Anthony Torres, popularly known as ‘Uncle Tony’ was buried at his beloved Santa Rosa on September 10. He was 77.What a fitting finale to a remarkable musician and dancer of our Banchikili and Horopo heritage!It was to save the Amerindian Horopo tunes from going extinct that the Mariaba String Band was formed. The famous Aloysius La Rose aka “Uncle Bill’ could not play his violin any longer and no replacement was around during the early 1990’s.I approached Uncle Tony who recommended some men and in November 1993 the band was formed with Basil Rodrigues leader, guitarist, singer; Tony Torres guitar, banjo dancer, Frank Hernandez horopo violin man; Pedro Francis shack shack specialist; Mannie Cornelius banjo and guitar player. In later years Vincent Sukan, Basil Fernandez, Nash Francis and Aloysius Torres joined the band. Frank Hernandez could play fluently thirty two of the Banchikili tunes handed down from yesteryear by our Spanish Warrau and Arawak forefathers.Uncle Tony was adept at the Snake Dance which he and his wife Shefa, performed with grace and skill on the dance floor.The Mariaba band toured Georgetown, Dora with Ron Robinson, Mabaruma and Arakaka, Kabucaburi and Capoey and the Moruca Sub-Region and Uncle Tony never missed these tours.To the relatives of Uncle Tony the Mariaba Band extends its condolences and to him far away we sing: “Yo no gusta la wavina porque tiene mucho espina”. (I do not like the wavina because it has a lot of thorns)
Basil Rodrigues
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