CULTURAL |
CULTURAL |
Monday, October 26, 1998 Online Edition 129 |
Popular punta music readily available at record shops By WENDY GRIFFIN
One guide book writing about Honduras said that as far as folk dancing is concerned, Honduras hides its light under a bushel basket. This does not apply to punta, a traditional Garifuna dance style whose music is readily available on cassette and CD. Live punta groups also play discos and dance halls in different parts of the North Coast. Punta was originally danced only by older people. It is the only type of music played at Garifuna wakes. Punta can be sung at the end of mourning ceremonies, known as fin de novenario in Spanish. During a Garifuna wake, there are a number of activities going on. From time to time family members wail and cry before the coffin that has been put in a specially decorated room. Then some of the men tune up the drums to play banquity (new life) as punta is called in Garifuna. The women sing. People go in one by one or in pairs to dance. Punta music for wakes is played with traditional instruments, first and second drum, maracas, a conch shell and sometimes claves -- two hardwood sticks beat together. They are sung in Garifuna with a soloist and chorus, like African music or a Gospel music choir. Punta music sounds happy, but the words are often sad. "Yesterday you were well. Last night you caught a fever. Now in the morning you are dead," says one song. The rhythm pattern is very complex. One drum plays 2/4 or 4/4 beat. The second drum plays 6/8, which is the beat to which the feet move. The women sing in 4/4 time. Sometimes the songs have counter rhythms. The second drum is steady, but the conch shell, maracas and first drum improvise solos similar to the exchange in jazz. There are a few cassettes available where one can hear this kind of music. Lita Ariran (Black Rooster), a traditional group from la Ceiba, has produced several cassettes such as "Lita Ariran, Folklore Garifuna." Langini Garifuna (The Heart of the Garifunas) is a song book and cassette prepared by the Organization of Ethnic Community Development (ODECO) and Salvador Suazo on the occasion on the 200th anniversary on the arrival of the Garifunas to Honduras. The book and tape are available at Libreria Guaymuras in Tegucigalpa. Although there are no translations of the songs, at least the songbook shows which ones are punta and how each dance is performed. If you do not know anyone who will take you to a Garifuna wake, the best place to hear and dance traditional punta is at Casa Azul on the beach in Cristales, Trujillo, just past the Black and White disco. You need to know Casa Azul means Blue House, as they have no sign, just lots of blue paint. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, the group "Los Menudos" plays live punta music to dance with traditional instruments. This group, which is mostly one family, has played together more than 16 years. Although Francisco (Pancho) David, the main singer and first class drummer, feels their greatest achievement is to have been to Spain to play in a folklore festival there, probably the best recommendation come from the Garifunas themselves. "Los Menudos are playing at the wake tonight. Let's go. It is going to be good," people say. This is Garifuna music as the Garifunas like to hear it. This brings a small disadvantage in that if there is an important wake, the club is closed, and everyone goes to the wake. Don't know how to dance punta? No problem. Ixbalanque language school in Trujillo arranges for a local girl to give punta lessons to tourists. It has become the custom since Banda Blanca's hit song "Sopa de Caracol" (Conch soup) to sing punta, but to have the musical accompaniment provided by a merengue dance. For a nice example of how traditional songs sound this way, listen to a Paula Castillo tape. She is a Guatemalan Garifuna whose family is from Cusuna. Many groups play modern Garifuna songs to a merengue band, the most famous being Garifuna Kids, a group of mostly Guatemalan Garifunas from New York. They also recorded one tape with "Enrique, el hijo del pueblo", who is from Santa Fe, Colon. There is reportedly a place in la Ceiba that offers this kind of punta music on the weekends. Garifuna music is also available on compact discs (CDs), such as Fuerza Garifuna's new CD "El Sabor del Coco" (The flavor of coconut). CDs are now widely distributed in Honduras. If you live far away, do not despair of hearing punta. Garifuna World <http://www.garifunaworld.com can sell you via the Internet the best Garifuna music they can find, although few are by Honduran groups. What you cannot get is a video of Garifuna dances, because even though the National Garifuna Folklore Ballet has filmed one, and Cristales Cablevision has hours of Garifuna dances on tape, no Garifuna dance video is currently available for sale. |
Punta's names show different origins By WENDY GRIFFIN The best know traditional dance in Honduras is punta, called banguity (new life) by the Garifunas. There are different stories about why punta is danced at wakes. Says Claudio Mejia, a Garifuna from La Punta, Colon, "If a man was a happy, popular kind of guy in life, then you want to give him a happy kind of wake." This coincides with African traditions, that when the body dies, the soul is in a kind of stupor and does not leave the body immediately. So friends and relatives party one last time with the deceased. Here, new life is understood as making the transition from being a person to becoming an ancestor. Anther explanation is given by Fausto Miguel Alvarez, a teacher from Cristales, Trujillo. "People dance, because even though this one Garifuna has died, another thousand will be born." Here new life is understood to be new life created in the wee hours of the morning after people go home. Garifunas, like the West Africans they descend from, believe in reincarnation. The spirit of the now deceased grandfather, for example, can be reborn in one of the new grandchildren. The story behind the name punta is different from its Garifuna counterpart. Once when an enemy died, the people said, "we are going to celebrate and dance from punta a punta (point to point). The punta here refers to point -- a piece of land that juts out into the sea, such as Punta Sal, Punta Izopo, Punta Betulia and Punta Caxinas. One Garifuna teacher said, "This is why some Garifunas do not agree with the dancing of punta at wakes. It is as if you were dancing when an enemy died." This type of sensual dance performed at wakes has also been reported in Jamaica and West Africa. Music also accompanies the dead to the tomb, a custom probably related to Yoruba burial customs, the same origin as the New Orleans jazz funeral. |
