In the small village of Sangre Chiquito near Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago, a preschooler has become an unexpected viral sensation through his authentic embrace of traditional parang music. Four-year-old Beltino Chandlin Ramdeen, whose spontaneous maracas performance captivated the nation, demonstrates a natural musicality that runs deep in his family’s heritage.
The heartwarming story began when Beltino’s grandmother, Allyson Bengochea-Gyton—an established parang vocalist—shared video footage of her grandson confidently shaking maracas (known locally as chac-chac) while dancing with uninhibited joy. The clip rapidly accumulated thousands of views, resonating with viewers across the country who were charmed by the child’s genuine enthusiasm.
Parang, derived from the Spanish word ‘parranda’ meaning a festive celebration, represents an integral part of Trinidad and Tobago’s Christmas traditions. Typically, parranderos move between households, spreading seasonal cheer through vibrant music, dance, and communal sharing of food and drink while celebrating the birth of Christ.
For Beltino, however, parang transcends seasonal celebration—it constitutes his daily reality. ‘We don’t wait for Christmas to play music,’ Bengochea-Gyton explained. ‘Some of our videos with him were completely spontaneous—just sitting in the afternoon doing nothing, and he will put on music and start shaking his maracas.’
The young boy’s musical inclination appears deeply genetic. His grandmother leads her own parang and Latin ensemble, Ritmos Calientes, while his late grandfather, Hanuman Ramdeen, played both maracas and cuatro. The musical legacy continues with his step-grandfather Leo Gyton, a lead vocalist and skilled cuatro player, plus multiple extended family members who actively participate in Trinidad’s music scene.
Beltino’s relationship with his grandmother is particularly harmonized through music. ‘He calls me his Nani,’ she shared, ‘so he will always say, “Nani, sing for me and I will play.”‘ His learning capacity astonishes the family—he recently absorbed Spanish lyrics simply through listening, without formal instruction. His current favorite is a Latin piece by Peruvian band Corazón Serrano.
This Christmas, the four-year-old has requested a cuatro from Santa Claus, supplementing the maracas he already guards possessively. His family remains committed to nurturing his talent, with plans for music school should his interest persist. Meanwhile, Beltino himself dreams of becoming a doctor—potentially while leading the family band.
