Afropop Worldwide

It’s impossible to overstate the shock felt around the world when we learned of that Aurelio Martinez had died in a plane crash in Honduras on March 18. He was only 55 years old, and one could not help but be reminded of the equally untimely death of Andy Palacio in 2008. These two artists have been the international torch-bearers for the unique music and culture of Central America’s Garifuna people.

We will be remembering and honoring Aurelio in various way in the days and weeks to come. For now, we bring you a taste of how his community in Bronx, New York, responded just days after the terrible news arrived. We also offer a few of our favorite Aurelio videos, and images of our own priceless experiences, notably his performance at the City Winery in New York in 2018, when we inducted Aurelio into the Afropop Hall of Fame.