Garifuna Music Mourns Chichiman Sosa  

The Garifuna music world is mourning the loss of one of its most gifted and influential musicians, Rolando “Chichiman” Sosa Martinez, who died at the age of sixty-five. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and vocalist, Chichiman helped shape the modern sound of Garifuna Paranda and contributed to landmark recordings including Watina, Garifuna Soul and other well-known records. His musical ability took him around the world and placed him alongside Garifuna legends such as Andy Palacio, Paul Nabor and Aurelio Martinez. Tonight, a friend and producer remembers the man behind the music.

 

Ivan Duran, Producer, Stonetree Records

“I met Rolando Chichiman Sosa probably around twenty-two, twenty-three years ago. He came to visit the studio in Benque, and I will never forget the way he presented himself. He said, ‘My name is Chichiman and I play over twenty instruments.’ At first I kind of laughed at it and dismissed the idea of him being able to play so many instruments. We became friends and started recording. And then he immediately struck up a friendship with Andy, and I think the first time he met Paul Nabor was with Andy. He traveled with Andy to meet Paul Nabor. And again, it was, like they say, love at first sight. Chichi had an amazing voice, but also an amazing musicality. He was the best guy to have with you on stage. He could pick things up at any moment and raise it up to the next level. He was one of the rare musicians that felt the music like it was something beyond his body.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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