Leela Vernon – the Creole Culture Queen of Belize – Lila Genus Vernon, a true Belizean musician.
Leela Vernon is the niece of a Belizean classical singer and musician, the late Berti Martinez.
This year, 2011 makes over 35 years since Leela has been bringing music and her philosophy to the heart and soul of the people of Belize.
In 1987, Leela formed the Ebolites Dance Group, the purpose of the group was for Leela to express her own talents, and she ended up succeeding in touching the hearts of many.
Leela always saw everything in ways of how to express and preserve the Creole Culture. She is one of the pioneers behind keeping the Creole culture strong. The Sambai  and the Sadunga dances are two dances that Leela incorporated into lyrics, poems, songs, and dramatic pieces.
In 1987, the Ebolites group grew  to over 72 members and also started doing drama. The main objective always was to educate the Belizean people and the world about the rich Creole culture, the history, the food, the lifestyle, the relation with other Belizeans, and nationalize the Creole music.  Leela spent a lot of time making presentations at primary schools, high schools and at universities.
In 1994, Leela was asked to entertain the Queen of England in Punta Gorda, her hometown.
In 1995, her group the Ebolites, performed in New York, the Manhattan Center, in Vera Cruz, Mexico and at the Caribbean Festival. She travelled to various other countries and represented Belize in Dominica, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Ms. Leela also was one of the main singers on the Celebration CD, which the government commissioned in 1997. In addition, when the National Folkloric Company of Belize travelled to France and Spain, it was Leela who was the choreographer and performed over 50 shows.  In 1993, one of Leela pieces, “Blackness in Sunrise” was selected for the project “International Peace and Protest” by Professor John Franklin from the University of San Carlos, Guatemala.
Recently, Leela fulfilled one of her life’s dream, she called the whole creation “ Da Wahn Faamli Ting” and she kept sharing how good it felt to have done a recording with her entire family who are musicians in their own rights, along with Bredda David.
 Leela Vernon is the Vice- President of the National Creole Council of Belize and is also a founding member. In fact, even before the National Creole Council was formed in 1995, Leela had the first ever Creole Council in Punta Gorda, and she continues to head the Toledo Branch.
In 2001, the CD Leela Creole Culture was produced; the leading song on the CD later became the mantra of all Belizeans – ‘Ah Waahn Noa Hoo Seh Kriol Noh Ga No Kolcha?” This phrase became the spirit of inspiration for all who loves the Creole culture and language and in extension the Belizean Culture.
Today, Leela  is still working hard and producing Creole music, she has taken on the task this year to produce the Belizean National Anthem in Creole.
Leela Vernon is a true Belizean woman who has dedicated her life to the development of the Creole Culture in Belize.