Brokdong: it is Belizean folk music spawned from the Mahogany camps that populated the banks of the Belize River and the interior in the 1800's. But today, that folk music doesn't get much play with Belize's fickle pop music sensibilities. And that's why the Institute of Culture and Arts sponsored a Brokdong competition, to encourage the composition of new Brokdong songs and keep the tradition alive. That competition was held on Friday night and today the winners and sponsors were recognized. 7NEWS was there.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This is the man who's the head corner stone of Brokdong in Belize, and while he did not compete, he put the competitors on notice that if they want to qualify, they've got to match his sense of lyrical invention and authenticity as displayed in elebm bocotora.
[Mr. Peters Performing.]
But despite Peter's example, there wasn't one accordion used all night and while the lyrics may have strived to Brokdong sensibilities, many of the songs sounded a lot like Soca.
[Performance]
So at the end of the night, the woman who would claim the prize was the grand old lady of Creole culture, Leelah Vernon with her new song Balahoo which follows the southern tradition of Brokdong.
Leelah Vernon, Brokdong Competition Winner
"It's a bit different from Mr. Peters because we incorporate a lot of drumming."
"Balahoo in the past we termed Balahoo as people who are lively and they laugh loud and its like you don't care and you give up all your problems and you just ha ha ha…who cares."
Well the judges did care enough, they gave Vernon three awards for the song and a total of $5,000 in prizes for: special award for content, outstanding masters' award, and Brokdong performer of the year.
Leelah Vernon,
"What I wrote was mainly about celebrating the culture and feeling happy enough about what I am doing."
And the other winner who was clearly happy about what he was doing was Alford Butler, the first runner up and best new talent. He gave a smoking, scolding performance, with his song Christmas come and gone, harmonica included.
Alford Butler,
"Because you find every time Christmas comes around there is a lot of expense in buying things for the house, buying things for people who come to visit you and so on."
Jules Vasquez,
So in your song as I understand it you are scolding people for eating you out?
Alford Butler,
"Yes they eat me out. Yes its scolding people for eating me out but at the same time its something that you're enjoying because you know its something you always do every year. So its not something that you find you're vex and you don't want to do it. You're doing it for the fun because you know only you feel all this expense but it's a time of sharing so it doesn't bother you."
Words of season wisdom from a first time songwriter savvy enough to capture both the spirit of Brokdong and of Christmas.
The main money sponsors were First Caribbean Bank and BEL. The event is already being planned for next year.