UB-Belize students exhibit Garifuna customs
The University of Belize was the venue today for a culturally enriching experience. In observance of Garifuna Settlement Day, the students from the Southern districts got together to display the Garifuna customs. News Five’s Jose Sanchez was there.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The students of the University of Belize put aside their books to learn about the Garifuna traditions the best way they can… by mingling, eating, and dancing to the Punta Rebel Sounds.
Gertrude Joseph, UB Southern Student Association
“We call this show the S.S.A. Culture Bash 2000. And the reason was that last year with the University College of Belize, we had something close to this, but this year I think it was bigger. We have more people to work along with us. We chose to do it is because we wanted people to realize that the Garifuna culture is alive. And even though the theme says that the culture depends on the youths now, the youths are working towards upholding the culture.”
Elizabeth Bernardez
“Today I have my painting “The arrival of the Garinagu.? Then I have another painting about the making of our midday meal, ?huddut?. I also have them in note card form. There are also some Garifuna dolls, then I have some little hangers.”
Jose Sanchez
“They all depict the culture?”
Elizabeth Bernardez
“They are all about the Garifuna culture. This is the arrival of the Garinagu.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you made all of these?”
Elizabeth Bernardez
“Yes, even this one where it shows how we bake our bread. We grate the cassava, strain it and we bake it.”
Gertrude Joseph
“We had food on sale. We had ?darassa? and stew chicken, we had ?huddut?, cassava with dip. We sold those and had others on display today.”
“I would like people to know that students can definitely do big things because we did this. We went to sleep late last night, got up early this morning, and I think this was definitely a success.”
While the presentations might have ended too early for some, the real learning experience will come over the weekend when many students and faculty will bacchanal in Dangriga Town. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