PEACE CORP HANDICRAFT FAIR -- NOVEMBER 21 -- The Peace Corp will be hosting its semi-annual Handicraft Fair at the Plaza Bancatlan. See future Maya Calendars for more information. TEGUCIGALPA THEATER GROUP -- OCTOBER 27, 28, 29 -- Plaza Milenium's Renacimiento Theater will present the TTT in "La Orquesta de Senoritas," directed by Mario Jaen. Admission is Lps. 50, students with I.D. Lps. 25, 8 p.m. YOUTH THEATER FESTIVAL AGAINST AIDS -- OCTOBER 29,30,31 -- The Educational Center for the Prevention of AIDS, COMVIDA, will be hosting the II Annual Central American Youth Theater Against AIDS in San Pedro Sula. FAMILIES ANONYMOUS -- Families Anonymous (FA) meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Union Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Eileen for more information at 239-9779 or 239-9778. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS -- Al-Anon helps the relatives and friends of problem drinkers. Groups met weekly in Colonia Alameda (Saturday afternoons) and Colonia Loarque (Sunday evenings). For more information, contact Amanda at 239-2698 (Spanish) or Margaret at 226-6576 (English). WEIGHT WATCHERS -- Weight Watchers, an international weight loss program with over 40 years of experience in helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle is offering classes in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. To join or for more information, contact Juan Cueva Membreno at 239-0161. ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN'S CLUB -- NOVEMBER 12 -- The ESWC invites all English-speaking women to attend its teas held the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the Restaurante La Hacienda on Blvd. Morazan. At the next tea, the Honduran Garden Club will show members how to make Christmas floral arrangements. There will be no lecture or tea during December, and the ESWC will not meet again until the second Thursday in January 1999. For more information, call Sara at 211-8369. ART, LEARNING & TUTORING FOR CHILDREN -- The Art and Education Center, BONAMPAK, at the Plaza Millennium, is currently offering hourly art courses for children ages 6 to 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Hourly reading courses for children ages 7 to 12 are being held on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as for children ages 4 to 6. Tutoring services are also available. Call 222-5487 for more information. CHILDREN'S LIBRARY -- The Centro Cultural Infantil of San Pedro Sula currently has a program titled "The Reading Corner" offering young people a chance to read and listen to stories in a comfortable environment. The library of this center holds a "Story Hour" daily and has a study area where students may do research. For more information about CCI services, call 557-8639. SPANISH CLASSES -- Spanish as a second language courses are being offered at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Learn Spanish with personal and advanced methods for beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior levels. For more information, call 232-2110, Ext. 217 or write to University Certificate in Spanish Proficiency, P.O. Box U 8779, Tegucigalpa.
MUSEUMS AND GARDENS
TEGUCIGALPA MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] NATIONAL ART GALLERY The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. IGUANA FARM The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346. COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA COMAYAGUA COLONIAL MUSEUM Located in the city of Comayagua, 2 hours north from Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Colonial Museum is in the building that served as home to the government in the 19th century. It contains objects used by indigenous cultures and the Spanish during the pre-Colombian and Colonial eras. COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348. LA PAZ, LA PAZ LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays. SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES SAN PEDRO SULA MUSEUM The Museo de San Pedro Sula is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 4th Street N.O. in San Pedro Sula. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 2 for students (must present valid ID) and Lps. 2 for children under 12 years of age. (Tel: 557-1496, Fax: 552-7091) MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste. It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else. YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays. OLANCHO PECH CULTURAL CENTER The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts. An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned. You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site. The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc. There is no admission fee to the cultural center. Hours: If you ask, they will open it. COPAN COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away. LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copán Ruinas. MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copán's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copán Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday. TELA, ATLANTIDA LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge. GARIFUNA MUSEUM This Garifuna-run museum in Tela, Atlantida has an almost complete collection of the different handicrafts made by the Garifunas. If you ask, they have a written guide in English available. The museum also houses the Garifuna handicraft shop and part of the Tela Artist Association's Art Gallery. The rest of the Gallery and the Garifuna restaurant have moved to the Garifuna Plaza on the beach next to the Bahia Azul Hotel. Tours of the Garifuna Museum to home/studios of Garifuna artists, medicinal plant tours, dance presentations, and tours/overnight stays in local Garifuna villages can be arranged at either the Museum or Garifuna Plaza. The museum is open 9 to 5 while Garifuna Plaza is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is Lps. 5. The museum is located next to the river, one block up from the bridge that goes to Telamar and the local churches. LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn TRUJILLO TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally. There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time. They have a good collection of Garífuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked. A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish. The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch. Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10. Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town. ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS The private Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders. Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences. Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatán towns. The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn |
Monday, October 19, 1998 Online Edition 128 |
