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Stann Creek / Dangriga
To the Garifuna people of the Caribbean coast of Central America, it would seem as though Punta had always existed. Punta, in fact is a traditional Garifuna dance having its particular drumming and singing pattern. From listening to the music and watching the movements of the dancers one can easily conclude that Punta is undoubtedly one of several surviving cultural legacies once introduced into the early Island Carib society by Africans escaping slavery. The escaped Africans were welcome in the Carib communities. In fact, many of them intermarried with the aboriginal Carib/Arawak population giving birth to the hybrid culture of today's Garifuna (plural Garinagu).
While displaying distinctly African physical features the Garinagu speak Garifuna. This (according to anthropologists) is essentially an Amerindian language with occasional "borrowed words" which inevitably found their way into the language along with non-indigenous items and concepts from other cultures. Today, in addition to Garifuna, most Garinagu speak at least one other language (usually the official language of their native country).
Traditional Punta employs various elements of contrast. There are, for instance, several very popular songs but the composers remain virtually unknown. The music is very pleasing and danceable but the themes reflected in the lyrics are not always pleasant. Topics usually include misfortune, ridicule, sexual politics and disaster among others. These songs are usually composed by persons directly involved in particular real situations.
Punta is traditionally a communal exercise hence the call and response nature of the singing encourages active community participation. However it is the drumming that seems to characterize Punta
Garifuna drums, like African drums are made from hollowed tree trunks with cured and dried animal hide stretched over one end of the cylinder, fastened by ropes or vines and tightened with pegs. There are two basic kinds of drums: There is a low-pitched bass drum designed to keep a steady beat and a high-pitched treble drum usually played with a lot more energy and skill in order to provide the musical embellishments. Drummers place their Garifuna drums between the knees and beat them with the bare hands.
The maracas are the only other instruments utilized in traditional Punta.
Depending on the dancers and the circumstances, punta varies from gentle and graceful hip movements of dancers propelled towards and always from each other by "plowing" their toes on the floor, to erotic gyrations and "contact" Punta reminiscent of fertility dances performed in ancient cultures.
While punta continues to exist in its traditional form, innovative Belizean musicians have modified it with a modern commercial sound and dubbed it "Punta Rock. Danced in exactly the same way Punta Rock retains the aggressive beat and the vocal pattern of traditional Punta. However, Punta Rock involves more percussion, musical accompaniment and sophisticated arrangements.
This modern sound has gained wider acceptance and has consequently secured for Belize and Belizeans a unique musical identity. A new wave of Belizean composers, musicians and entertainers has emerged. What was once a traditional dance restricted to the rural Garifuna setting has now evolved into a raging dance craze burning up urban dance floors in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, having successfully transcended ethnic and geographical barriers. MORE
---------- ANDY PALACIO /Caye Records
