Dancing with drums is an integral part of cultural celebrations of Garinagu in Seine Bight Village. It plays a role in the ritual and serves social, recreational entertainment, and artistic purposes. Dügü is a feast for the Garifuna ancestors performed in the Dabuyaba and presided over by a Garifuna Buyei. Dance integrates the physical and mental processes, encourages verbal responses, and promotes health. A comprehensive dance experience has the potential to address the development of the whole human being.
by: Ben Palacio of Seine Bight Village, son of Balbino and Marcelina Palacio
Seine Bight Garinagu Dances With Drums
Everywhere you go in Seine Bight you will
hear punta music. It is the heartbeat of our lives, a means of worship,
of entertainment and of social commentary. .
Garifuna drums are typically made of hard wood, such as mahogany or
mayflower. Using fire, water, and gouges, the drum maker hollows the wood out into
symmetrical cylinders. Skins prepared of the deer,peccary, or sheep are
stretched across the cylinder head. Thin metal wire or strings are
strung across the drum to serve as shares. The drums are always played
with hands.
In addition to the drums, rattles (moracas/sisira), couch shells used
as horn, turtle shells and guitar is commonly used.
The songs are performed in a type of call and respond manner. Many Garifuna songs
are composed by someone relating their own family experiences, social events, etc. New
songs are constantly emerging, often coming to the composer in dreams or
visions.
Dance is an integral part of the Seine Bight Garifuna Village.
It plays a role in rite and
ritual and serves social, recreational entertainment, and artistic
purposes. Dance integrates the physical and mental processes, encourage
verbal responses, and promote health. A comprehensive dance experience
has the potential to address the development of the whole human being.
The important nonverbal experience of dance is difficult to define; yet
there is general agreement that dance activity shares the following
characteristics: (1) aesthetic intention – or the need to externalize
an internal state (of both emotion and idea): (2) communication of
nonverbal information through movement; and (3) social or ritualized
interaction with others, as individuals or in groups, with audience or
with partners.
The Garifuna repertoire includes work songs for men and women,
lullabies, hymns, healing songs, ballads, and many types of dancing
songs.
- PUNTA
– The most popular dance, performed at wakes,
holidays, parties, and other social events. Dancing as couples, style.
Everyone try to out-do one another with sexy movement that sometimes borders
on the vile to vulgar.
Everyone takes a turn and the competitive spirit is high.
- HüNGüHüNGü
- A circle dance which appears to be a secular
version of the sacred dancing of the dugu, the Garifuna feast for the
Ancestors. Drums play a simple three-beat rhythm and everyone sings in
unison.
- COMBINATION
- An exiting alternation of punta and
hunguhungu rhythms.
- WANARAGUA
-
Also known as John Canoe, this is a victory
dance. Dressed with fanciful headdresses, knee rattles, and in
whiteface, John Canoe dancers mimic their colonial masters. Wanaragua
songs are composed and led by men and danced in a thoroughly African
style.
This dance, which expresses the Garinagu's feelings about the colonial period, is part of a festival celebrated each year at Christmas. The Garinagu are experiencing a cultural revival while simultaneously undergoing cultural change. In recent decades many have migrated to the United States, but they return to thei communities in southern Belize for traditional festivals and holidays. Ceremonial roles traditionally filled by men are being assumed by women, who are commonly the keepers of the culture.
MATAMUERTE – This mime dance depicts a group of people
finding a body along the beach and poking it to see if the person is
alive, perhaps with too much entusiasm.
GUNGAI – A graceful dignified social dance, in which
each man dances with each woman in turn.
CHARIKANARI – In this mimed dance a hunter meets up with
a cave man and a cow.
SAMBAI – After a short salute from the drum, each dancer
jumps into the circle to display some fancy footwork.
Abaimahani Group of Seine Bight.
Abaimahani Group of Seine Bight.