Concerts & Events

Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo celebrates the release of his new CD entitled, "Wasugurun" Garifuna Struggle. This musical journey touches on a variety of issues affecting humanity and in particular the Garifuna Nation. Wasugurun deals with land issues and the loss of ownership at the hands of multinational corporations. It speaks of the on-going political and social issues that affect the life of the Garifuna people.

Wasugurun, Garifuna Struggle, is a one-of-a kind event not to be missed!

Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo is a proud Garifuna, raised in the coastal Garifuna communities of Hopkins Village and Dangriga Town in the Central American country of Belize. After graduating from Stann Creek Ecumenical High School, he began his teaching career at the Anglican School in Mango Creek Village today known as Independence. After 2 years of teaching in Independence, Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo was accepted to the Belize College of Arts and Science and Technology (BELCAST) where he studied Teacher Education.

After graduating from Belize College of Arts and Science and Technology (BELCAST), Rhodel immigrated to the United States in 1986, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Chicago State University, two years later. In 1994 he received a Master's Degree from Roosevelt University.

Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo began working in the human services field in 1987. He has worked as an administrator with various human services organization for the past 22 years. While he worked tirelessly to better the conditions for fellow human beings, Mr. Castillo also kept his heart and mind close to his Garifuna roots. Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo co-founded the Progressive Garifuna Alliance (PGA), an organization dedicated to the preservation and the advancement of the Garifuna Culture worldwide.

Under Rhodel's strong leadership, the PGA's made contributions to several Multi-Media Exhibits about Belize and the Garifuna Culture, Garifuna Town Meetings, and the Annual Chicagoland Celebrations of Garifuna Culture, with proceeds benefiting the communities in Belize. These events were very successful. Rhodel also contributed as a consultant and artist to "The Garifuna Journey," a documentary film by Andrea Leland and Kathy Berger. This film opens with Rhodel's poem "Our Children Must Know," demands that the truth to be told about the Garifuna history. The screening of this film at the Chicago Field Museum's African History Series Program opened the eyes of many new admirers and brought a profound respect for the Garifuna history and lifestyle.

In 1998, Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo released his first musical compilation CD entitled,
"In Exile". This compilation musical project dealt with a new and innovative rhythm blended with Garifuna tradition. It was a mixture of Punta Rock, Paranda, Reggae, Dub Poetry, Spoken Word, dealth with humanitarian, political and social issues affecting the Garifuna Nation.

On June 1, 2008, Rhodel "Rhodee" Castillo and his family opened the Garifuna Flava Restaurant. This establishment features a main dining area that seats 50 customers and adjacent banquet hall that seats 90 customers, and a parking lot for 30 cars. This restaurant serves up Garifuna, Belizean, Caribbean and Latin dishes. Garifuna Flava has been featured in several neighborhood papers throughout Chicagoland. It has also been featured on several major television programs in Chicago, namely "Check Please" on WTTW Channel 11, "Chicago's Best" on WGN and CLTV. It was also featured on the nationally syndicated show, "Diners, Drive-In and Dives" a popular program on the Food Network and numerous paper prints throughout the city of Chicago.
Garifuna Flava Restaurant continues to be the venue for many Garifuna Artist passing through Chicago.

In 2013, Rhodel Castillo was the recipient of the "Making a difference award" for his on going contributions to the Belizean community and culture, awarded to him by the Concerned Belizean Citizen Organization.

https://garifunaflava.net/