PEACE CORP HANDICRAFT FAIR -- NOVEMBER 21 -- The Peace Corp will be hosting its semi-annual handicraft fair at the Plaza Bancatlan. See future Maya Calendars for more information. PAINTING AUCTION -- OCTOBER 23 -- The Rehabilitation Department of the San Felipe Hospital and the Honduran Polio Association will hold an auction of the works of outstanding Honduran painters. The exposition will dedicated to the late Salvador Leary for his charity work benefiting Honduran children. Proceeds will go toward buying medical equipment for the Rehabilitation Department. The auction will be held in the Cultural Salon of the Banco Atlantida, located on Miraflores Boulevard at 7 p.m. TEGUCIGALPA THEATER GROUP -- OCTOBER 29-31 -- Plaza Milenium's Renacimiento Theater will present the TTT in "La Orquesta de Señoritas," directed by Mario Jaen. Admission is Lps. 50, students with ID Lps. 25, 6:30 p.m. YOUTH THEATER FESTIVAL AGAINST AIDS -- OCTOBER 29-31 -- The Educational Center for the Prevention of AIDS, COMVIDA, will be hosting the II Annual Central American Youth Theater Against AIDS in San Pedro Sula. FAMILIES ANONYMOUS -- Families Anonymous (FA) meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Union Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Eileen for more information at 239-9779 or 239-9778. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS -- Al-Anon helps the relatives and friends of problem drinkers. Groups met weekly in Colonia Alameda (Saturday afternoons) and Colonia Loarque (Sunday evenings). For more information, contact Amanda at 239-2698 (Spanish) or Margaret at 226-6576 (English). WEIGHT WATCHERS -- Weight Watchers, an international weight loss program with over 40 years of experience in helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle is offering classes in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. To join or for more information, contact Juan Cueva Membreno at 239-0161. ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN'S CLUB -- NOVEMBER 12 -- The ESWC invites all English-speaking women to attend its teas held the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the Restaurante La Hacienda on Boulevard Morazan. At the next tea, the Honduran Garden Club will show members how to make Christmas floral arrangements. There will be no lecture or tea during December, and the ESWC will not meet again until the second Thursday in January 1999. For more information, call Sara at 211-8369. ART, LEARNING & TUTORING FOR CHILDREN -- The Art and Education Center, BONAMPAK, at the Plaza Millennium, is currently offering hourly art courses for children ages 6 to 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Hourly reading courses for children ages 7 to 12 are being held on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as for children ages 4 to 6. Tutoring services are also available. Call 222-5487 for more information. CHILDREN'S LIBRARY -- The Centro Cultural Infantil of San Pedro Sula currently has a program titled "The Reading Corner" offering young people a chance to read and listen to stories in a comfortable environment. The library of this center holds a "Story Hour" daily and has a study area where students may do research. For more information about CCI services, call 557-8639. SPANISH CLASSES -- Spanish as a second language courses are being offered at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Learn Spanish with personal and advanced methods for beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior levels. For more information, call 232-2110, Ext. 217 or write to University Certificate in Spanish Proficiency, P.O. Box U 8779, Tegucigalpa.
MUSEUMS AND GARDENS
TEGUCIGALPA MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] NATIONAL ART GALLERY The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. IGUANA FARM The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346. COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA COMAYAGUA COLONIAL MUSEUM Located in the city of Comayagua, 2 hours north from Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Colonial Museum is in the building that served as home to the government in the 19th century. It contains objects used by indigenous cultures and the Spanish during the pre-Colombian and Colonial eras. COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348. LA PAZ, LA PAZ LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays. SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES SAN PEDRO SULA MUSEUM The Museo de San Pedro Sula is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 4th Street N.O. in San Pedro Sula. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 2 for students (must present valid ID) and Lps. 2 for children under 12 years of age. (Tel: 557-1496, Fax: 552-7091) MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste. It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else. YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays. OLANCHO PECH CULTURAL CENTER The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts. An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned. You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site. The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc. There is no admission fee to the cultural center. Hours: If you ask, they will open it. COPAN COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away. LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copán Ruinas. MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copán's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copán Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday. TELA, ATLANTIDA LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge. GARIFUNA MUSEUM This Garifuna-run museum in Tela, Atlantida has an almost complete collection of the different handicrafts made by the Garifunas. If you ask, they have a written guide in English available. The museum also houses the Garifuna handicraft shop and part of the Tela Artist Association's Art Gallery. The rest of the Gallery and the Garifuna restaurant have moved to the Garifuna Plaza on the beach next to the Bahia Azul Hotel. Tours of the Garifuna Museum to home/studios of Garifuna artists, medicinal plant tours, dance presentations, and tours/overnight stays in local Garifuna villages can be arranged at either the Museum or Garifuna Plaza. The museum is open 9 to 5 while Garifuna Plaza is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is Lps. 5. The museum is located next to the river, one block up from the bridge that goes to Telamar and the local churches. LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn TRUJILLO TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally. There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time. They have a good collection of Garífuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked. A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish. The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch. Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10. Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town. ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS The private Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders. Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences. Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatán towns. The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn |
