How Drumming Made Me a Feminist | Joshua Arana | TEDxBelmopan

[Music]

[Music] I started playing drums at the tender

I started playing drums at the tender

I started playing drums at the tender age of five years old I grew up in a

age of five years old I grew up in a

age of five years old I grew up in a very cultural part of town known as baka

very cultural part of town known as baka

very cultural part of town known as baka town everybody knows but I don’t write

town everybody knows but I don’t write

town everybody knows but I don’t write drums were played so often that it was

drums were played so often that it was

drums were played so often that it was so easy for me to pick up the rhythms I

so easy for me to pick up the rhythms I

so easy for me to pick up the rhythms I played so much so that I got in trouble

played so much so that I got in trouble

played so much so that I got in trouble many times you can ask my mom and my

many times you can ask my mom and my

many times you can ask my mom and my teachers I played everywhere and on

teachers I played everywhere and on

teachers I played everywhere and on everything this was practice for me by

everything this was practice for me by

everything this was practice for me by the age of 13 I was recruited to a few

the age of 13 I was recruited to a few

the age of 13 I was recruited to a few groups but only became a member of to

groups but only became a member of to

groups but only became a member of to memory meaning light and illigal meaning

memory meaning light and illigal meaning

memory meaning light and illigal meaning roots while I loved my drums and playing

roots while I loved my drums and playing

roots while I loved my drums and playing I was ashamed of everything else

I was ashamed of everything else

I was ashamed of everything else Garifuna Garifuna was not popular and I

Garifuna Garifuna was not popular and I

Garifuna Garifuna was not popular and I wanted to be identified with what I like

wanted to be identified with what I like

wanted to be identified with what I like to call the night culture night culture

to call the night culture night culture

to call the night culture night culture being the American culture of the

being the American culture of the

being the American culture of the eighties where latest design and vanity

eighties where latest design and vanity

eighties where latest design and vanity was what every young person wanted to be

was what every young person wanted to be

was what every young person wanted to be identified with it was what the

identified with it was what the

identified with it was what the television was promoting and what family

television was promoting and what family

television was promoting and what family members were sending back home for their

members were sending back home for their

members were sending back home for their loved ones it was also the impression

loved ones it was also the impression

loved ones it was also the impression given by the education system where

given by the education system where

given by the education system where education is more from an outward view

education is more from an outward view

education is more from an outward view rather than that of an inward view

rather than that of an inward view

rather than that of an inward view everything out there

everything out there

everything out there is better but is it really as such you

is better but is it really as such you

is better but is it really as such you would never find me riding my bike or

would never find me riding my bike or

would never find me riding my bike or walking around the streets of dong griga

walking around the streets of dong griga

walking around the streets of dong griga where I grew up in my money money being

where I grew up in my money money being

where I grew up in my money money being the mail girifna cultural where what we

the mail girifna cultural where what we

the mail girifna cultural where what we refer now to us dashiki alright so this

refer now to us dashiki alright so this

refer now to us dashiki alright so this mentality changed though when I started

mentality changed though when I started

mentality changed though when I started high school and realized that there were

high school and realized that there were

high school and realized that there were many people who were just like me people

