Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Belizean musician Andy Palacio, who brought to the world the music of the Garifuna people who descended from Central American natives and shipwrecked African slaves, has died aged 47. Palacio was one of the world's most prominent defenders of the unique Garifuna culture and language. His band "The Garifuna Collective," played an upbeat dance music called Punta Rock, based on traditional Garifuna rhythms and infused with synthetic beats and keyboards. He died on Saturday after a series of massive strokes, a heart attack and respiratory failure. UNESCO named him an "Artist of Peace" for his work promoting Garifuna traditions.
|