Legendary Ciudad de Mono Dios tells important stories By WENDY GRIFFIN In the 1930s explorer Theodore Morde got a Heyes Foundation grant to look for the legendary White City (Ciudad Blanca) in the Honduran Mosquitia. The site that he later found was called "Ciudad de Mono Dios" or City of the Monkey God. This name reportedly came from a double temple in the center of the site. From the ground to its summit was a wide staircase with balustrades. On one side there was an alligator and on the other side an insect he identified as a spider. On top of each of the double bases was a man-size statue of a monkey. Double temples, stairs with balustrades, and walls around the site are considered signs of Toltec Influence in Central America. Morde was intrigued by the Monkey God and asked the local Tawahkas its story. They told him a story about a monkey who had stolen a woman. This is the beginning of a much longer story Nahuat speakers tell in the northern Sierra de Puebla and the Huastec region of Veracruz in Mexico, collected by U.S. anthropologist James Taggart. In his book "The Bear and His Son," the Nahuat speakers tell how a monkey stole a woman from her family. He gave her fruit and brought her meat, but she had to eat it raw. After a while, the couple had a child that was half monkey and half human. The monkey child grew quickly. When it was bigger, the anthropoid offered to help the woman escape and go back to her people. Eventually she accepted and they both escaped. The monkey child grew to be Nahuehue, Old Thunderbolt, the captain of all the thunderbolt gods (Quia-teot). The name of these gods is remembered in the place name of Quimistan, Santa Barbara, formerly Quiatlan -- the place of Quia. In Professor Taggart's book "Nahuat Myth and Social Structure," he tells the stories of Nahuehue when he grew up. At one point the people had no food. Some say Quetzacoatl and others say Nahuehue himself saw an ant carrying a corn seed. They interrogated the ant and made him show where the corn was hidden in sustenance mountain. The story that ants brought people corn up from below is also told by the Lencas in Honduras, the Indians who live south of Quimistan. In the Nahuat story all the Thunderbolts and Old Thunderbolt himself rumbled and rained, causing the mountain to split open. All the Thunderbolts stole the corn, but Old Thunderbolt fell asleep exhausted. When he woke up, he took the pieces that had fallen on the ground and planted them. In addition to different colors of corn, they also took beans and amaranth. There are three varieties of amaranth in western Honduras, reports ethnobotanist Paul House. The other Thunderbolts did not know how to plant their corn and at first Old Thunderbolt did not tell them correctly how to do it. Only when they knocked his milpa or cornfield down did he teach them. Parts of this story are also in the Tolupan story of how they got corn, collected by Anne Chapman and published in the book "Masters of the Animals." The figure Morde identified as a spider on the balustrade of the temple might be an ant showing the way to get corn. According to Indian legend, in the beginning the world was all water and Quetzacoatl had to convince the earth monster, who had the form of an alligator, to rise up and be the land where people could plant. The figure of the alligator is also seen on metates or corn grinding stones in northeastern Honduras, again linking it to corn. In the story of the Patatahua, collected by Honduran anthropologist Lazaro Flores, the Pech claimed that the Indians in the White City were allied with the spirits of the great storms. As the captain of the Thunderbolts, the Monkey God was this kind of spirit. He is also an important person in the story of the creation of the sun. In order for the corn to grow, it needed not only rain and earth, but also sun. One story tells how the Thunderbolts fused together to become the sun, reports Professor Taggart. In another story, more closely related to the Aztec version, Old Thunderbolt is seen as a god covered with sores. The other gods made fun of him, but when one god must jump into the fire to become the sun, it is he who jumps in and takes the fire to heaven. Some stories say his mother and others his sister jumped into the fire after him. She gathered the remaining fire and went to heaven to become the moon. The sun and the moon were at first stuck, and it was only when the god of the wind blew the sun was it able to move. The god of the wind image was reportedly found near the site of Ciudad de Mono Dios. The importance of these stories remained a long time in Honduras. As late as 1808, a Spanish missionary reported seeing tablets dedicated to the sun and the moon on an altar made by Indians of Catacamas and Pacura (Valley of Agalta). Interestingly, these are not important images in Pech mythology. The Spanish reported Lencas and "Mexicanos" in the Olancho area. When Morde found the site, he believed it was built by Chorotegas. This group spoke an Oto-Mangue language and since their name means Cholulteca, they probably originally came from Cholula, near Mexico City. Morde took back thousands of pieces of artifacts from what he called the Chorotegas, which are now the property of the Museum of the American Indian in the United States that is currently moving them to Washington, D.C. The Fiscalia de las Etnias y Patrimonio Cultural or Special Prosecutor for Ethnic Groups and Cultural Heritage has managed to recover some archaeological pieces taken from Honduras to Italy, but has not petitioned for these items. The White City area seems to save been connected to the part of Nicaragua where the Chorotegas and Nahuat speakers lived by river routes going through the valley of Azacualpa and then through a tributary of the Guayambre to the Poteca River. These place names are associated with Aztec merchants, the Pochteca. USAID paid for a reconnaissance of part of this route that may soon be underwater if the Patuca II dam is built, and five sites were registered, but no formal archaeological work has been conducted at them. The archaeologist who works in the area, Dr. Chris Begley, reported that in addition to Nahuat influence, there is also Maya influence. This can be seen in sculptures reputedly stolen from the White City, some of which are now in the Trujillo Museum. The presence of Mayas in the Mosquitia is particularly startling in the Post Classic Period (900-1500 AD) because Maya influence has not yet been reported even around Copan for that period. When people ask, "Where did the Mayas go when they left Copan?", nobody guesses, "the Mosquitia." This mixture of Mexican Nahuat and Maya influence is reported historically by Hernan Cortes for the trade route from Veracruz in Mexico, along the Yucatan to Guatemala, San Pedro Sula and Trujillo. |
Monday, October 12, 1998 Online Edition 127 |
Guillermo Yuscaran: a painter of transcendence
By ERLING DUUS One of Van Gogh's paintings recently sold for $82 million. During his life-time, he managed to sell two of his paintings for small sums. The irony of this often causes reflection on how hard it is to evaluate the greatness of an artist, especially for contemporaries. In the case of Guillermo Yuscaran this difficulty is compounded by the fact that he is better known for his writing, and that his career as artist-writer has been divided between two countries, the United States and Honduras, and two names. William Lewis, as is well known, is his birth-name and is no doubt what his mother calls him. There are many examples of writers who tried their hand at painting, and painters who did some writing, but it is hard to think of anyone who seriously devoted a career to both. That fact, in itself, is an indication of the brilliance of the creative flame that burns within this man. A visit to the Santa Lucia studio of the artist-writer is an inspiring adventure, as many have discovered. Señor Yuscaran is a gregarious and hospitable man who welcomes visitors and has many friends. The visitor quickly observes that the entire mountain-side property on which he lives is in reality his studio. He paints the outside walls of the buildings, the pila, the out-house, and on trees, sticks, and boulders. His fancy and inventive genius cannot be contained inside the studio, anymore than they have been contained within one creative discipline. But when the visitor enters his studio, and