Battle of the Drums

Yurumein & Garifuna Mass
2023-11-19 06:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 95 Front Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
Yurumein – This refers to the Re-enactment Ceremony. The Ceremony takes place at 6:30 a.m. at the Punta Gorda Cooperative wharf area and presents a dramatization that depicts the first arrival of the Garinagu to the shores of Belize. After the Re-enactment Ceremony there is a parade through the principal streets of Punta Gorda Town and thereafter a mass of thanksgiving is held at the St. Peter Claver Church. The Yurumein, parade and church service is financed and organized by the Battle of the Drums Secretariat in collaboration with the National Garifuna Council – Peini Branch.

5th Annual National Ms. Yurumein Contest
2023-11-17 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Fr. Francis Ring Parish Hall, 95 Front Street, Punta Gorda town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
From the year 2010, the Battle of the Drums Secretariat has hosted a local Ms. Yurumein Contest, featuring Garifuna women from Punta Gorda Town. The Ms Yurumein 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. In 2016, for the first time we hosted a National Ms. Yurumein Contest featuring Garifuna women from across the country of Belize. The reigning queen is Ms. Dorine Castillo who represented Dangriga.

The Garifuna Experience Tour - San Pedro
2023-11-17 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Garifunarobics is your Garifuna style workout where international aerobics instructor, Arnol Guity-Martinez uses Garifuna music to teach aerobics as well as health and wellness. Each session is an hour and a half. Apart from Punta Gorda Town, the tour will include visits to Belize City, Seine Bight, San Pedro, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Dangriga, Hopkins.

The Garifuna Experience Tour - Belize City
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Swift Hall, Belize City, Belize District, Belize
Garifunarobics is your Garifuna style workout where international aerobics instructor, Arnol Guity-Martinez uses Garifuna music to teach aerobics as well as health and wellness. Each session is an hour and a half. Apart from Punta Gorda Town, the tour will include visits to Belize City, Seine Bight, San Pedro, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and Hopkins.

The Garifuna Experience Tour - Dangriga
2023-11-15 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Email
Garifunarobics is your Garifuna style workout where international aerobics instructor, Arnol Guity-Martinez uses Garifuna music to teach aerobics and health and wellness. Each session is an hour and a half. Apart from Punta Gorda Town, the tour will include visits to Belize City, Seine Bight, San Pedro, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and Hopkins.

The Garifuna Experience Tour - Seine Bight
2023-11-14 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Seine Bight Multi-Purpose Building, Seine Bight Village, Seine Bight Village, Stann Creek District, Belize

Children’s Garifuna Talent Show
2023-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Punta Gorda Central Park, Central Park, Punta Gorda town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This event showcases the teaching and learning in our Garifuna Language in Schools Program in the primary school system. It is a Talent Show where each presentation has to be done in the Garifuna Language and each participant receives a prize.

The Garifuna Experience Tour - Hopkins
2023-11-13 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Lebeha Drumming Center, Main Street, Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District, Belize

Love FM Paranda Show
2023-11-12 14:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Garbutt’s Marina, 1 Mile San Antonio Rd, Punta Gorda town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This event is a live radio broadcast that focuses on Paranda Music. This event is a collaboration between Battle of the Drums Secretariat and Love FM. During the broadcast on Love FM. Paranda music will be played live by various Paranderos in Punta Gorda Town. The event commences at 2:00 p.m.

The Belize Garifuna Music Festival
2023-11-12 00:00 - 06:00 (America/New_York) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The Belize Garifuna Musical Festival takes place immediately after the Battle of the Drums Competition and Show and will continue until 6:00 a.m. on the morning of November 12, 2023. The Belize Garifuna Musical Festival features performances of various genre of Garifuna Music by local and internationally renowned artists. The winners of the Garifuna Song Competition will also be in attendance. The performances will showcase the following music forms: Hüngü Hüngü, Paranda, Gunjei, Punta, and Punta Rock.

