Punta Rock Punta Rock is a creation of Pen Cayetano in 1980, just as Belize former British Honduras was about to be independent. After playing with different bands and performing also in Mexico and Guatemala and learning about different cultures Cayetano realised that his people the Garifuna had their own strong roots. He also noticed that the Garifuna youth of Belize was loosing their cultural foundations and he knew that they needed something to step with the time. That was in the early 80's. It was time for a change.

Pen's Studio at 5 Moho Road , Dangriga , Belize

Pen experimented at his Art Studio at 5 Mohoroad in Dangriga with the Garifuna rhythms and different instruments and discovered the turtleshells as an percussion instrument. With a few friends including Mohobob Flores, Myme Martinez, Bernard Higinio, Peter Jeep Lewis, Faltas Nolberto and Calypso Lopez , he was practising his new sound when he got the idea of quickening the traditional Punta rhythm , adding the electric guitar and the turtleshells to it.

Cayetano called the music Punta Rock and named the group "The Turtle Shell Band ". The band started to perform by doing so called Roadblocks in Dangriga and later they moved to Belize City, where they performed in different clubs like the "Bunfire " and "Purple cup". The Turtle Shell Band took the Punta Rock out of Belize and spread the message across the Caribbean, Mexico and the USA. International recognition they gained in 1983 at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

The songs were written mostly in Garifuna language talking about the history, calling for pride and awareness of the culture and not loosing it what rneans UWALA BUSIGANU. Some songs referring on the hardship of the Garifuna and their experience as well as love, joy and happiness. Pen Cayetano, popular known as the "King of Punta Rock" achieved numerous awards and citations in music and art.

The real Turtleshell Band painted by Pen Cayetano

Various bands all over Belize and Honduras started to pick up the Punta Rock sound and from then on the music took a life of its own. Belizeans like most Caribbean people who have been devalued by centuries of colonial suppression, tend not to appreciate their own roots & culture.

Pen Cayetano, recognised as one of Belize's most innovative artist and musician, found it necessary to move to Germany in 1990.In his new home he taught his kids in art & music and formed the familyband "The Cayetanos" in 1998 and started a new generation of Punta Rock music. He produced four musical recordings entitled "IN MI COUNTRY" (1994),"SWEET AFRICA" (1996),"PUNTA ROCK" (2000),"THE BEGINNING" (2001). It is a fact, that Punta Rock is a force in the process of developing cultural awareness and strengthening national identity in Belize for all ethnic. Punta Rock is worldmusic.