many people who were just like me people

many people who were just like me people whom I believed grew up in a more

whom I believed grew up in a more

whom I believed grew up in a more cultural home than I did were also

cultural home than I did were also

cultural home than I did were also ashamed of who they were

ashamed of who they were

ashamed of who they were this was my week of call the no longer

this was my week of call the no longer

this was my week of call the no longer be ashamed of Who I am or where I came

be ashamed of Who I am or where I came

be ashamed of Who I am or where I came from I was proud to be Garifuna I

from I was proud to be Garifuna I

from I was proud to be Garifuna I started to explore girl culture a bit

started to explore girl culture a bit

started to explore girl culture a bit more under the guidance of mr. delete

more under the guidance of mr. delete

more under the guidance of mr. delete greets brother Moses Royce’s braggin he

greets brother Moses Royce’s braggin he

greets brother Moses Royce’s braggin he taught me the discipline of Garifuna

taught me the discipline of Garifuna

taught me the discipline of Garifuna drumming and with this discipline I was

drumming and with this discipline I was

drumming and with this discipline I was allowed to play for some of the top

allowed to play for some of the top

allowed to play for some of the top bands around at that time

bands around at that time

bands around at that time naming Lee forever band Punta Punta

naming Lee forever band Punta Punta

naming Lee forever band Punta Punta rebels and a Groban oh girl

rebels and a Groban oh girl

rebels and a Groban oh girl meaning hammock while I played with

meaning hammock while I played with

meaning hammock while I played with these bands I was often asked about the

these bands I was often asked about the

these bands I was often asked about the significance of Garifuna drumming but

significance of Garifuna drumming but

significance of Garifuna drumming but outside of playing them I myself did not

outside of playing them I myself did not

outside of playing them I myself did not know much about them this changed when I

know much about them this changed when I

know much about them this changed when I started touring with the late great and

started touring with the late great and

started touring with the late great and the Palacio I’m the Garifuna collective

the Palacio I’m the Garifuna collective

the Palacio I’m the Garifuna collective and later on taught a class at Galen

and later on taught a class at Galen

and later on taught a class at Galen University I was forced to learn to the

University I was forced to learn to the

University I was forced to learn to the point at my drums became an extension of

point at my drums became an extension of

point at my drums became an extension of Who I am

Who I am

Who I am some people call me drummer

some people call me drummer

some people call me drummer all right so with this now I started

all right so with this now I started

all right so with this now I started looking at my drum and started exploring

looking at my drum and started exploring

looking at my drum and started exploring a little bit this is what I came up with

a little bit this is what I came up with

a little bit this is what I came up with I looked at my drums and look at its

I looked at my drums and look at its

I looked at my drums and look at its different parts and found a way to

different parts and found a way to

different parts and found a way to describe each part as it relates to the

describe each part as it relates to the

describe each part as it relates to the wider context of the Garifuna culture

wider context of the Garifuna culture

wider context of the Garifuna culture the shell is this part it represents the

the shell is this part it represents the

the shell is this part it represents the core of who we are as a people our core

core of who we are as a people our core

core of who we are as a people our core is the concept nagoya boo boo boo you

is the concept nagoya boo boo boo you

is the concept nagoya boo boo boo you know the way a female would say I for

know the way a female would say I for

know the way a female would say I for you and you for me Oh boom

you and you for me Oh boom

you and you for me Oh boom a modern ooh the way a man would say I

a modern ooh the way a man would say I

a modern ooh the way a man would say I for you and you for me we are a selfless

for you and you for me we are a selfless

for you and you for me we are a selfless people at our core we live for each

people at our core we live for each

people at our core we live for each other

other

other this is who we are the vine represents

this is who we are the vine represents

this is who we are the vine represents connectivity yes as a carniculture we

connectivity yes as a carniculture we

connectivity yes as a carniculture we are here but we are connected to the

are here but we are connected to the

are here but we are connected to the world in that wider circle of life the

world in that wider circle of life the

world in that wider circle of life the skin represents communication whether is

skin represents communication whether is

skin represents communication whether is verbal communication whether is

verbal communication whether is

verbal communication whether is communication through painting

communication through painting

communication through painting communication to music whatever form of

communication to music whatever form of

communication to music whatever form of communication that might be the Rope is

communication that might be the Rope is

communication that might be the Rope is the glue it takes all those different

the glue it takes all those different

the glue it takes all those different parts brings it together to make it a

parts brings it together to make it a

parts brings it together to make it a whole the pins are the tuners represents

whole the pins are the tuners represents

whole the pins are the tuners represents the Garifuna and non Garifuna people

the Garifuna and non Garifuna people

the Garifuna and non Garifuna people including those of you that are here and

including those of you that are here and

including those of you that are here and those listening online and those that

those listening online and those that

those listening online and those that will be listening to this talk later on

will be listening to this talk later on

will be listening to this talk later on and non grata organizations

and non grata organizations

and non grata organizations that does work to ensure the revival and

that does work to ensure the revival and

that does work to ensure the revival and the survival of the Garifuna culture and

