Belize establishes first national music archive

Belize has launched the Belize Music Archive and the National Recording Treasures of Belize to preserve the nation’s musical history. Announced by Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca, the initiative includes a new archive laboratory at the Belize Archives and Records Service in Belmopan. The project aims to restore, digitize, and safeguard over a century of audio recordings, including fragile tapes and cassettes from private collections.

The National Recording Treasures designation will recognize recordings of significant cultural and historical value, with the first 100 selections expected by 2026. This effort is part of the broader Belize Music Project, intended to connect younger generations with their cultural roots.

In a separate cultural development, the National Celebrations Commission announced the first recipients of the Creative and Cultural Excellence Awards. Honorees include poet Margaret Reynolds, who received the Zee Edgell Award for Literary Arts; master drummer Emmeth Young, recipient of the Leela Vernon Award; and Yucatec Maya leader Felicita Cantun, who received the Don Elijio Panti Award for her work in protecting indigenous knowledge.