The Future of Garifuna Music

I recently had the following exchange with a friend on the future of the Garifuna music. My friend asked me do you see a future in Garifuna music for the coming years? I responded yes, starting with the Garifuna Music Awards and the system that is developing as a result thereof. The stagnation of Garifuna Music is due to the lack of organization and informality but there is a future!

My friend responded, "I humbly believe that multiculturalism allows Garifunas to play or sing other genres outside the Garifuna music, I'm not against the Garifuna singers who do not produce Garifuna music but if you're always supporting the genres they do with all due respect, then Garifuna music will never develop. Currently the Garifuna music is below many genres and it’s due to the fact that our youth identify with other genres and not the Garifuna genre, truthfully that precludes us from getting where we want because there is no support. Dominicans create their bachata and merengue and settle on that. I respect the Garifuna singers but they do not sing Garifuna music."

While I understand my friend’s concern, the fact is that Garifuna youth haven’t had many examples of successful Garifuna artists, besides Andy Palacio and Aurelio Martinez and the reality is that the youth sees its hope on what they hear in the environment that surrounds them. Dominicans have a long and successful musical history (Luis Kalaf Angel Viloria, Johnny Ventura, Wilfrido Vargas, Cuco Valoy, Los Hermanos Rosario, Juan Luis Guerra, Aventura, Prince Royce and Anthony "Romeo" Santos, etc.)

However, the most successful Garifuna songs in history are Sopa de Caracol by Banda Blanca and Que Lo Que (One, Two, Three) by Sensato, neither one is Garifuna! In fact, no Garifuna artist has crossed over to another market or genre since Victor Arzu did into Reggae en Español back in the 90s!

What this proves is the lack of a Garifuna Powerhouse songwriting and production team. These production teams are one of the main drivers that keep the superstar artists on top. Working in teams allows these writers to put out tons of high quality tracks which consumers like. A key member of the team is the A&R or Artists and Repertoire, which is the part of the business that deals directly with the artists signed to the label, and helps select the material they record if they don't write for themselves. It's the very heart of the Music Industry.

Garifuna Music Group is a brand / trademark associated with the marketing of Garifuna music recordings. It aims to be the global Garifuna Music leader with strong market positions in music publishing, recorded music, and merchandising. It discovers and develops songwriters, and administers copyrights to musical compositions. It offers advice, guidance, counsel, and other services an Artist may reasonably require for furthering his/her career. In other words, it is developing a Garifuna Powerhouse songwriting and production team led by Victor Arzu, Singer/songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Music Producer, Sound Engineer, instrumentalist Artist and Independent record producer.

Despite my friends concerns, the future of Garifuna Music depends on the youth, particularly the millennial generation, who are preserving the Garifuna culture's unique language and extraordinary sound, while moving Garifuna Music forward. In order to build a Garifuna Powerhouse songwriting and production team, we have identified Garifuna Millennial influencers and Music industry professionals to invite to join the team, in order organize and formalize the Garifuna Music industry and create a bright future!