18th Annual Battle of the Drums 2023
2023-11-11 19:30 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The night commences with the 18th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show. This is a Competition and Show that allows groups to compete and display their musical artistry in playing five (5) different categories of Garifuna drumming. The first Battle of the Drums was held in Punta Gorda Town on November 17, 2006, and has been well received by spectators from home and abroad. This competition and show has become a major local and tourist attraction and a catalyst for significant economic activity in the Punta Gorda Area during the period when it is hosted. The Battle of the Drums Competition and Show is held every year on the Saturday immediately preceding the 19th day of November.
The proceeds from the Battle of the Drums Initiative are strictly used to pursue various Garifuna cultural retrieval projects in Punta Gorda Town and other Garifuna communities as the funds allow. The cultural retrieval projects include the annual Battle of the Drums summer camps for children and youths, the Garifuna Language and Drumming in Schools program for primary school-age children, Annual Primary Schools Garifuna Translation contest, among others.

Battle of the Drums Food and Fete and Garifuna Song Competition Awards and Concert
2023-11-10 19:00 - 2023-11-11 02:00 (America/New_York) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This is the term used to describe the opening night of the Battle of the Drums weekend festivities. It will be held on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
This event brings people together from all walks of life to socialize, network and enjoy an evening of good food and great Garifuna music. It showcases Garifuna cuisine fused with contemporary cooking styles, dishes and menus prepared by executive chefs from luxury resorts located in Southern Belize as well as local cooks.
Also, for the first time ever, the Belize Garifuna Song Competition Awards and Concert will be incorporated into the events for this night. Awards will be presented to the 12 semi-finalists of the Garifuna Song Competition who will present their songs to the audience. From the 12 semi-finalists, 5 will be chosen to be awarded as follows:

Song of the Year Award
Best multi-genre song Award – Amateur
Best single genre song Award – Amateur
Best multi-genre song Award – Professional
Best single genre song Award – Professional

14th Annual Primary Schools Garifuna Translation Contest
2023-11-10 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The contest tests the participants’ ability to translate words, phrases, sentences and proverbs from standard English to Garifuna.
In this Contest, 10 primary schools will participate as follows: from Toledo District: St. Joseph R.C. School from Barranco; St. Peter Claver Primary School, P.G. Methodist School, and 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, Holy Family R.C. School from Hopkins Village, and Gulisi Primary School, Sacred Heart R.C. School and Holy Ghost R.C. School from Dangriga Town

The Garifuna Experience Tour - Peini
2023-11-09 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize

The Garifuna Experience Tour - San Ignacio
2023-11-08 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Galvez Stadium, George Price Highway, San Ignacio, Cayo District, Belize

Battle of the Drums 18th Anniversary Garifuna Mass and Service Day
2023-11-05 08:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 95 Front Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This day will commence at 8:00 a.m. with a Garifuna Mass of Thanksgiving at the St. Peter Claver Church and will be followed by activities which include providing community service to a deserving sector of our Punta Gorda Garifuna community.

11th Annual High Schools Battle of the Drums
2023-11-03 09:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Julian Cho Technical High School, 14 1/2 Miles San Antonio Rd, Dump, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This year the High Schools Battle of the Drums is being hosted by Julian Cho Technical High School and will be held in Peini Punta Gorda Town. Eight High Schools will be participating in the competition namely, Toledo Community College, Independence High School, Georgetown Technical High School, Delille Academy, Ecumenical High School, Wesley College and Maud Williams High School. The current champion is Independence High School.

Belize Garifuna Music Festival
2022-11-12 23:30 - 2022-11-13 06:00 (America/Belize) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The Belize Garifuna Musical Festival takes place immediately after the Battle of the Drums and will continue until 6:00 a.m. on the morning of November 13, 2022. The Belize Garifuna Musical Festival will feature performances of various genres of Garifuna Music by local and internationally renowned artists. The winners of the Garifuna Song Competition will also be in attendance. The performances will showcase the following music forms: Hungu Hungu, Paranda, Gunjei, Punta, and Punta Rock.

Battle of the Drums Competition & Show
2022-11-12 19:00 - 23:30 (America/Belize) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The 17th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show sees groups from all over Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras compete to display their musical artistry in playing five categories of Garifuna drumming. This year’s show is going to be bigger and better.

Battle of the Drums Food & Fete
2022-11-11 20:00 - 2022-11-12 03:00 (America/Belize) | PG Sporting Auditorium, Queen Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This is the term used to describe the opening night of the Battle of the Drums weekend festivities. It will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. This event brings people from all walks of life to socialize, network, and enjoy an evening of good food and great Garifuna music. It showcases Garifuna cuisine fused with contemporary cooking styles, dishes, and menus prepared by executive chefs from luxury resorts located in Southern Belize and local cooks. It also features local and national Garifuna musical performers performing great Paranda music. Additionally, this event features the following:
(a) Awards to various Garifuna individuals
(b) Garifuna fashion show
(c) Silent auction of prized Garifuna art and items.