to a slightly lesser degree his home, he is hit by the full force of the surpassing genius of the artist. Paintings in many styles, featuring a dazzling array of color and symbols, and years of work cluster everywhere, surrounded by manuscripts, unsold books, and photographs. It is a kind of chaos, truly, but it is the disorder of the imagination, with ideas and visions coming into being, or haunting about on the out-skirts of consciousness. Guillermo, of course, is entirely at home amidst this circle of light and profusion. He knows where everything is, even if he may occasionally have some problems with finding a place to sit down. There are usually some canvases that are being worked on, refined, and Guillermo will point these out and make some observations, but he talks very little about his art. He discusses literature, writing, ideas, a bit of politics, but rarely the art-work that enfolds and surrounds him. This is so because the artist protects the great wells from which it comes, the mythological, unconscious dream world, the realm of mystery and magic. He accepts this gift and grace, and seeks to remain dynamically open to whatever emerges. He seeks the consciousness that frees the mind, and is committed to its not being manipulated or controlled. In some fundamental way, and to a degree that is unique, the artistic imagination of Yuscaran the artist resonates with those primeval archetypes and symbols that stir at the sources of all the great religions. Accordingly, to enter the world of Guillermo's paintings, is essentially to enter a rich dream-world. Indeed, the figure of a man sleeping and dreaming appears in many of the paintings, and as the conscious mind recedes, the landscape of magic and symbol emerges, and reigns in a transparency of wholeness and peace. A great calm exudes from his canvases. Everything is as it should be, as though viewed on the first day of creation, the harmony, the connectedness that unites all being breathes through a great stillness. Guillermo has been called a primitivist, and to an extent an influence from the famous Honduran primitivist, Velasquez, with whom he was closely associated, can be observed. For both artists, the idealized Honduran village is a central theme, and both artists depict a landscape of great tranquillity, but the Yuscaran range is much greater, and radiates a quality of emotion and passion very much unlike Velasquez and the primitivist tradition. The artist he most resembles, though working in a vastly different setting, may be Georgia O'Keefe. Recently, however, new and compelling images have emerged. While he continues in the very distinct style that he has evolved, and the context is still dream-like, the stillness has become more dynamic, more heroic, more compelling. He has taken to painting great orange fish leaping out of the sea and soaring through a resplendent sky borne by some powerful and absolute inner power. Guillermo does not know where these fish came from or what they represent exactly, but he adores them. He will no doubt continue to paint his transcendent and glorious fish until a more compelling image emerges. As the threat of modern civilization to the human spirit grows in thickness and complexity, it is as if his images of transcendence must also grow in power and passion. His paintings now appear to pre-suppose an intense though unseen struggle. Perhaps they always have, but this dimension is much clearer now. In another recent painting, a giant hand extends from the ground holding a gleaming white cross, in stark and immense transcendence. It is not Christian in the traditional sense, but makes connection with the universal meaning always hidden and yet revealed in one of humankind's oldest and most enduring symbols. It cannot appear authentically except against a background of terror and suffering, rising against all the pillages of death. The spirituality of true transcendence is rare in 20th century art and literature. While Yuscaran's may flow from the depths of his unconscious, his associations in time and place are no less important. He was raised and nurtured in California at a time of turbulence and creativity on the West Coast, when the creative imagination was opening to the orient and stirring with the Buddhism of the Beat Generation, and later the vast rebellion of the Counter-Culture, more vital and chaotic in California than elsewhere. The American transcendentalism of Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman had a re-birth of sorts in the Far West. This Pacific coast Buddhism, the radical openness at the end of the long American trail of the westward passage, is a formative influence of the writer-artist. So is the fact that his mother is of Persian background, and the mystical Sufi traditions of that region are increasingly important to his art and writing. But it is finally the unique isolation and freedom of Honduras that has allowed his art to emerge and flourish. Had he remained in California he would have written and painted in an interesting manner, but it seems most unlikely that he would have found the space for this quality of transcendence to emerge. Honduras is as important to him as Tahiti was to Gauguin. Nationality can be acquired by either of two ways LEGAL FORUM By MELANIE WETZEL
There are two forms of nationality, nationality by birth and by naturalization. Naturalization is a voluntary act in which a person changes their nationality. A person's nationality by birth is determined in one of two ways: by the place of birth or by the nationality of the parents. This is an idea that originated in Rome, where there were lots of "foreigners" and separate laws to govern them. Jus soli is nationality based on the place of birth. Jus sanguni is nationality based on the parents' nationality. Children under 18 can have multiple nationalities. At the age of 18, however, they generally must choose one. In order to give foreign-born children the nationality of their parents, people who have children in a foreign country must register them with the consulate of their home country. The exact requirements for applying for jus sanguni nationality are established by each country. For U.S. citizens who have children in Honduras, the government requires that the following documents be presented to obtain a "report of birth abroad:"
Forms available at the consulate must also be filled out, and a fee will be charged. The child must be present at the interview and if both parents do not attend, the absent parent must fill out an affidavit of paternity. The consulate of your country of citizenship will be able to provide complete information. |
