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The Garifuna Collective (uncredited)

The Garifuna Collective

The Garifuna Collective was co-founded and led by the late Andy Palacio (1960–2008), a musician dedicated to preserving the unique Garifuna language and culture. Today this group of accomplished, multi-generational Garifuna artists continues to tour and perform in Palacio’s memory and with his commitment to keeping Garifuna tradition and language alive against their threatened extinction. The hybrid culture of the African-Amerindian Garifuna communities, located on the Caribbean coasts of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, is influenced by West Africa and indigenous Carib, as well as the Arawak Indian language. Garifuna music has gained a following in the form of a less traditional style known as punta rock, but the Garifuna Collective focuses on the roots of Garifuna tradition, adding contemporary elements to traditional forms to bring the soul of this music into a modern context. Through their music, the Collective aims to portray what it means to be Garifuna.

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Watch Past Performances

The Garifuna Collective 7/7/11: The Garifuna Collective

This all-star, multi-generational ensemble from Central America explores the more soulful side of Garifuna music, such as paranda, dügü, punta, and gunjei rhythms. Part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this year celebrating Rhythm and Blues: Tell It Like It Is, The Peace Corps, and Colombia: The Nature of Culture.

The Garifuna Collective

This all-star, multi-generational ensemble from Central America explores the more soulful side of Garifuna music, such as paranda, dügü, punta, and gunjei rhythms. Part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this year celebrating Rhythm and Blues: Tell It Like It Is, The Peace Corps, and Colombia: The Nature of Culture.

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