the survival of the Garifuna culture and

the survival of the Garifuna culture and then we come to the snares the snares

then we come to the snares the snares

then we come to the snares the snares gives resonance when I play my drum and

gives resonance when I play my drum and

gives resonance when I play my drum and it is that resounding voice to tell the

it is that resounding voice to tell the

it is that resounding voice to tell the world that we are here as a Garifuna

world that we are here as a Garifuna

world that we are here as a Garifuna people we are here to stay

people we are here to stay

people we are here to stay additionally I looked at my drum and I

additionally I looked at my drum and I

additionally I looked at my drum and I said I stopped calling this drum bass

said I stopped calling this drum bass

said I stopped calling this drum bass drum or Segundo Saguna big drum

drum or Segundo Saguna big drum

drum or Segundo Saguna big drum depending on which word comes out first

depending on which word comes out first

depending on which word comes out first this drum is a segunda drum and this is

this drum is a segunda drum and this is

this drum is a segunda drum and this is my explanation if the foundation of our

my explanation if the foundation of our

my explanation if the foundation of our culture are our mothers and the

culture are our mothers and the

culture are our mothers and the foundation of every rhythm that we play

foundation of every rhythm that we play

foundation of every rhythm that we play in our culture is set by this drum does

in our culture is set by this drum does

in our culture is set by this drum does it make sense then to give it a female

it make sense then to give it a female

it make sense then to give it a female gender this is the heartbeat or the

gender this is the heartbeat or the

gender this is the heartbeat or the pulse of every rhythm even though in the

pulse of every rhythm even though in the

pulse of every rhythm even though in the Garifuna culture drums are masculine

Garifuna culture drums are masculine

Garifuna culture drums are masculine this drum plays a more feminine role who

this drum plays a more feminine role who

this drum plays a more feminine role who goes to sleep thinking about what will

goes to sleep thinking about what will

goes to sleep thinking about what will take place for the following day our

take place for the following day our

take place for the following day our mothers who ensures breakfast who

mothers who ensures breakfast who

mothers who ensures breakfast who ensures that there’s clean clothes who

ensures that there’s clean clothes who

ensures that there’s clean clothes who ensures that homework is being done our

ensures that homework is being done our

ensures that homework is being done our mothers you guys are the heartbeat or

mothers you guys are the heartbeat or

mothers you guys are the heartbeat or the pulse of every family this drum is

the pulse of every family this drum is

the pulse of every family this drum is the heartbeat or the pulse of every

the heartbeat or the pulse of every

the heartbeat or the pulse of every rhythm the smaller drum plays a more

rhythm the smaller drum plays a more

rhythm the smaller drum plays a more masculine role this drum is the primero

masculine role this drum is the primero

masculine role this drum is the primero and this drum plays like I said a more

and this drum plays like I said a more

and this drum plays like I said a more masculine role when we play our rhythms

masculine role when we play our rhythms

masculine role when we play our rhythms there is a whole beat that this drum

there is a whole beat that this drum

there is a whole beat that this drum plays for example I’ll give you a

plays for example I’ll give you a

plays for example I’ll give you a piranha

piranha

piranha this is a home beam but this beat is

this is a home beam but this beat is

this is a home beam but this beat is dictated by the piece of the Saguna okay

dictated by the piece of the Saguna okay

dictated by the piece of the Saguna okay so when your fathers are at home they

so when your fathers are at home they

so when your fathers are at home they play a certain role dictated by the job

play a certain role dictated by the job

play a certain role dictated by the job by the foundation set by the mothers so

by the foundation set by the mothers so

by the foundation set by the mothers so this is the Parana this Trump also

this is the Parana this Trump also

this is the Parana this Trump also improvises so because our fathers go out

improvises so because our fathers go out

improvises so because our fathers go out and do different chores when he goes the

and do different chores when he goes the

and do different chores when he goes the farm he would improvise if he goes

farm he would improvise if he goes

farm he would improvise if he goes fishing the improvisation will be

fishing the improvisation will be

fishing the improvisation will be differently because of the tools that he

differently because of the tools that he

differently because of the tools that he will use if he goes to hang out with

will use if he goes to hang out with

will use if he goes to hang out with friends the improvisation will be

friends the improvisation will be

friends the improvisation will be different but every time he gets back

different but every time he gets back

different but every time he gets back home

home

home [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] again that beat is dictated by the

again that beat is dictated by the

again that beat is dictated by the mother drum

[Applause]