Mysterious beings haunt the Mosquitia, day and night By WENDY GRIFFIN Alone in the dark in your room, no electricity available, you hear it. A horse is running around crazily outside, but you see nothing. The next day this horse is without energy or spirit and has an inflated stomach, with pain around its belly button. The explanation, if you ask your Miskito hosts, is the Lasa was riding the horse during the night. Lasas are spirits that frighten people. They do not walk, but travel on the breeze. They can appear at any place, but driving loose horses crazy is their specialty, says Aurelio Ramos, a Miskito and native of the Rio Platano area. The people of Palaka report that around 6 p.m. a great animal called the Karsuwakia throws itself into the Rio Mocoron. The people hear the sound, but see nothing. If one walks by unafraid, the animal does nothing. If a person shows fear, however, it will eat him. This legendary animal also comes to sleep underneath the houses of the people, which are on stilts. It sounds like a huge beast, like a tapir or an alligator, but if you look, you will see nothing. This animal reportedly can cause illnesses and it also eats the souls of small children. Walking along the path or beside the river, suddenly your guide sees an animal with eyes that appear like large lights or reflectors. At first it appears small, but then it becomes bigger. Its body appears, like a comadreja or weasel, low and sleek. It makes sounds: lukut, lukut. This animal is the waihwah or pahtas. Miskitos say that if you don't bother it, it will not bother you. But just try to do it harm, and it will make you sick. It causes an illness with fever and vomiting. This kind of illness is best cured by a Miskito shaman or sukya, says Brus Laguna native Scott Wood. The creature that causes the sukya a great deal of work is the mermaid or liwa mairin in Miskito. If she appears to a person in dreams, that person will wake up ill. The mermaid and mermen (liwa waikna) are responsible for taking care of the fish. If a person takes too many, then the mermaid can make that person ill. Miskito seafood divers at first believed that decompression illness (the bends) was liwa siknis, an illness caused by mermaids, and sought treatment from sukyas, says diving instructor Robert Armington. Many Miskitos wear amulets to protect themselves from mermaids, who are also believed to cause the death of people by pulling them under water and drowning them. Sometimes at night on the Laguna de Caratasca in front of Puerto Lempira, there are sounds of boats. But on looking out, no boats can be seen. These sounds are also caused by the mermaids, people believe. Some people like Scott Wood claim to have seen these mermaids, usually surprising them at night by the water's edge. Sometimes for one reason or another the dead do not rest in peace. The spirits of the deceased who return are called Isigni Sakaia, similar to gubida of the Garifunas. Miskitos believe that the spirit of a dead person can climb up someone. This causes an illness and the shoulder of the person hurts from the weight of the Isigni. One of the ceremonies the sukya does to return this spirit to its rest is performed in a dark room. When a lightening bug appears, the sukya captures it which in turn communicates the message from the spirits. The sukya calls in the family to tell them the message and what they should do to help the spirit rest. The Garifunas claim that the Miskitos also had a ceremony with dances and food, similar to the Garifuna ceremony of dugu to send the Isigni back to the spirit world. Many other creatures including ogres, giants, horses with one foot, old men bearing magic gifts, black dogs, devils (mafia) all wander Mosquitia paths, helping to make it a magic, if somewhat scary, place. |
GERMAN BAKE SALE -- OCTOBER 17 -- The German-Honduran Group will hold a bake sale of German pastries on October 17 in the Centro Comercial Los Castanos in Tegucigalpa starting at 10:30 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the "Ana Rosa Maria" Girls Home. PEACE CORP HANDICRAFT FAIR -- NOVEMBER 21 -- The Peace Corp will be hosting its semi-annual Handicraft Fair at the Plaza Bancatlan. See future Maya Calendars for more information. PAINTING AUCTION -- OCTOBER 23 -- The Rehabilitation Department of the San Felipe Hospital in commemoration of its 50th Anniversary and the Honduran Polio Association will host an auction of the works of outstanding Honduran painters. The exposition will dedicated to the late Salvador Leary for his charity work benefiting Honduran children. Proceeds will go toward buying medical equipment for the rehabilitation department. The auction will be held in the Cultural Salon of the Banco Atlantida located on the Miraflores Boulevard at 7:00 p.m. YOUTH THEATER FESTIVAL AGAINST AIDS -- OCTOBER 29,30,31 -- The Educational Center for the Prevention of AIDS, COMVIDA, will be hosting the II Annual Central American Youth Theater Against AIDS in San Pedro Sula. CHILDREN’S THEATER -- OCTOBER 18,25 -- The Teatro Latino will present "La Ratita Presumida" by the Laraila puppet theater of El Salvador at 10:30 a.m. at D'Barro in Tegucigalpa. Admission is Lps. 20. For more information, call director David Vivar at 225-2440. MUSICAL ANTHOLOGY -- OCTOBER 21,22 -- Plaza Milenium's Renacimiento Theater will be presenting Jorge Mejia's Musical Anthology in piano concert titled "Realizaciones II." Showtime is 6 p.m. For more information, call 225-5517. FAMILIES ANONYMOUS -- Families Anonymous (FA) meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Union Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Eileen for more information at 239-9779 or 239-9778. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS -- Al-Anon helps the relatives and friends of problem drinkers. Groups met weekly in Colonia Alameda (Saturday afternoons) and Colonia Loarque (Sunday evenings). For more information, contact Amanda at 239-2698 (Spanish) or Margaret at 226-6576 (English). WEIGHT WATCHERS -- Weight Watchers, an international weight loss program with over 40 years of experience in helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle is offering classes in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. To join or for more information, contact Juan Cueva Membreno at 239-0161. ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN'S CLUB -- ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN'S CLUB -- NOVEMBER 12 -- The ESWC invites all English-speaking women to attend its teas held the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the Restaurante La Hacienda on Blvd. Morazan. At the next tea, the Honduran Garden Club will show members how to make Christmas floral arrangements. There will be no lecture or tea during December, and the ESWC will not meet again until the second Thursday in January 1999. For more information, call Sara at 211-8369. ART, LEARNING & TUTORING FOR CHILDREN -- The Art and Education Center, BONAMPAK, at the Plaza Millennium, is currently offering hourly art courses for children ages 6 to 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Hourly reading courses for children ages 7 to 12 are being held on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as for children ages 4 to 6. Tutoring services are also available. Call 222-5487 for more information. CHILDREN'S LIBRARY -- The Centro Cultural Infantil of San Pedro Sula currently has a program titled "The Reading Corner" offering young people a chance to read and listen to stories in a comfortable environment. The library of this center holds a "Story Hour" daily and has a study area where students may do research. For more information about CCI services, call 557-8639. SPANISH CLASSES -- Spanish as a second language courses are being offered at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Learn Spanish with personal and advanced methods for beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior levels. For more information, call 232-2110, Ext. 217 or write to University Certificate in Spanish Proficiency, P.O. Box U 8779, Tegucigalpa.
