Priest and Poet:
Paul Nabor
Paranda

Seventy-four-year-old Paul Nabor hails from Punta Gorda, a sleepy, coastal town of 6,000 in southern Belize. This parandero, or old master of the Paranda musical style, is also a buyei, a spirit medium and healer who attends to his congregation at a Garifuna temple he built in Punta Gorda.

Record producer Ivan Duran was introduced to Nabor's music by Punta Rocker Andy Palacio and recorded him for inclusion on the album Paranda, which showcases an endangered style of music performed by Garifuna men from Honduras, Guatemala and Belize in their 60s, 70s, even up into their 90s.

Listen: "Naguya Nei" ("I Am Moving On")
Written for his sister when she was on her deathbed, this song exemplifies Paranda's acoustic leanness and the way its lyrics evoke a nostalgic longing. "Naguya Nei" appears on the album Paranda (Stonetree Records, 1998).

Lyrics reprinted with permission from Stonetree Records and translated from Garifuna to English.

Brother, I am ill
Dear Brother, I am ill
I have tossed and turned in my bed
With this ailment in the presence of my family
I have spoken with my children
Dear Brother, when I pass away
They must have a band at my funeral
It is my little ones I'm worried about
It is my children I'm worried about.

• Paul Nabor
• Andy Palacio
• Lugua Centeno

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