[Applause] the foundation set by our mothers is

the foundation set by our mothers is

the foundation set by our mothers is embedded in every facet of the girifna

embedded in every facet of the girifna

embedded in every facet of the girifna culture for example when we speak of

culture for example when we speak of

culture for example when we speak of Google as our ritual Yabba Yabba there

Google as our ritual Yabba Yabba there

Google as our ritual Yabba Yabba there are no Primera’s there’s no father Jean

are no Primera’s there’s no father Jean

are no Primera’s there’s no father Jean it doesn’t set foundation only second

it doesn’t set foundation only second

it doesn’t set foundation only second ders the Saguna drum on the left hand

ders the Saguna drum on the left hand

ders the Saguna drum on the left hand side of the middle drummer in this

side of the middle drummer in this

side of the middle drummer in this picture that would be me it represents

picture that would be me it represents

picture that would be me it represents those that have gone before us our

those that have gone before us our

those that have gone before us our ancestors the segunda drum on the right

ancestors the segunda drum on the right

ancestors the segunda drum on the right represents those that have not yet been

represents those that have not yet been

represents those that have not yet been born and the drum in the is us Lonnie G

born and the drum in the is us Lonnie G

born and the drum in the is us Lonnie G is the heart drum this drum speed all

is the heart drum this drum speed all

is the heart drum this drum speed all tree drum together represents all life

tree drum together represents all life

tree drum together represents all life and there’s a mutual obligation among

and there’s a mutual obligation among

and there’s a mutual obligation among the three where we look to our unser for

the three where we look to our unser for

the three where we look to our unser for guidance and knowledge they expect that

guidance and knowledge they expect that

guidance and knowledge they expect that we will never forget them through our

we will never forget them through our

we will never forget them through our rituals they also expected that we will

rituals they also expected that we will

rituals they also expected that we will nurture the culture passed on we will

nurture the culture passed on we will

nurture the culture passed on we will leave it as pristine as possible in some

leave it as pristine as possible in some

leave it as pristine as possible in some cases even built upon before passing it

cases even built upon before passing it

cases even built upon before passing it on to the future generation our future

on to the future generation our future

on to the future generation our future generation will be expected to do the

generation will be expected to do the

generation will be expected to do the same and also look up to us for guidance

throughout time and space we are but one

throughout time and space we are but one again the foundation set by our mothers

again the foundation set by our mothers

again the foundation set by our mothers in the w bar again when somebody alway

in the w bar again when somebody alway

in the w bar again when somebody alway huh

huh

huh this is when the spirit of an ancestor

this is when the spirit of an ancestor

this is when the spirit of an ancestor takes over the body of a living there is

takes over the body of a living there is

takes over the body of a living there is a specific song that continues to make

a specific song that continues to make

a specific song that continues to make reference to grandmother even if the

reference to grandmother even if the

reference to grandmother even if the spirit that takes over that body is a

spirit that takes over that body is a

spirit that takes over that body is a male goes like this not good to family

male goes like this not good to family

male goes like this not good to family who yeah not good to family whoo yeah

who yeah not good to family whoo yeah

who yeah not good to family whoo yeah whoo yeah whoo yeah yeah yeah

whoo yeah whoo yeah yeah yeah

whoo yeah whoo yeah yeah yeah [Music]

