The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Episode 28 - Pororó a Guatemalan Garifuna Tradition

• Jose Francisco Avila • Episode 28

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Join José Francisco Ávila for a festive exploration of The Pororó, a unique and enduring Guatemalan Garifuna tradition!

Discover how the Garifuna community celebrates the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th with a magnificent three-day festival. We delve into the captivating cultural fusion of the Pororó—from the collective, circle dance accompanied by traditional Garifuna instruments, to the beautiful incorporation of Queqchi indigenous costumes (the huipil and cut).

Learn about the music's modernization by figures like Mr. Modesto Marcial and Don Cuellar, and hear how this vital tradition is preserved by organizations like Hahigagua Guadimaluna in the diaspora.

The Pororó is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful expression of faith, cultural heritage, and the joyful start of the Christmas season. 

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Books by José Francisco Ávila

HOST: Welcome back to The Garifuna Experience Podcast! I'm your host, José Francisco Ávila, and today we are diving deep into a vibrant and unique tradition that connects the Garifuna community across generations and borders: The Traditional Pororó.

What is the Pororó?

HOST: The Pororó is a beloved and enduring Guatemalan Garifuna tradition that has been beautifully preserved by the Garifuna community in places like New York.

It is, at its heart, a magnificent three-day religious and cultural festivity in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The celebration officially kicks off on the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th—though the festivities often begin as early as December 10th and continue through the 12th. For the Garifuna community in Guatemala, the Pororó marks the joyful and vibrant beginning of the Christmas season.

A Fusion of Faith and Culture

HOST: The Pororó has been celebrated since 1838, born from the deep Christian faith of the Garifuna people. The history here is fascinating because this tradition highlights a unique cultural fusion.

The celebration begins with a mass dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. But what transforms this day into an unforgettable street festival is the dance and the costume.

  • The Dance: It is a collective dance, not an individual one or a dance in pairs. Imagine 10 or 15 people linked together, often holding each other's shoulders, creating a large, moving circle. They dance to the rhythm of the drums and Garifuna instruments, moving out of the church and into the streets. This transformation from a formal procession to a joyous, unique festival is the magic of the Pororó!
  • The Costume: In a beautiful act of veneration, the Garifuna women wear elements of traditional indigenous clothing—specifically, the Queqchi style—which includes the huipil and cut. They also often wear a traditional hat.

In Guatemala, this joyful party takes place primarily in the Garifuna heartlands of Livingston “Labuga” and Puerto Barrios, both in the department of Izabal.

The Music of the Pororó

HOST: The music is the heartbeat of the Pororó. This isn't a parranda rhythm, or salsa, or punta—it is a unique blend of instruments and melody, featuring the trumpet.

The songs for the Pororó have their own distinct rhythm, and we must pay tribute to the late Mr. Don Francisco Marcial (Kianbus) and his children Félix Marcial and  Modesto (Bata Miligui) Marcial founded the Dinastía Los Hermanos Marcial, Excelencia en Pororó.

According to cultural authority Guillermo Alvarez, "Don Cuellar," Modesto (Bata Miligui) Marci, was the person who updated the traditional songs of the Pororó to the modern versions such as “Lamalali Papa” we enjoy today. Don Cuellar himself has recorded beloved Pororó songs, including Diyu Numa and Pororó.

Pororó in New York

HOST: The beauty of our culture is its portability. The tradition of the Pororó is very much alive here in the United States, too. The annual festivities for the Guatemalanc community in New York are organized by the group Hahigagua Guadimaluna, ensuring this vital piece of cultural heritage endures for the diaspora.

It's a testament to the strength and commitment of the community that this tradition continues to thrive, even thousands of miles from the shores of Guatemala.

(SOUND: Garifuna music begins to rise slightly under host)

HOST: And that wraps up another illuminating episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast.

The Pororó is more than just a dance; it exalts the joy, the faith, and the cultural diversity of the Garifuna people. It is a stunning example of a tradition that has endured, been adapted, and continues to unite us.

Thank you for listening and remember: The future of the Garifuna people is in our hands, and we are driving Power, Prosperity, and Progress.

Until next time, stay united, stay proud. Sungubei Lidan Aban Ayo!

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José Francisco Ávila

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