Warasa Garifuna Drum School, Livingston Travel Guide

Warasa Garifuna Drum School, located in the St Vincent Garinagu Estate of Punta Gorda, is dedicated to sharing and preserving the Garifuna culture through immersive experiences. Founded in 2010 by Ronald Raymond McDonald, also known as Ray, and his wife Ruth, the school has grown from borrowed drums and a rented house to a beautiful thatch palapa with over 20 drums. Ray, drawing from his experience as a drummer, dancer, and singer with the Belize National Dance Company, offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about Garifuna traditions through interactive lessons and performances.The Garifuna people, descendants of Carib Indians and West Africans, arrived in Belize in the early 19th century, settling along the southeastern coast. Their vibrant culture, recognized by UNESCO, is expressed through music, dance, and storytelling. At Warasa, visitors can participate in drumming lessons, learning traditional rhythms like Paranda, Punta, Chumba, Hungu-Hungu, and Gunjei. Dance lessons provide insight into the different dance moves for men and women, accompanied by the sounds of the seguna bass drum. For a hands-on experience, drum-making lessons teach the basics of crafting a Garifuna drum using traditional methods.Warasa Garifuna Drum School welcomes guests of all ages and backgrounds, from novice to seasoned percussionists. The school also offers cooking lessons, where visitors can learn to prepare traditional Garifuna dishes like conch fritters or hudut (fish fillet sauteed in coconut milk with mashed plantain). A traditional group performance showcases the music, dance, and storytelling traditions of the Garifuna people. The McDonald family, including Ray's father Mario and brother Ivan, create a warm and welcoming environment for all who visit.