Aurelio Martínez Suazo, a musician from Honduras who shared Garifuna music with the world, has passed away in a tragic plane crash near Roatán.
Starting life in Plaplaya, Honduras, Aurelio was immersed in Garifuna traditions from an early age. This music blends West African beats with Latin and Caribbean styles. At 14, he moved to La Ceiba and joined latin jazz bands before forming Lita Ariran. Their album Songs of the Garifuna in 1995 brought them international fame.
In 1997, Aurelio teamed up with Andy Palacio from Belize for “Lánarime Lamiselu” on Stonetree Records’ Paranda: Africa in Central America. His solo journey began with Garifuna Soul in 2004. A year later, he made history as the first African descendant elected to Honduras’ Congress, advocating for Garifuna rights. After Palacio’s passing in 2008, Aurelio focused on his music again and released more albums: Laru Beya, Lándini, and Darandi. Notably, Lándini was celebrated as one of Latin America’s greatest albums last year.
Fans always admired how he never forgot his roots despite his success.
In 2015, he performed at NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert”. Ubafu Topsey said to The Guardian about him: “He came from such humble beginnings and he never forgot where he came from.”
