by generous donors.

The Battle of the Drums Secretariat extends its sincere appreciation to the main organizer of the Camp, Teacher Josephine Terry, the various facilitators, participants and their parents and to all who provided in-kind donations.

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