La Orquesta De La Papaya, if you haven't heard of it, you've heard it and the orchestra is made up of indigenous and modern artists from Central America who first came together in Costa Rica in 2002 to make music history. Drawing on the talents, influences and songs of the collective, they re-interpreted many standards including Mr. Peter's 'Shall I Baby' and Paul Nabor's Nguya Nei.' Now as a part of Music Week, the Orquesta is in Belize for the first time for a pair of performances. As he was warming up arrangements for the re-fitted line-up, Band Leader and Chief Papayero, Manuel Obregon explained this Orquesta is about more than music; it is about the life of a people.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
We know them for their rollicking, inspiring versions of Belizean classics such as 'Shall I baby,' and now the Central American fusion band, La Orquesta De La Papaya is in Belize for two nights only. Bandleader Manuel Obregon has brought a 19 member band playing the Papaya blend of modern and indigenous instruments. He says that wherever they have played on the isthmus of Central America it has provoked deep emotion.
Manuel Obregon,
"Its difficult to explain in words but when you hear the band it's a mix really between sadness and happiness. The people start crying sometimes and they don't know why but the thing is because of this genetic memory."
Genetic memory that promotes commonality in a region with a long history of conflict. He says the music heals wound that diplomacy cannot.
Manuel Obregon,
"Music is very powerful to do that thing what the politics of each country can't do. So its what we feel now and everybody admires that from Panama to Belize how we can show to them that it's possible to be together. We don't know really about these fights but they are artificial fights so the frontiers are brand new, Central America has always been one thing and I think the things are changing so we are thinking that its possible not only for the music but for everybody to be a part 'cause we have the same problems. And the spirit that you can see in this song from Mohobub, for example and this CD, is that the spirit of the people is stronger than the hurricanes and the civil wars and the earthquakes and the dictators that we have been through. So the music and the spirit of the human being is stronger than that."
The first of the performances takes place tomorrow night at the Bliss Center. The Orquesta will be joined on stage by Mr. Peters and Paul Nabor.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift
