Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Music
Folk Music
Guatemalan festivals provide great opportunities to hear traditional music featuring instru-
ments such as cane flutes, square drums and the chirimía, a reed instrument of Moorish
roots related to the oboe.
The other popular form of 'folk' music is made by the Garífuna people who live around
the country's Caribbean coast (see the boxed text, Click here ). Completely different from
traditional Maya music, the Garífuna's most popular style is punta , variants of which you
can hear in dance clubs around the country.
Modern Music
Guatemalan tastes in pop music are greatly influenced by the products of other Latin Amer-
ican countries. Reggaetón is huge - current favorites being Pitbull, Wisin & Yandel, and
Daddy Yankee.
The only record label seriously promoting new Guatemalan artists (mostly in the urban/
hip hop vein) is Guatemala City-based UnOrthodox Productions
( www.uoproductions.com ) .
Guatemalan rock went through its golden age in the '80s and early '90s. Bands from this
era like Razones de Cambio, Bohemia Suburbana and Viernes Verde still have their diehard
fans. The most famous Guatemalan-born musician is Ricardo Arjona.
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