Dangriga Mourns the Loss of Musical Icon Margaret Castillo at 62

Residents of the Culture Capital Dangriga Town are mourning the loss of a musical icon from the Coastal community. On Christmas morning, news of the passing of 62-year-old Margaret Castillo sent shockwaves throughout the town. Castillo was well known and beloved within Southern Belize, particularly in her hometown of Dangriga. Stann Creek Correspondent Harry Arzu spoke to the town’s Mayor Robert Mariano about Castillo’s passing and the legacy she leaves behind.

Robert Mariano, Mayor, Dangriga Town: “I’ve been promoting music not just with the elders but also with the young. As a matter of fact we assure that the music will continue due to her because she has a group of course, the Uwarani Dance Group and you will know that the Uwarani is consisted of the Junior and the Senior. We have children from five years old who she had been training up to the age of sixteen and then we also have the elders and so Ms.Maggie continues to promote music in the form of signing and also dancing. Garifuna culture. Just recently about two years ago you could remember Dangriga Town Council rebuilt her shed for her right there in her yard which shows that we promote music and culture. So she came and asked for assistance and we assisted her. As a matter of fact just about two years ago as well there was a group that came from Galveston Texas that has to do with the black commerce industry and I had asked her to come and perform for these people and when she came and performed for them they were so amazed so they made arrangements for me and them to go to Galveston Texas to perform publicly for people out there. And so I wasn’t able to attend and neither was Ms.Maggie able to attend but the group went in leadership of her daughter’s and Ms.Dorina Castillo. So Ms.Castillo AKA Auntie Maggie is known for this type of music and dance and also in teaching these young children how to sing. As a matter of fact you will agree with me that she has her six year old grandson who already started. As a matter of fact this is a family industry because her husband, Lupe, was also a musician. So she continued from where he left her from because he died something like fifteen years ago.”

Castillo passed away due to natural causes.