One of the Guatemalan Garifuna traditions that have been preserved by Guatemalan Garifuna Community in New York is the Pororo‘, which is the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe’s Day on December 12th.

On this day the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a mass dedicated to the Virgin and in a special way with a dance wearing the typical costume of the Queqchi, going out to the streets of the town, where he celebration transforms the procession into a festival, people dance to the beat of a musical group playing traditional Garifuna music featuring Garifuna instruments. It is a joyful and unique party that is celebrated in Livingston and Puerto Barrios.

In New York, the festivities are organized by the organization Hahigagua Guadimaluna.

According to Guillermo Alvarez “Don Cuellar”, it was Mr. Modesto Marcial who changed the traditional songs played at the Pororo to the modern version enjoyed today. Don Cuellar has recorded Pororo songs such as Diyu Numa and Pororo. 

2023 Traditional Labuga Pororo
Photo credit: Carlos Gamboa