MUSEUMS AND GARDENS
TEGUCIGALPA MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] NATIONAL ART GALLERY The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. IGUANA FARM The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346. COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA COMAYAGUA COLONIAL MUSEUM Located in the city of Comayagua, 2 hours north from Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Colonial Museum is in the building that served as home to the government in the 19th century. It contains objects used by indigenous cultures and the Spanish during the pre-Colombian and Colonial eras. COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348. LA PAZ, LA PAZ LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays. SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES SAN PEDRO SULA MUSEUM The Museo de San Pedro Sula is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 4th Street N.O. in San Pedro Sula. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 2 for students (must present valid ID) and Lps. 2 for children under 12 years of age. (Tel: 557-1496, Fax: 552-7091) MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste. It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else. YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays. OLANCHO PECH CULTURAL CENTER The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts. An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned. You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site. The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc. There is no admission fee to the cultural center. Hours: If you ask, they will open it. COPAN COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away. LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copán Ruinas. MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copán's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copán Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday. TELA, ATLANTIDA LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge. GARIFUNA MUSEUM This Garifuna-run museum in Tela, Atlantida has an almost complete collection of the different handicrafts made by the Garifunas. If you ask, they have a written guide in English available. The museum also houses the Garifuna handicraft shop and part of the Tela Artist Association's Art Gallery. The rest of the Gallery and the Garifuna restaurant have moved to the Garifuna Plaza on the beach next to the Bahia Azul Hotel. Tours of the Garifuna Museum to home/studios of Garifuna artists, medicinal plant tours, dance presentations, and tours/overnight stays in local Garifuna villages can be arranged at either the Museum or Garifuna Plaza. The museum is open 9 to 5 while Garifuna Plaza is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is Lps. 5. The museum is located next to the river, one block up from the bridge that goes to Telamar and the local churches. LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn TRUJILLO TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally. There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time. They have a good collection of Garífuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked. A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish. The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch. Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10. Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town. ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS The private Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders. Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences. Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatán towns. The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn |
Monday, October 5, 1998 Online Edition 126 |
Ways to involve Hondurans in their own archaeology exist By WENDY GRIFFIN (Part three of three) In Honduras, several foreign universities have made their reputations working at archaeological sites. Yet there are very few Hondurans trained in archaeology, ethnohistory or anthropology. Universities that conduct archaeological or ethnographic projects in Honduras could try to actively recruit Hondurans graduated from universities here to study in anthropology or archaeology at their schools. Honduran universities could help identify possible candidates, including Garifunas, Miskitos and Lencas who have completed undergraduate programs. Most Hondurans have never heard of graduate research assistantships and have no idea how to apply. One of the limitations is that most eligible Hondurans have no English ability and thus are difficult to place as teaching assistants. Some international organizations like the Ford Foundation provide help to U.S. universities that want to strengthen programs in foreign universities, so funding might be available for these kinds of programs. The National Teaching University (UPN) is the first local university to set up an office to coordinate international funding, including projects, called Fundacion UPN. Another possibility is to develop training opportunities in Honduras. The Japanese tried to help start a UNAH archaeology program using La Entrada as a site, but that did not work. Help could consist of either training teachers, since Honduran university professors are often just graduates of undergraduate programs, or working at the program level. Given UNAH's bureaucracy, this might be easier at some of the dynamic private universities as well as the UPN. When individual investigators come here they could first contact Honduran universities to offer lectures on their research, and perhaps have Honduran students visit their sites and work with them. Having Honduras teachers as co-investigators might be very helpful, because while foreign investigators know theory and field work methods, Honduran universities have many professors who know the communities and the ethnic groups here. When joint field work has been done in the areas of dance, biology, medicinal plants, and some ethnographic studies, the results have more than met expectations. Moreover, the Honduran students appreciated the opportunity to practice field techniques. Someone recently recommended that I do more literature searches. This is difficult as many researchers leave no copies of their research results in Honduras. It would be helpful if all researchers left copies of their results or filed notes in a place of public access, such as the IHAH library. Hondurans are as guilty of this as foreigners; for example, a Honduran did a study of Garifuna plants and then sent the results to Santo Domingo while there is no copy for the Garifunas here. It is important that this information be stored in a public place, as IHAH also has private files such as their registry of archaeological sites that is only open to a chosen few. Implementing this policy would require a budget for photocopies for UNAH as Hondurans often do not leave copies because they have no money to make them. Being flexible with republication rights is another way of making foreign published matter available. For example, the only good collection of Tolupan myths has been published in the United States and Mexico, thus protected by international copyrights. This protects it even from publication by the Tolupanes who would like to be able to republish them for their bilingual-intercultural education program. IHAH is responsible not only for the fieldwork but also the museums. Individual researchers could help the museums develop better displays, good museum notes and materials in English. Local museum guides could also be trained. Museums are currently the single most important tool for teaching archaeology, yet it appears that only the Trujillo Museum and the Garifuna Museum have guide-books in writing. The one for Trujillo is available at the tourist information office in English and Spanish. These written materials should be accessible both in terms of cost and in reading level. They would definitely help conservation programs through local schools, especially if they had ideas of what teachers could do to implement the material. IHAH could play a role in facilitating these actions, but the appointments to IHAH positions are political, often based on who the person's family is. It is common to hear, "Oh, she got that job because her family is big in Liberal politics in Copan" or that person will never be appointed. His family is all Blue Party. If this is how they qualify to get and keep jobs, obviously there is no economic motivation for excellence. Recently IHAH has been rocked by scandals and rumors. So instead of waiting for IHAH to take the lead, perhaps individual researchers should show more initiative so that their research can make a difference here. At least they will not be able to say no one is interested. Many people are fascinated with Honduran history and its archaeology here because it is theirs. Offering to help the Indians write their ethnohistory from archaeology and other sources would be particularly helpful. Each group has its own representative or team for bicultural education. This exchange between the Indians and the archaeologists could also be very helpful to the latter because the descendants of those who made the ruins can often tell many things about what things mean or why they were done in a particular way. |
