Belize City, Belize – October 1st, 2012 – Excitement is in the air as the anticipated launch of the first World Indigenous Music Festival entitled, IndigeNOWbelize, builds. This initiative was made by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and promises to be an annual success which will bring international recognition to Belize. It will be held on Friday, October 12th, Saturday, October 13th, and Sunday, October 14th at the MCC Stadium in Belize City.
The very enthusiastic, Mr. Gregory Vernon, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, NICH, declared, “IndigeNOWbelize, World Indigenous Music (WIM) Festival is a bold new initiative of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) intended to achieve two broad objectives in the long term: to shape and embolden Belize’s music identity, and to secure for it a recognized place on the world music scene. The sound of Belize is as diverse as the cultural strands that make up its people. IndigeNOWbelize WIM Festival will privilege this sound! The Festival will be an annual event, with a different indigenous sound each year. This year the sound is Amerindian with a special focus on the Maya, in celebration of the end of the 13th Baktun. Whatever the sound in a given year, Belize music will be centre stage.”
The theme for this year is “Where Will You Be When the World Begins Anew?” This three day event aims to showcase the various aspects of the indigenous cultures found in Belize, such as arts and crafts, which will be available for purchasing, musical entertainment from local and international artists, and delectable cultural dishes to fulfill the hunger from the excitement.
Headliners for the event are Garifuna Collective, on Friday night, and Peru’s Las Pasteles Verdes, on Saturday night. Performing artists include:
- Florencio Mess harp
- Alma Belicenia Marimba
- Maya Bwai Band
- Instruments of Love
- Corozalsa Band
- Lucio and the New Generation Band
- First Time Collaboration between rock band, Ascenthium and national flute sensation, Pablo Collado
- And there is more to come…
Partners for the event include Belize Tourism Board, RSV Media, Music Industry Association of Belize, and international cultural marketing company, Bronitsky and Associates. Various embassies are on board to assist in making this event a truly memorable and triumphant one.
For more information on this event, please contact Gregory Vernon, Director, Institute Of Creative Arts, NICH, at phone number 227 2110, or e-mail gregta@nichbelize.Org
About the Belize Tourism Board
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism and Culture. The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector – including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association – and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner. As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers. Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country’s unique attractions to travellers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets.
The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instil high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences. For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.
# # #