(REPOST from Year 2016) How Does Young American Musical Artist of Guatemalan Garifuna Heritage, RON THE DON and Garinagu from His Generation Express their Garifunaness? Come to Brooklyn to find out on SATURDAY, September 17th 2016

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Copyright 2016 by Teofilo Colon Jr for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved.

September 17th 2016.

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Red Hook Park, Brooklyn – From time to time, I’ll get an email or a note on Facebook from a parent of an American child of Garifuna Heritage.

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Typically, they are living in a town outside of the major metropolitan cities in the United States where you find some Garinagu and they’d express concern over maintaining some sort of Garifuna orientation with their children.

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They wanted to know how could they make sure their children are steeped in their Garifuna Heritage and Culture if they are away from the circles of Garifuna Influence in the major cities of the United States?

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These prospective parents have a point. Being a Garifuna person born and mostly raised in New York City, it is easy to underappreciate the abundance of of people of Garifuna Heritage in this City (I’d estimate it at about 80,000-which is significant).

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It’s not perfect, as despite the numbers here, there are still many children of Garifuna Heritage who do not have a firm connection to their Garifuna Heritage.

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Growing up, I certainly didn’t.

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But what about the children of Garifuna Heritage who DO have a firm connection with their/our Garifuna Heritage and Culture?

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One of the cool things about my role as a Photographer and Filmmaker who chronicles Garifuna Events in New York City, is that due to my consistent chronicling (since 2009) for the BEING GARIFUNA website and Facebook page, I have seen Garifuna American children grow up before my eyes.

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Whenever I look at old photo files, or review my photo albums, I am struck by the moments in time via photography and video that I have been able to capture over the years.

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Fortunately, with the advancement of technology, more people are able to document moments in time.

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In December of 2011, I was hired to photograph the Baptism of a Garifuna American child in a Catholic Church in the Bronx.

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Our Lady of Victory Church in Late 2011

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The Mass was a Garifuna Mass and most of the children being Baptized were of Garifuna Heritage from Guatemala as far as I could tell.

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As I scanned the premises, I noticed the younger brother (RON THE DON, Ronald Leiva) of the mother who hired me to photograph the Baptism.

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Ron the Don (in Red and Blue Plaid Shirt) at 2011 Baptism

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He was preparing to play the Garoun (Garifuna Drum) for this Garifuna Catholic Baptism Mass. I looked him over and thought to myself, “Wow, this guy is so young and he is playing Drums? Cool!”

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Ron the Don (in Red and Blue Plaid Shirt) playing Drums at 2011 Baptism Mass and Ceremony

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Over the years, I’d see this young man accompanying his parents, particularly his mother, Mrs Olga Leiva, at various Garifuna events throughout New York City.

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Mrs. Olga Leiva at 2012 Mother’s Day Dance

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Mrs. Leiva is an active, civic-minded woman and a fixture in the Garifuna Community in New York City, especially for Guatemalan Garifuna Events sponsored by the organization, Comgarigua (Community Garifuna from Guatemala) or her Hanichigu Hiñáriñu Garinagu Guadimaluna (“Wise Garifuna Women from Guatemala” in the Garifuna Language) organization.

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Hahigagua 2012 Mother’s Day Dance

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So at the very least, it appeared to me that the young man had an immediate support system of family and friends that help ensure that to some degree, he knows about Being Garifuna.

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Ron tthe Don playing the Garoun at a 2015 Birthday Party with Punta Rock Band, Xcstacy

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A strong and talented Garoun (“Garifuna Drum”) player, as I watched this young man at various events, I’d wonder to myself what would become of him as he grows and develops.

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Ron the Don playing the Garoun at a 2015 Birthday Party with Punta Rock Band, Xcstacy

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Would he continue to be involved in Garifuna events and such? Or would he drift away and become involved in activities by typical American young people like rapping or playing sports?

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Ron the Don marching in the 2016 Central American Independence Parade in the Bronx

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Ron the Don at 2012 Bronx Week Parade

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In October 2013, I was promoting a New York City screening of the Award Winning, Independent Narrative Film, Garifuna in Peril.

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As part of the screening, I included a Tribute to Garifuna American Youths whose work in (and out) of the Community I felt deserved to be saluted. Youths celebrated were:

• Boxer Eddie Gomez
• Performing Artist Lil’ June
• Actress and Youth Advocate, Francesca Chaney
• Yanira Flores (2013 Miss Garifuna New York)
• DJ and Internet Radio Personality, DJ Primetime
• Martine Morales (Garifuna Dancer)

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I reached out to the family of Ron the Don and asked if they could ask his Parents on my behalf if I could get permission to salute him in this tribute.

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Ron the Don was underage at the time and the movie screening was taking place on a school night, so I had to ask permission.

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I got confirmation that the Parents would be asked and unfortunately I didn’t hear from anyone after that so I wasn’t able to salute Ron the Don. I guess I was denied and the non-response was the family’s way to say No, but I really don’t know for sure.

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But the point is, I recognized the need to acknowledge the efforts of the young people of Garifuna Heritage whose attempts at expressing their Garifunaness need to be affirmed.

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And as I watch these children, teenagers, etc grow and develop, I try to watch out for any further developments of their expression of Garifuna identity.

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Ron the Don dances with a Girl at a 2012 Mother’s Day Dance

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In 2014, I heard that this young man, Ron the Don joined this new Garifuna Punta Rock music group called Dynasty or Grupo Dynasty.

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As far as I know, they have produced three songs and are actively trying to produce more. Here is video of this Punta Rock band performing their song, “Shawty” at a Tribute to Legendary Guatemalan Garifuna Percussionist, Chocola, in 2016.

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According to the Dynasty Band Soundcloud profile, https://on.soundcloud.com/K39Dq

their brand of music is called Punta Pop.

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Here is a song, “Take Ya Time” that has earned over 14,600 listens on Soundcloud since it was released in November of 2015.
https://on.soundcloud.com/fozF1

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Those who would like to meet RON THE DON and see his Punta Pop Band perform LIVE have an opportunity to do so on SATURDAY, September 17th 2016 at Red Hook Park in Brooklyn.

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Dynasty performing at 2017 Guatemalan Independence Festival

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2019 Guatemalan Independence Festival

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The Guatemalan Independence Festival (also known as The Garifuna Festival in Brooklyn) is taking place that day and is a way to see various groups and talents express their Garifunaness.

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2019 Guatemalan Independence Festival

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The Guatemalan Independence Festival is an annual informal picnic and festival at Red Hook Park where families celebrate being Guatemalan or Being Garifuna or both.

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2019 Guatemalan Independence Festival

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I have been trying to find out how long this Family Activity has been taking place at Red Hook Park in Brooklyn, and so far, the earliest year I have gotten is the year 1989.

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Artists scheduled to perform at this FREE Family Event include:

• Grupo Dynasty
• Grupo Xcstacy
• Bling Leiva
• Wavy Guy
• Young Gari
• Nalo Trigueño
• Don Cuellar
• Garifuna Outlawz
• Andy Ordoñez and Tito Pingolinis
• And More!

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Music will be provided by DJ Showtime, Leonel Lopez, DJ Roy and Showtime Sound.

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Hosts will be Jaffeth JStyle Gotay and Chris Gamboa (from Xcstacy). Red Hook Park is located at:

Red Hook Park

155 Bay Street,

Brooklyn, NY 11231

Train: F or G Train to Smith-9th Sts Subway Station

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