Open Day on cultures at Queen Square Anglican Primary School
Most schools around the country are paying homage to our Garifuna brothers and sisters who are celebrating their arrival to our shores since 1823. The main celebration and revelry take place in Dangriga, home to one of the largest Garifuna communities in the south. But in the Old Capital today, the celebration of the fusion of cultures was the theme at one primary school. News Five Jose Sanchez dropped in for the event.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The Garifuna culture is only one of many cultures that are being celebrated today at Queen’s Square Anglican Primary School. The students and teachers have made their classrooms hubs of culture for their first ever Open Day.
Ersella Griffith, Principal, Queens Square Anglican School
ersella griffith
“This year we decided for the first time to portray and teach it in a different way. To have the teachers and the staff themselves do research and actually have an exhibit and this way the children will learn more.”
Jose Sanchez
“What different cultures have you presented today?”
Ersella Griffith
“Nigerian is one that is added on. We’ve always done the Mennonite, the Garifuna the Creole, the Mestizo, the Maya. And so we have the Nigerian added on this year.”
ivany young
Ivany Young, Presenting on Nigerian Culture
“Sanu dizwah. You got the garri okru soup, the pounded yam egusi soup and you got the rice beans and stew. And she is going to tell you about the religions. Fifty percent of Nigerian are Muslim, forty percent are Christian, ten percent are other religion. These are some of the fruits that Nigerians eat. First of all I want to tell you about the Qur’an Bible, this is what the Muslim use and that is what the Christians usually use. This is some of the fruits and vegetables: you got the okro, the onion, the sweet potato, the yam, the orange, the tomato, the ripe plantain, the banana, green plantain. And because the Nigerians are very healthy, they don’t eat junk food.”
Kiara Dawson, Presenting on East Indian Culture
kiara dawson
“We are the East Indians. The East Indians came from India and they came to Belize as workers. The Indians mostly settled in the Belize District and the Toledo District. In the Belize District, the areas that they settle in are Fabers Road and Queen Charlotte Area. In the Toledo District, these are the areas they settled: Forest Home and the Cattle landing.”
romerian logan
Romerian Logan, Presenting on East Indian Culture
“These are the languages: Gujariti. Marathi and a language in the East Indian, mossi.”
Jose Sanchez
“What do you want the students to carry from the experience?”
Ersella Griffith, Principal, Queens Square Anglican School
“An appreciation for all the cultures present in this country and worldwide. The depth that we went into this year: the dances, we would not have been able to do all of that in the classroom setting but because we have the entire day that we are doing this and we are repeating it. We are using the computer as well to portray things we videotaped; when the teachers went out to do interviews. So much more is being put into it this year and using this form of presentation than we would have in a regular teaching situation where we would have been restricted to perhaps an hour or maybe two. Right here we have the entire day where we are portraying different aspect of it.”
jamelia zelaya
Jamelia Zelaya, Presenting on Chinese Culture
“My chart is the Republic of China and it just states the important fact of what Chinese do every year and other stuff.”
Jose Sanchez
“Give me an example of something it does?”
Jamelia Zelaya
“Well they host puppet show every two years.”
Tyrique Garbutt, Presenting on Chinese Culture
tyrique garbutt
“Chinese basically talks about what happened, what they had to work for, talk about their first elections.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you think this presentation will help to remove some of the stereotypes?
Some of the groups we say they are the taxi drivers, or they are the ones who fry the chicken, or the ones who work in the field. Would this change that?”
Ersella Griffith
“It will. In fact because all the groups have their own customs, their own traditions, their own way of dress, their own music, occupations, contribution and we highlighted that in every group portrayed here today. So it should.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you feel you can have a conversation with a Chinese person about a whole new topic now?”
Tyrique Garbutt
“Kinda because some of them noh really born in China, they come and they born here in Belize so they are like Belizeans. So they can teach them different stuff.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
I think this is a very good approach to celebrating the many cultures and ethnic groups in Belize.
However, I strongly disagree that the Garifuna settlement day celebration should be watered-down in this fashion. The Garifuna people culture should be kept alive and this date dedicated to celebrating their rich heritage should be observed. I remember learning about (what in those days were called “the Caribs”) people like Joseph Chatuye a Garifuna chief and his wife Barauda who fought against the invading the British in Saint Vincent, about the journey of the people to along the coast of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and other Central American countries, the Arawak and Carib Indians and about the founder of Garifuna settlement day in Belize Mr Thomas Ramos.
In my opinion the children should have been learning about the outstanding Garifunas who has contributed greatly to Belize through music, writing, education and medicine. I feel the Garifuna people like the Mayans are marginalised, and this is an example of how this manifest itself.
Celebrate the many cultures of Belize by all means but at another time in the school calendar.
Can anyone tell me the percentage of Nigerians in population of Belize? Why is it important we celebrate their presence? I am not being racist but I fail to see the significance. For many years we’ve had Jamaicans, Haitians, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Nicaraguans and we haven’t celebrated them. It is a wonderful idea to celebrate the various ethnic groups but at another time as you end up celebrating diversity and tolerance which not a bad thing but the main object will get lost in process. Please keep the celebration of the Garifuna culture separate.
I am not Garifuna but I’ve travelled all over the world and the two groups of people associated with Belize are the Garifuna and Mayans. I am asked time and time again about the culture, the language , the music and sometimes I feel embarrassed by the little knowledge because it is not promoted and thought properly within our country. So please lets observed these days as they were meant to be celebrated. Happy Garifuna Settlement Day Belize.
I got carried away with my thoughts. Therefore instead of the word thought I meant the word “taught” properly within our country.
the kids did a good job.my little girl was great.