The official language of Belize is English although the most common is probably Creole, or in the local spelling, Kriol. The African/English Belizeans Kriol music has many forms but the most popular is Brukdown which is like calypso with reggae or ska overtones.
When we lived in Belize 20 years ago we used to see Mr Peter’s Boom & Chime every Friday evening. Mr. Peters is the King of Brukdown and Ms. Leeyla Vernon is the Queen and we were privileged to have Leeyla as our guest at dinner at Hickatee Cottages on Saturday night.
She came dressed in a fabulous silk basque with red silk elbow length gloves and a fur stole. After supper she agreed to perform a couple of her songs to all the guests at the lodge. The video will be available once I’m back home.
Leeyla letting her hair down
Sunday morning was the Belize annual bird count and we were asked to join in. Melito and Alyssia were our guides and for three hours we tracked over 100 species -even though most of them were LBJ’s to us (Little Brown Jobs)
Lunch in Maryann’s overlooking the sea and then back into the jungle for admin (a lie down) Tonight is our last in the area so we are heading into town.
