Belize has a history and population that is rich in diversity. Within Belize, there are eight distinct ethnic groups that each bring their own history, language, and culture. One of these groups is the Garifuna people who primarily inhabit the Caribbean coastal communities of Belize.
Early History
The history of the Garifuna people began over 400 years ago when South American Carib Indians migrated up to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. The primary goal of this migration was for the Carib Indians to conquer the Arawak Indians, who were the original inhabitants of the island.
Later, in 1635, two Spanish ships carrying West and Central African slaves from Africa to the West Indies ran ashore in St. Vincent. Those that survived stayed in St. Vincent and lived among the Carib Indians. For nearly 2 centuries, the Carib Indians and descendants of African slaves intermarried and created what is now known as the Garifuna ethnic group, or Black Carib.
In 1660, the British granted the Garifuna people “perpetual possession” of the island of St. Vincent, however less than a decade later, the British broke this treaty and reclaimed the island of St. Vincent. Because of their prominence of the island and their successful fishing and farming practices, the British saw the Garifuna as a threat to their colonial mission and began to exile the nearly 5,000 Garifuna people to the island of Roatán, off the coast of Honduras. From Roatán, the Garifuna began to migrate to the mainland of Honduras and continued to spread out along the Caribbean coast to Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The first Garifuna people arrived in Belize on November 19th, 1802 in the town of Dangriga, which is considered to be the spiritual capital of the Belizean Garifuna people.
Garifunas in Modern Day Belize
Today, the Garifuna people are a thriving population in the country of Belize. Having successfully preserved much of their cultural heritage, the Garifuna language, dance, and music were declared to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2001 by UNESCO. Music and dance are central to the Garifuna culture, with a heavy focus on drumming. Traditional Garifuna has also evolved into a more modern version, called Punta and the even more modern, “Punta Rock”, which incorporates traditional drumming with modern lyrics and instruments. In addition to the music, dance is an integral part of the Garifuna culture, stemming from its West African origins. Popular forms of Garifuna dance include Punta, Chumba, HunguHungu, and Jankunu. Each type of dance tells a different story of the Garifuna people history.
Another important part of the Garifuna culture is the food. Garifuna cuisine is rich in flavor and most commonly consists of fish, cassava, coconut, and plantains. The most common served along Garifuna meal is Hudut, which is mashed plantain or yam, served alongside Sere which is a coconut-based fish stew served with cassava bread.
Experience Garifuna Culture in San Pedro
If you have ever attended Grand Baymen’s “Taste of the Caye” event you’ve likely gotten to see and hear dances and songs performed by the Charikanari Dance Group, led by Ms. Julia Martinez. Attendees to the culinary events have been able to enjoy delights from San Pedro’s Garifuna restaurant, Black & White, including sere, coconut sweets, cassava bread, and more, as well as the opportunity to chat with both the dancers, musicians, and restaurant owner.Planning a trip to Belize this fall? Visit Grand Baymen in November and join us for the next Taste of the Caye event, and experience Garifuna culture up close and personally.
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