Belize Garifunarobics Tour
2022-11-03 - 2022-11-10
This novel and captivating experience will travel through our beautiful and diverse country of Belize all while promoting a healthier lifestyle, and creating a fun space, while also educating and preserving the Garifuna Culture. The event will include a combination of a Disc Jockey with live Garifuna Drumming accompanied by a team of singers (Gayusa) that will harmoniously follow the instructions and the rhythm of the instructor as he continuously and joyfully engages the participants.
The total duration of the session is 120 minutes. Outside of the 120 minutes, about 30 minutes will be allocated for meet & greet, warm-up, and also to engage the attendees. The tour will make 8 stops, commencing in Orange Walk followed by, Belize City, Caye Caulker, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Dangriga, Hopkins, and Punta Gorda.
Our goal is to make this novel and captivating experience affordable so that a great number of our Belizean people can be a part of this captivating experience. Therefore tickets will be sold for this event at an affordable rate of $25 per individual.
CULTURE, HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Belize Garifuna Song Competition
2022-10-28 20:00 - 2022-10-29 02:00 (America/Belize) | Bird’s Isle, 90 Albert Street, Belize City, Belize District, 00000, Belize
Showcase for the 12 finalists of the Belize Garifuna Song Competition followed by a concert featuring Lloyd, Reckless, Chico & Sweet Pain. New music mixed in with some classics.

Virtual Yurumein & Garifuna Mass
2021-11-19 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 95 Front Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
Yurumein – This refers to the Re-enactment Ceremony. The virtual presentation of the Yurumein commences at 8:00 a.m. with a dramatization that depicts the first arrival of the Garinagu to the shores of what was then the British Settlement, now known as Belize. The Re-enactment Ceremony is followed by a parade through the principal streets of Punta Gorda Town and thereafter a mass of thanksgiving is held at the St. Peter Claver Church.

Battle of the Drums Showcase and Belize Garifuna Musical Festival (Virtual)
2021-11-13 19:00 - 23:30 UTC | Virtual Space, Virtual Space, Punta gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The night commences with the 16th Annual Virtual Battle of the Drums Showcase. This Showcase allows groups to display their musical artistry in playing five (5) different categories of Garifuna drumming.
The Virtual Belize Garifuna Musical Festival takes place immediately after the Virtual Battle of the Drums. The Virtual Belize Garifuna Musical Festival will feature performances of various genres of Garifuna Music by local and internationally renowned artists. The performances will showcase the following music forms: Hungu Hungu, Paranda, Gunjei, Punta, and Punta Rock.

Battle of the Drums 16th Anniversary Garifuna Mass and Service Day
2021-11-07 07:00 - 08:30 UTC | St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 95 Front Street, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This day will commence at 7:00 a.m. with a Garifuna Mass of Thanksgiving at the St. Peter Claver Church and will be followed by activities that include providing community service to a deserving sector of our Punta Gorda community

Battle of the Drums Annual Summer Camp
2021-08-02 09:00 - 2021-08-07 14:00 UTC | Virtual Space, Virtual Space, Punta gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
The summer camp will be held virtually and will immerse the participants in the Garifuna culture among other things. It will culminate on Saturday, August 7, 2021, with a virtual tour of Sabal’s Cassava making factory

Battle of the Drums Theme Song Competition
2021-07-03 20:30 - 2021-08-31 23:30 UTC | Virtual Space, Virtual Space, Punta gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
As part of its marketing initiative, the Battle of Drums would like to include in its intangible assets, a theme song that everyone can associate with and recognize as the promotion of the Battle of the Drums initiative and its related objectives. In this regard, a Battle of the Drums Theme Song will be held.

The lyrics of the song should provide the listener with a good understanding of the Battle of the Drums initiative. Each entry should use three or more of the following genres of Garifuna music: Hüngü Hüngü, Paranda, Punta, Punta Rock, Gunjei.

Brand Launch & Summer Fest (Virtual)
2021-07-03 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Virtual Space, Virtual Space, Punta gorda Town, Toledo District, 00000, Belize
This event will see the virtual launch of the Battle of the Drums. The official unveiling of the all-new redesigned logo, the updated website, and everything Garifuna E-store followed with the Garifuna Summer Music concert.