my grandmother you’re being appeased my

my grandmother you’re being appeased my grandmother

grandmother

grandmother you’re being appeased again even if it

you’re being appeased again even if it

you’re being appeased again even if it is a meal spirit that takes over the

is a meal spirit that takes over the

is a meal spirit that takes over the body of the living each a whole world a

body of the living each a whole world a

body of the living each a whole world a good team it’s a long word right each a

good team it’s a long word right each a

good team it’s a long word right each a whole word it means to give in our

whole word it means to give in our

whole word it means to give in our culture there were no songwriters or

culture there were no songwriters or

culture there were no songwriters or composers songs were passed on by the

composers songs were passed on by the

composers songs were passed on by the ancestors and our women were the mediums

ancestors and our women were the mediums

ancestors and our women were the mediums for most of these songs cassava bread

for most of these songs cassava bread

for most of these songs cassava bread baking processing as you can see in the

baking processing as you can see in the

baking processing as you can see in the picture is a job taken over by our women

picture is a job taken over by our women

picture is a job taken over by our women and it’s a 2d process to make cassava

and it’s a 2d process to make cassava

and it’s a 2d process to make cassava bread a pima honey which is a female

bread a pima honey which is a female

bread a pima honey which is a female dance done without musical accompaniment

dance done without musical accompaniment

dance done without musical accompaniment is alive and well while our uma honey

is alive and well while our uma honey

is alive and well while our uma honey the male version is quickly failing when

the male version is quickly failing when

the male version is quickly failing when we speak of anything huge in the girifna

we speak of anything huge in the girifna

we speak of anything huge in the girifna culture it is always the grandmother of

culture it is always the grandmother of

culture it is always the grandmother of the Pacific Ocean for example being the

the Pacific Ocean for example being the

the Pacific Ocean for example being the world’s largest ocean is the mother of

world’s largest ocean is the mother of

world’s largest ocean is the mother of our oceans even though water in the

our oceans even though water in the

our oceans even though water in the Garifuna culture is masculine the

Garifuna culture is masculine the

Garifuna culture is masculine the specific ocean being the largest body of

specific ocean being the largest body of

specific ocean being the largest body of water is the grandmother of all oceans

water is the grandmother of all oceans

water is the grandmother of all oceans when a man feels in his obligation to

when a man feels in his obligation to

when a man feels in his obligation to his family the woman has no problem of

his family the woman has no problem of

his family the woman has no problem of compensating when we speak of the earth

compensating when we speak of the earth

compensating when we speak of the earth we never say father earth we say

we never say father earth we say

we never say father earth we say we say mother earth in my view only

we say mother earth in my view only

we say mother earth in my view only those with a with the instinct of

those with a with the instinct of

those with a with the instinct of nurturing has duty to set Felicia only

nurturing has duty to set Felicia only

nurturing has duty to set Felicia only tools with the instinct of nurturing has

tools with the instinct of nurturing has

tools with the instinct of nurturing has the ability to set foundation I say all

the ability to set foundation I say all

the ability to set foundation I say all this to echo the words of Chi Minh and

this to echo the words of Chi Minh and

this to echo the words of Chi Minh and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I am feminist I

will leave you with this the concept of

will leave you with this the concept of God in the Garifuna culture is not

God in the Garifuna culture is not

God in the Garifuna culture is not masculine its feminine it is important

masculine its feminine it is important

masculine its feminine it is important for our women to understand their role

for our women to understand their role

for our women to understand their role take your place within your homes in

take your place within your homes in

take your place within your homes in your culture within your society lay

your culture within your society lay

your culture within your society lay that solid foundation upon which the

that solid foundation upon which the

that solid foundation upon which the family and the society depends there

family and the society depends there

family and the society depends there nothing can stand without a solid

nothing can stand without a solid

nothing can stand without a solid foundation that is who you are you are

foundation that is who you are you are

foundation that is who you are you are that foundation Cagayan by aha

that foundation Cagayan by aha

that foundation Cagayan by aha we are they they are here Hagana i aha

we are they they are here Hagana i aha

we are they they are here Hagana i aha where are they they are here our women

where are they they are here our women

where are they they are here our women are here our women are here

[Music]

[Music] hey buddy neva gr is Karina Pacquiao

Karina buggy yeah

Karina buggy yeah [Music]

[Music]

[Music] thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]