On March 17, 2025, Honduran recording artist Aurelio Martínez died in a tragic plane crash. He was the voice of the Garifuna, a people of mixed African and Indigenous ancestry who live throughout Central America and its diaspora. A fierce defender of his people and culture, Aurelio went from being raised in a traditional Garifuna town in the Mosquitia rainforest to performing paranda music on stages all over the world and serving in the Honduran congress. Wherever he went, he used his platform to spread awareness of issues facing the Garifuna, like the loss of traditional lands and language.
Almost two decades ago, our producer Marlon Bishop became friends with Aurelio after spending several months living and studying with him in Honduras. Marlon shares the story of his time with Aurelio, and pays tribute to his life and legacy.
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This episode was produced by Marlon Bishop. Edited by Peniley Ramirez. Fact checked by Roxana Aguirre. Engineered by JJ Querubin.
Illustration by Alex Charner.