City students experience Garifuna culture first hand
While events to commemorate Garifuna Settlement Day will continue throughout the weekend, today students in the old capital got a chance to sample the culture first hand.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today school children in Belize City experienced the Garifuna culture at its fullest through food, drumming, dancing, and displays of religious beliefs and practices.
The event, hosted at the House of Culture, was spearheaded by the National Garifuna Council Belize City branch.
Roselin Morris, Treasurer, National Garifuna Council, Belize City
“We have the food on sale. We also have presentations going on on the stage. We have the children performing to show that they are abreast of what the Garifuna culture is all about. We also have an exhibition going on whereby they can learn about the history of the Garifuna and also see videos and different paintings of different Garifuna artists.”
Marion Ali
“I know that it’s been a week of activities throughout the country. Is this the culmination of those activities being it’s the end of the week?”
Roselin Morris
“It is the end of the week for the children. I must say that on Sunday we’ll continue with the all-night drumming at the B.T.L. Park and after that on the 19th we’ll have our re-enactment at the courthouse wharf at five thirty leading to the Mass and then all day activities at B.T.L. park.”
While entertainment is a big part of the activities this year, much emphasis is also being placed on the spiritual and religious beliefs of the Garifuna people as demonstrated with this altar, adorned with special cloths and paraphernalia used during rituals.
The highlight of today’s presentations was the John Kunu, performed by six year-old Tyriese Martinez.
Marion Ali
“Tyriese tell me how you learn to dance the John Kunu?
Tyriese Martinez, John Kunu Dancer
“My mom always take me to John Kunu and I always see them dancing.”
Marion Ali
“So you just picked up on it? Was it hard for you to learn it?”
Tyriese Martinez
“No.”
Marion Ali
“You have other brothers and sisters who dance it too?”
Tyriese Martinez
“My bredda no dance. He noh dance, dah only me dance.”
Marion Ali
“Dah only you dance it?”
Tyriese Martinez
“but I teach my bredda how fi dance.”
Marion Ali
“You teach your bredda how fi dance it and you only six?”
Tyriese Martinez
“Yes.”
Marion Ali
“And how at school, you dance it at school?”
Tyriese Martinez
“Yes.”
The re-enactment of the arrival is set to start at five thirty on Monday morning at the Courthouse Wharf. From there participants will march to Holy Redeemer Cathedral for a church service and then parade to B.T.L. park for a day of food and fun.
Marion Ali reporting for News Five
On behalf of everyone here at Channel Five, we’d like to wish you all a happy Garifuna Settlement Day.
