Punta

Punta is the name of a musical tradition, especially in Belize and Honduras and El Salvador, as well as a dance of the Garifuna.

Music

Today's Punta music dates back in parts to the Punta dance of the Garifuna. The Punta music became known in 1978 for the first time to an international audience, as Pen Cayetano mixte with Turtleshell band Garifuna traditional instruments such as garawon ( drum), rattles and turtle shell with modern electronic instruments. Pen Cayetano's songs, thus putting the political, social, economic problems and interests of the Garifuna in Belize expressed and contributed to the resurgence of self-consciousness in the Garifuna. Today's Punta music is sometimes supplemented by other instruments - such as piano or stringed instruments.

Dance

The Punta dance is originally a fertility dance Indian (Caribbean ) or West African origin. The Punta is a circle dance with binary rhythm. This rhythm shows great similarity to the Bunda the West African Mande. In the middle of the dance circle to move a man and a woman, while the other participants sing along and clap their hands. The Punta Dance is also known under the name kuliao ( Spanish culeado ). Another dance of the Garifuna in Belize is the yankunu which is danced on Christmas Eve. The Warini, masked participants dance the yankunu with drum accompaniment and advertise it in streets and houses an alms.