Nov. 19th: The culture behind the party

Over the weekend, activities marking the start of the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations will take place throughout the country. The hotspot is sure to be Belmopan on Saturday as several young ladies vie for the title of Miss Garifuna 2001. The theme of this years celebrations is “Garifuna Progress: A challenge for the youth, a task for all Garinagu.” Youth was also at the heart of the celebrations in 1999, when News 5’s Janelle Chanona and Brent Toombs went south to find out more about the tradition and culture behind the punta-ing and the partying.

The traditional celebration in Dangriga begins the night of November eighteenth when the sounds of shuffling feet in the sand amid the Garifuna songs and drumming fill the night air.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

“The song is about sickness and death. They’ve been dancing since this afternoon and they’re not expected to go to bed tonight.”

Just before light on the nineteenth, the canoe and boats head out to sea as the crowd gathers along the river, awaiting their return. When do, they are greeted with happiness, a far cry from what actually happened when the settlement party came to Belize in 1823.

Roy Cayetano, President, National Garifuna Council

“The fact is that we were not welcomed at the settlement at the mouth of the Belize River, and so we came south of the settlement, south of the Sibun, and we settled these lands along the coast.”

When they first arrived, the Garifuna people were primarily fishermen and farmers, living off the land in a tightly knit group, a stark contrast to today’s communities. President of the National Garifuna Council, Roy Cayetano, says the people can adjust and still maintain their values.

Roy Cayetano

“We are not saying that our people should simply stick to the drums and cassava bread making. We have to recognise that literacy is important and technological literacy is important. We have to make adjustments that will enable us to participate effectively in the global economy.”

But the global economy was far from most people’s minds this nineteenth. They just wanted to enjoy the celebration and learn about the Garifuna culture. The focus this year was on the participation of the younger generation, but their parents are providing the links to the past. Jestine Caballero says her mother taught her to be proud of who she is. She wants to do the same for her children.

Jestine Caballero

“When I was small, my mommy used to tell me I have to put it on, because that was what my granny and my mother put on, that’s why I have to put it on. I like it because this is my culture, so we have to put it on.”

Garifuna Woman

“That’s their culture; that’s their roots but nowadays they don’t teach them so, what could we say?”

Althea Joseph

“I think some of them, it’s peer pressure. Peer pressure has a lot to do with it, but with my girls, I always tell them, be brave. They love hudut, fry fish and they say they’ll learn to make tapau. That’s what they say, but the hudut they love. I always tell them, we’re Garifuna and you have to learn to speak your language and know about your culture.”

Days before the re-enactment on the nineteenth, the children of Dangriga held their own ceremony.

Fabian Cayetano

“My daughter being one of the erumei, said she was happy with that first ever experience. She did not know that was the way our ancestors had came to the shores of Belize from Honduras, and she was happy to be a part of it.”

Derrick Tzul also likes to learn about Garifuna culture.

Derrick Tzul

“My mother is a Garifuna and Spanish mixed together.”

Janelle Chanona

“And you’re proud?”

Derrick Tzul

“Yes.”

Roy Cayetano is encouraged that so many young people want to learn Garifuna ways. But he is concerned that the Garifuna language is no longer the first language for so many of his people.

Roy Cayetano

“If we allow that to continue, it will herald the beginning of the end for us. Fortunately, I think there’s still a lot we can do because the language is still alive.”

From all appearances this nineteenth, a lot of things are still alive and well in Belize’s Garifuna communities. Reporting for News 5, I am Janelle Chanona.

A national Garifuna mass will be held in Belmopan on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at the Our Lady of Guadelupe Church.