NOTICE: All original photos and designs on this page, our website, business cards etc. are the artistic intellectual property of Warasa Garifuna Drum School. They cannot be shared or used by any other person or entity without due credit and prior permission.
♬ The Garifuna Culture
Garinagu (plural of Garifuna) are decedents of ship-wrecked Africans who fused with indigenous Arawak & Carib Amer-indians on the Caribbean island of St Vincent during the 17th century. Garinagu were forced by the British to flea, travelling oversees and settling in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala & Belize in the 19th century. The Garifuna people were never enslaved. They have a proud history & culture along with a passion for the arts:dance, drumming, music etc, which they love to share. What makes Garinagu so unique is their devotion to their roots, passion of the arts and strong spirituality. However, the Garifuna community is now in decline and there is a struggle to keep the unique culture alive.
♬ About Ronald (Ray) McDonald and family
Owner and teacher Ray has been performing with his family since the age of 5 and is now a renowned Garifuna drummer not just across Belize but also through Central America where he regularly travels to perform. Located in the peaceful coastal town of Punta Gorda, Belize, Ray and his family provide hands on lessons in traditional Garifuna drumming, dancing, drum-making and more with the aim of inspiring others and ensuring our unique culture stays alive!
♬ What do we offer? We give you the opportunity to learn about the rich history and culture of the Garifuna whilst experiencing the different traditional drumbeats and dances that influence music throughout Belize and Central America. Our lessons are highly interactive and we offer a range of products dependent on your desires:
♪ Drum Lessons (start at $70 BZ per person for couples and discounts for groups of 3+):
- You will learn a background to Garifuna culture & drumming, learn the method of striking your large pass and a basic Paranda rhythm.
- Your teacher will then introduce you to a range of other traditional rhythms.
- When you can hold a beat, we will play alongside you on the small Primero drum whilst singing traditional songs.
♪ Drum Making (start at $90Bz per person for couples, discounts for 3+ people)
- We will show you how it is done the traditional way (without tools) so be prepared to use your muscles!
- Chiselling, planning & sanding a soft log into shape, preparing the deerskin making the natural wood pins to tighten the rope, attaching the skin using jungle vines through to the finishing touches.
♪ Dancing (start at $80 BZ per person for couples and discounts for groups of 3+):
- Whether you are an experienced dancer or have two left feet, we will get you up and moving to the beats of his ancestors.
- You will learn the traditional paranda, punta & chamba dance rhythms.
♪ Performances ($200Bz per hour)
- For the less energetic, or perhaps for a special occasion, you can simply hire our traditional group to play for your event.
♪ Half-day packages ($215 Bz per person for a minimum of 2 people) This allows you to select 3 activities to create a tailored package to suit you:
- Drumming Lesson
- Drum-making Lesson
- Dance lesson
- 30 minute traditional group show
♪ Drum, Dance & Dine (From $50bz per person, minimum 2 people)
- We offer groups an all round, authentic experience under our beautiful thatch. This allows you to enjoy a professional one hour performance, short dance lesson and a delicious Garifuna meal!
♬ The Warasa Mission:
To provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for our guests to learn the Garifuna arts whilst having fun. We provide a hands on way to learn about Garifuna culture to really make our guests understand and feel the Garifuna spirit for themselves! Our spacious, traditional thatch drum school is located on New Road, in the heart of the Garifuna community surrounded by lush vegetation, with parakeets flocking around, the sounds of howler monkeys nearby, and the daily morning flyover by our local toucan. As featured in:Lonely Planet, Fodors Deep South Belize & Blue Moon guide books. Please contact us with any questions you have!
