Dangriga school promotes Garifuna culture
Dangriga: it’s known as Belize’s culture capital and that well deserved title is evidenced even more on the approach of Garifuna Settlement Day. Today News Five’s Marion Ali got a head start on the Nineteenth as she visited with some students and teachers who were already deep in celebration.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The re-enactment of the arrival of the Garinagu by children of Christ the King Primary School in Dangriga marked the start of their first Open Day and Garifuna Awareness activities. The purpose behind the event was to re-emphasize the importance of the culture to the students.
Irma Guity, Teacher, Christ the King Primary School
“We here have noted that the children are losing the language, the children are losing the culture so we usually have committees at the school so myself, Mrs. Martinez, Mrs. Young, Ms. Haylock and Mrs. Usher are the Committee for this year and for the children to have an insight, first hand experience, we decided that we will go cultural and each class was responsible for some part of the culture.”
The event included the Paranda and John Kunu Dances, live cassava bread baking on a fire hearth, as well as the cooking of Garifuna dishes on campus, cultural displays and texts on history.
For many years the Garifuna people were officially and unofficially discriminated against by other races in Belize. Standard two student Isien Garcia portrayed it best with the poem “Kerobee” written by her father, Russel “Chiste” Garcia.
Isien Garcia, Student, Christ the King Primary
“Scrupulous historians say we are cannibals just to belittle our warrior Generals. Alejo, Chatoweh all wanted us free but here we are, tricked by foreign fadiri (priests). No wonder the white man tell my brother to call I kerobee. Examine conscience and self black man. My brother you are forever in this land. No need to fuss, no need to fight. Harness our energies in Jah Jah’s sight and cease from deriding your own – Garifuna, not kerobee!”
Standard six student, Areini Muschamp, offered a bit about the history and culture.
Areini Muschamp, Student, Christ the King Primary School
“The Garifuna came in from where they were to Belize and Alejo Beni came and shook the Governor’s hand and that is the re-enactment of what Standard six did.”
Marion Ali
“Why was it important to re-enact the arrival?”
Areini Muschamp
“Because we have to celebrate the 19th of November and everyone that is a part of the culture should be happy for this day that T.V. Ramos founded.”
Marion Ali
“If I ask you what the colours mean on the flag, I see yellow, white and black.”
Areini Muschamp
“Well the yellow signifies that they should have hope in Belize, the white signifies peace and the black signifies death and suffering.”
Marion Ali
“I also saw a lot of greenery, I saw leaves. Explain what was in the boat.”
Areini Muschamp
“There were palm trees, that was what they brought in waving so that everyone can notice that the Garifuna people are coming into Belize and they also brought their cassava, their equipment used for mashing the plantain and they brought in mostly everything used to make their food. That is mainly what they brought in, and they also brought in their culture.”
And while today was set aside to pass on Garifunaduo to the younger ones at Christ the King Primary, teacher Guity says it will take a united effort to preserve the culture.
Irma Guity
“We are encouraging parents to speak the language to the children and teachers who are also Garifuna, speak Garifuna to the children at times, interact with them in their first language. That will enable them and encourage them to want to speak, to want to be a part of Garifunaduo.”
Marion Ali
“You do this in the classroom as well?
Irma Guity
“I did it. I did it. I did it. As a matter of fact my children are able to sing the National Anthem and there are times that I give them certain responses in Garifuna that I want them to repeat after me and so far they’re doing so well.”
The first Garifuna arrived in Belize in 1823 but the majority came in 1832. We observe November 19th each year as Garifuna Settlement Day to celebrate that important arrival.
Marion Ali reporting for News Five.
Also present at the Garifuna Awareness Day activities were students from Queen Square Anglican in Belize City and St. Matthew’s Government School on the Western Highway.
