He is not a Belizean but Garifuna entertainer Aurelio Martinez says he feels most at home right here. And that's not only because his culture is respected and celebrated in Belize. More than that his soulful Paranda tunes are cross-cultural anthems to the music listening public. Now he's here for the settlement day celebrations, Aurelio and his full band will perform at the one love concert tomorrow night in Dangriga and the Punta Fest in Hopkins village on the 19th night. The shows are so important that he's playing the gig with an injury to his finger, but told us, through translator Andy Palacio that he's still got enough soul in store to make his guitar cry.
Aurelio Martinez, Musician
[Translation by Andy Palacio] "He was in an accident a few days ago. He was driving his bus back from a performance in Honduras. But he still has three fingers and he can still make his guitar cry with those three. He says that this year things are progressing on the base of things that were started last year. But the reason he is happy to be here is that actually feels as though he were Belizean himself and he believes that Belize is the gateway through which Garifuna culture can be showcased to the world. We only have one flag, the Garifuna flag. And these days he prays to God the father and the ancestors for the time that Garifuna have spent in Belize, so Garinagus let's all come together. It is not culture only for Hondurans or for Guatemalans or for Belizeans; it is for the Garinagus. So we should unite under one flag as Central American people so we can show it to the world."
Tickets for the concert will be available at the venues.
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