This year the High Schools Battle of the Drums is being hosted by Delille Academy and will be held in Dangriga Town. Participating high schools will come from Belize City, Dangriga Town, Independence, Georgetown Village, and Punta Gorda Town. We expect that 10 high Schools will participate. The current champion is Independence High School.
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 that include providing community service to a deserving sector of our Punta Gorda Garifuna community.
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; […]
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 15, 2024, 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 […]
The night commences with the 19th 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, […]
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 15, 2024. The Belize Garifuna Musical Festival features performances of various genres of Garifuna Music by local and internationally renowned artists. The winners of the Garifuna Song […]
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.
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 […]
13th annual high school battle of the drums is the premier student showcase for Garifuna performance in Belize. The event brings together 8–10 secondary-school ensembles from across the country—Belize District, Toledo District, and Stann Creek District—for a high-energy contest that celebrates precision drumming, layered vocals, and choreography grounded in tradition. It’s a morning of school […]
The 2nd Annual Primary School Battle of the Drums is where Belize’s youngest Garifuna performers take the stage. Primary-level ensembles—drummers, singers, and dancers—present short, polished routines that highlight timing, call-and-response, and choreography rooted in tradition. The event celebrates early skill development and school pride while building the habits that lead to confident, culturally grounded performers in […]
The 2025 Battle of the Drums Food & Fete is a formal evening that celebrates Garifuna taste, music, and achievement. Guests take their seats for a three-course dinner—appetizer, main course, and dessert—while live Garifuna music sets the mood. Midway through the program, we present the Achievement Awards to honor leaders and partners who strengthen culture. […]
The 20th anniversary Battle of the Drums Competition & Show marks two decades of world-class Garifuna performance. As the flagship stage, the 20th anniversary Battle of the Drums brings elite ensembles to deliver precision drumming, soaring vocals, and choreography grounded in tradition—crafted for impact, authenticity, and audience connection. What it’s about This is the night […]