Celebrating 200 Years of Garifuna Presence in Belize
Across the country today, various branches of the National Garifuna Council launched their respective itineraries for celebration events in the month of November. In Belize City, there was a brief launch at the Luba [loo-bah] Garifuna Museum this morning, where a calendar of events extending to December second was also presented. Beyond the schedule of activities, however, is an ongoing discussion on Garifuna survival: the cultural preservation of the language, food, music and spirituality. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The bicentennial anniversary of the arrival of the Garinagu to the shores of Belize is being celebrated this month. On November 19th, 1823, a large group of Garifuna men, women and children disembarked on what is known today as Dangriga. They came by sea from the Bay Islands of Honduras in a historic landing that is reenacted every year on the morning of Garifuna Settlement Day.
Sebastian Cayetano
Sebastian Cayetano, Garifuna Historian
“To be exact, we’ve been here in Belize for two hundred and twenty-one years, 1802, but the larger group came, led by Captain Alejo Beni, on the nineteenth of November, 1823. So we’ve been here in Belize for two hundred and twenty-one years. Praise God, we are still going strong.”
The contribution of Garinagu to the development of Belize has been significant in areas of education, agriculture, politics and entrepreneurship. Putting down roots primarily in Stann Creek District, the Garifuna people have since relocated to other parts of the country.
Ifasina Efunyemi
Ifasina Efunyemi, Vice President, NGC
“The rest of the country benefited from that and that is something to recognize, that is something that we must definitely celebrate and discuss and acknowledge because it was significant to this country’s development. We haven’t just been in these various, you know, festive activities either, we’ve been in government too, we’re decision makers in our communities and, despite some of the negative impacts, in terms of our economic development, we are still involved in the economic activities of this country.”
Notwithstanding its impact on Belizean society, Garifuna culture remains at a critical juncture. There’s the constant threat of losing our shared beliefs and values as a people.
Sebastian Cayetano
“As a reminder, I would like to go back to what Andy Palacio had told us some years ago. Andy is asking us in his lyrics sung in Times to Come (Amunyegu), I wonder who will bake cassava bread for us in times to come? I wonder who will speak with me in Garifuna in times to come? I wonder who will sing the songs with me in times to come? I wonder who will heal us with the dugu in times to come? The time has come for it to be preserved, the time has come for it to be taught, the time has come for it to be preserved, lest we lose it altogether.”
It is a sentiment that is echoed by Raphael Martinez who is also doing his part to carry on Garifuna tradition.
Raphael Martinez
Raphael Martinez, Presenter
“This is the time to come together, this is the time to actually show, to release all those shackles of colonialism that make us feel less than ourselves and to be a part of the change that we want to see when it comes to our Garifuna culture and our Garifuna legacy, lest, as Mr. Caye had mentioned and in the prophetic words of Andy Palacio, lest we lose it altogether.”
This theme for this year’s celebration is: Wamua, wanichigu luba amunegu: oundaruni hama niburentian lun labagaridu Garifuna larigi bian san irumu ya Balisi. Our land, our culture, our future: Involving our youth for Garifuna survival after two hundred years in Belize.
Sebastian Cayetano
“I am so happy with this theme, about the fact that our youths are being asked to be involved, to participate in our activities as Garinagu and I am saying not only one day, not only one month either, let’s make it participation for three hundred and sixty-five days, the entire year.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five