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The Maya Calendar A guide to the best in Honduran culture VALLE DE ANGELES -- THROUGH OCTOBER 12 -- The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports and the National Professional Training Institute (INFOP) are sponsoring the St. Francis of Assisi Fair in Valle de Angeles. MUSICAL ANTHOLOGY -- OCTOBER 21, 22 -- Plaza Millenium's Renacimiento Theater will be presenting Jorge Mejia's Musical Anthology in a piano concert titled "Realizaciones II." Showtime is 6 p.m. For more information, call 225-5517. PAINTING AUCTION -- OCTOBER 23 -- The Rehabilitation Department of the San Felipe Hospital in commemoration of its 50th Anniversary and the Honduran Polio Association will host an auction of the works of outstanding Honduran painters. The exposition will be dedicated to painter Salvador Leary for his charity work benefiting Honduran children. Proceeds will go toward buying medical equipment for the rehabilitation department. The auction will be held in the Cultural Salon of the Banco Atlantida located on the Miraflores Boulevard at 7:00 p.m. YOUTH THEATER FESTIVAL AGAINST AIDS -- OCTOBER 29,30,31 -- The Educational Center for the Prevention of AIDS, COMVIDA, will be hosting the II Annual Central American Youth Theater Against AIDS in San Pedro Sula. CHILDREN’S THEATER -- SUNDAY MORNINGS -- The Teatro Latino will present "The Three Little Pigs" puppet theater Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at the Restaurant "El Jardin" in the Hotel Suites Los Andes of San Pedro Sula. Admission is Lps. 25. For more information, call director David Vivar at 225-2440. FAMILIES ANONYMOUS -- Families Anonymous (FA) meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Union Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Eileen for more information at 239-9779 or 239-9778. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS -- Al-Anon helps the relatives and friends of problem drinkers. Groups met weekly in Colonia Alameda (Saturday afternoons) and Colonia Loarque (Sunday evenings). For more information, contact Amanda at 239-2698 (Spanish) or Margaret at 226-6576 (English). WEIGHT WATCHERS -- Weight Watchers, an international weight loss program with over 40 years of experience in helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle is offering classes in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. To join or for more information, contact Juan Cueva Membreno at 239-0161. ENGLISH SPEAKING WOMEN'S CLUB -- OCTOBER 8 -- The ESWC invites all English-speaking women to attend its teas held the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the Restaurante La Hacienda on Blvd. Morazan. This month George Hasemann will give a slide lecture. A widely acclaimed archaeologist, Mr. Hasemann has been closely involved in many of the discoveries in Copan Ruinas, Talgua, and other sites only now becoming recognized for their great importance for piecing together the history of Mesoamerica. He is also designer and director of a major new educational center at Lago Yojoa, at an archaeological site that will combine facilities for tourists and investigators, emphasizing the relationship between culture and ecology, past and present. For more information, call Sara at 211-8369. ART, LEARNING & TUTORING FOR CHILDREN -- The Art and Education Center, BONAMPAK, at the Plaza Millennium, is currently offering hourly art courses for children ages 6 to 12 on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Hourly reading courses for children ages 7 to 12 are being held on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as for children ages 4 to 6. Tutoring services are also available. Call 222-5487 for more information. CHILDREN'S LIBRARY -- The Centro Cultural Infantil of San Pedro Sula currently has a program titled "The Reading Corner" offering young people a chance to read and listen to stories in a comfortable environment. The library of this center holds a "Story Hour" daily and has a study area where students may do research. For more information about CCI services, call 557-8639. SPANISH CLASSES -- Spanish as a second language courses are being offered at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Learn Spanish with personal and advanced methods for beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior levels. For more information, call 232-2110, Ext. 217 or write to University Certificate in Spanish Proficiency, P.O. Box U 8779, Tegucigalpa.
MUSEUMS AND GARDENS
TEGUCIGALPA MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] NATIONAL ART GALLERY The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. IGUANA FARM The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346. COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA COMAYAGUA COLONIAL MUSEUM Located in the city of Comayagua, 2 hours north from Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Colonial Museum is in the building that served as home to the government in the 19th century. It contains objects used by indigenous cultures and the Spanish during the pre-Colombian and Colonial eras. COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348. LA PAZ, LA PAZ LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays. SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES SAN PEDRO SULA MUSEUM The Museo de San Pedro Sula is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 4th Street N.O. in San Pedro Sula. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 2 for students (must present valid ID) and Lps. 2 for children under 12 years of age. (Tel: 557-1496, Fax: 552-7091) MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste. It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else. YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays. OLANCHO PECH CULTURAL CENTER The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts. An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned. You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site. The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc. There is no admission fee to the cultural center. Hours: If you ask, they will open it. COPAN COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away. LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copán Ruinas. MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copán's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copán Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday. TELA, ATLANTIDA LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge. GARIFUNA MUSEUM This Garifuna-run museum in Tela, Atlantida has an almost complete collection of the different handicrafts made by the Garifunas. If you ask, they have a written guide in English available. The museum also houses the Garifuna handicraft shop and part of the Tela Artist Association's Art Gallery. The rest of the Gallery and the Garifuna restaurant have moved to the Garifuna Plaza on the beach next to the Bahia Azul Hotel. Tours of the Garifuna Museum to home/studios of Garifuna artists, medicinal plant tours, dance presentations, and tours/overnight stays in local Garifuna villages can be arranged at either the Museum or Garifuna Plaza. The museum is open 9 to 5 while Garifuna Plaza is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is Lps. 5. The museum is located next to the river, one block up from the bridge that goes to Telamar and the local churches. LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn TRUJILLO TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally. There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time. They have a good collection of Garífuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked. A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish. The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch. Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10. Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town. ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS The private Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders. Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences. Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatán towns. The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn |
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Los Menudos of Trujillo
is one of the more popular live traditional punta groups.
Nationality
is the legal bond that links a person to a specific country or nation. This bond gives the
person certain rights and obligations, established by most countries in a constitution.
