In Belize, the centre of the settlement day celebrations is the town of Dangriga. The normally slow paced and sleepy hamlet is transformed into a vibrant and bustling locale for the 19th, with music, dance and food to be found in abundance. Dangriga is less than an hour’s drive from Cocoplum, and can be reached in as little as 18 minutes by plane. Tomorrow I will be on the lookout for Hudut and Ereba. Hudut (shown with fried fish in the photo) is a dumpling made from pounded plantains, and Ereba is bread made from Cassava flour. The fish, usually barracuda or snapper, is often poached in coconut milk or fried whole. The music scene is lively, with drummers in abundance accompanied by traditional dancers and vocalists. There are many different genres of music within the Garifuna music spectrum including traditional drumming, Punta, and Paranda. The traditional drumming is pared down to percussion and vocals only, often accompanied by dancers. This type of Garifuna music is the soundtrack to everything from the most sacred Dugu ceremony, right down to the very playful Charikanari. Punta rock is a fast paced more modern form utilizing electric guitars, bass and keyboards in addition to drums, and is definitely dance floor friendly. Paranda is somewhere in between the previous two, a very melodic and emotional form that often integrates acoustic guitars. Garifuna music became globally recognized with the release of the Paranda influenced album ‘Watina’ by Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective in 2007. Even though Andy Palacio passed away not long after the album received critical acclaim, the group forges forward and has released a new album, Ayo, in tribute to their fallen brother. The photo below is the album’s cover.