We were fortunate to be at the right place, right time this November 19th, the Garinagu commonly known as the Garifunga (this term actually applies to their culture and language, not their race) celebrate their arrival to what was then known as British Honduras. Celebrations take place around the 19th to the 25th up and down the coastline including Dangriga, Hopkins, Seine Bight and Punta Gorda.
The day starts at dawn with a re-enactment of their first landing, this is followed by traditional dance, drumming and of course food. We were lucky enough to have a second celebration taking place at 2pm here in Placencia (Saved us having to get up really early to go to Seine Bight).
In typical Belizean style, the boat eventually appeared, while they paddled in we heard a little about their history …….. “in 1635, two Spanish ships carrying Nigerian slaves floundered and sank off the coast of St. Vincent. The slaves that survived and swam ashore found shelter in the existing Carib Indian settlements. Over the next century and a half, the two peoples intermixed, intermarried and eventually fused into a single culture, the Black Caribs or Garinagu” as they are known today. Click here for the full story.
The story is that they were turned away two times before eventually being allowed to settle here. They pride themselves on their culture and sense of community, which was quite evident as they sang, danced, ate, beamed & hugged!
Like many indigenous communities there customs and language are under threat as new generations are lured away from tradition. I for one truly hope that they keep intact their Garifuna heritage.
Thanks for sharing!
