The Official funeral for Wilfred Peters MBE was held this morning at St. John's Cathedral in Belize City. Fittingly, it was not a completely somber or dispiriting event - true to the reputation of the man whose music had inspired so many good times in his life, it was full of music and good humour. Monica Bodden was there.
Monica Bodden, Reporting
Many Belizeans - young and old lined the streets of the old capital this morning to pay their last respect to the King of Boom and Chime and Brukdown music.
The procession left off from the City's morgue at 8 o'clock this morning and made its way unto to St Thomas Street, down Freetown Road, unto Douglas Jones, Youth for the Future Drive, Cemetery Road, Orange Street and then unto Albert Street - where the church service was held at St John's Cathedral.
His wife Martha, along with his children, grandchildren, and a host of other relatives, friends and fans gathers inside the church where they view the body of Mr Peters one last time.
It was no ordinary funeral, as you can see there was live musical entertainment by Bredda David alongside a host of other well known musicians - all playing a variety of Mr Peter's most popular tunes such as "Salamon Gi-ahh" and "Run Mr
(Petas) Run"… It was indeed a celebration of the life of the legendary King of Brukdown. It was quite obvious as feet's were tapping inside the church, while many chattered some of their best memories with the Bruk down king himself.
The official remembrance of Mr. Peters was done by Dianne Haylock President of NICH. She spoke about the life of the musical entertainer - his 14 children, his beautiful wife Martha, his love for the accordion, his tribute to Belizean culture and the many countries his brand of brukdown music travelled throughout.
Dianne Haylock, President NICH
"Brukdown music was Mr. Peter's life, he began performing with the accordion at the tender age of 7 and by the time he was a teenager he began to make a name for himself. And that young prince would grow up to become the undisputed king of brukdown. Brukdown music reflected the journey of the African slaves into the Mahogany camps ob Belize in the 17th century and it is here where the boom and chime band began to take shape as the men made music to entertain themselves during their long stay away from the family. Mr. Peters boom and chime band consisted of the accordion, guitar, boom drum, tumba drum, jawbone, bass guitar and the ding a ling because of the sound it makes. We in Belize owe Mr. Peters our gratitude for being a great preserver and protector of this vital aspect of our cultural heritage."
The service was held by Reverent Canon LeRoy Flowers. Present at the Funeral was the Prime Minister of Belize, The leader of the opposition, other Ministers of Government, along with a host of great musicians such as Paul Nabor and a variety of well known public figures. After an hour the Funeral service ended as everyone lined up in front of St John's Cathedral to march the body of Mr Wilfred Peters once more through the streets of Belize City before put to rest.
Mr. Peters was buried at the Lord's Ridge Cemetery.
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