Bellyfull Cafe v1







If you haven't already ordered a cd, now is the time! 
(the stories are much better with the music)
CDs are $10, payable by credit card through  paypal
If you are in the Boston area, we can drop it off-
If you are out of state some shipping charges may apply.Feel Free to write with questions or comments!   moonshipmail@gmail.com
The first 8 tracks on this cd are dedicated to a sonic experience of Settlement Day....read below for background info. 
Enjoy!
Track 1 Hopkins, Belize 17 November , 2009
Track 2 Jammin' With Kids in Dangriga 18 November 2009
Track 3 West African musicians from Gales Point in Dangriga 18 November, 2009
Track 4 Punta Rock Dangriga 18 November, 2009
Track 5 Settlement Day Morning Dangriga 19 November, 2009
Track 6 Settlement Day Church Service 19 November, 2009
Track 7 Settlement Day Commemoration Dangriga 19 November, 2009
Track 8 Manuelo on the Beach 19 November, 2009
Tracks 9-10 Push Push, to the Bellyfull Cafe
         
A Background of Settlement Day, and Garifuna Culture:

SETTLEMENT DAY is a celebration of a twist of fate that led to an entirely unique culture in Central America. The story differs depending on the "teller" but here is the gist:

In 1635 A ship carrying Africans from a number of tribes-destined to be slaves in the states-crashed into St. Vincent Island. The Africans escaped and made their way through what is now Central America, mixing with Arawak &Yellow Caribe, amongst others who were living in the area. This blend became known as Garifuna, or Garinagu.

They developed their own unique language and culture, drawing on their African roots, mixed with the Spice of the Carribean. Like so many Africans who were wrenched from their homes during that time, the battle for freedom ensued.

The Garifuna fought long and hard for land and cultural rights as the area they now called home switched hands from the British to the Spanish and back again. They settled and fought all along the coasts of Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras. Finally, in 1823, the Garifuna were granted Land Rights by the British in the former Bay of Honduras, now Belize. 500 Garifuna resettled in Dangriga, on the Southern coast. Thousands of Garifuna still reside all over Central America.

Every Year, the week of November 19 is dedicated to the celebration of all aspects of this journey- from the arrival of the ship to the blending of cultures, to the ultimate settlement in Belize. The Moonship had the divine pleasure of traveling to the Settlement day festivities this year, in 2009.

The only way to describe the festival is through a number of evocative sensual words- Incessant Punta Rhythm, banana tamales, low sweet creole voices, excited, eager children dressed in brilliant colors, rice pudding, Beautiful dark faces filled with brilliant white smiles, Wine made of ginger and every fruit found on a tree, raucous fighting, ecstatic dancing