GARIFUNA

Done by: Francis Avila

Shaddae Swasey
Hilary Coleman,
 HISTORY

The Garinagu (originally called Black Caribs or

Charibe)first arrived in Belize in 1802
They were part of a larger group deported by the British
from St. Vincent island , they then began to spread alongside
the Caribbean cost of Central America
 MATERIAL CULTURE

Their food style comprises mainly of fish, cassava, and plantains

prepared in a variety of ways. One famous dish is the Hudut
traditionally consist of drums, maracas the guitar and the turtle
shells
Traditional Garifuna colors are yellow, black, and white: women
often wear long dresses sewn from checkered material along with
colorful head pieces. Men don their colorful “dashiki”: a long shirt
made from similar materials as that of the women's outfits. The
shirts are not buttoned
 NON-MATERIAL
CULTURE
The Garifuna Language is an Amerindian Language of the Arawak family, spoken by people that

were mostly African. The term was also derived from the Kalinagos .
Music and Dances The Garinagu are very musical people. They are the founders of the Punta,
Punta Rock and Paranda genres.The Punta is the original Garifuna dance music which involves
responsorial singing that is accompanied by drums playing traditional rhythms, calabash rattles and
sometimes even a conch shell trumpet. Punta Rock genre was developed by Pen Cayetano in the
early 1980’s.
Religion The Garifuna practice a version of Catholicism that uses many
aspects of their traditional religion . It combines beleifs in saints with
reverence toward gubida (the spirits of ancestors) and faith in shamans or
“ spirit helpers “ (called buwiyes). Their religious practices including
dancing, singing , drumming, and use of alcohol have long been
considered suspiciously by outsiders. Established churches (temples) and
people living nearby have accused them of paganism and devil worship.
Folklore Although it has been illegal for a long time Obeah, the traditional
witchcraft of the Caribbean , still exist. Some Garifuna still practice it
secretly . Its rituals involve dances, drumming and trances for contacting the
spirits of the dead. It generally used either to ham one’s enemies or to ward
off spells that others may have cast. An object used in such spells in the
puchinga doll and pins. It is made of cloth stuffed with black feathers and is
buried under the doorstep of the intended victim. Crosses are sometimes
painted on children’s foreheads to ward off the evil eye .
 LOCATION

They made their settlements along the coast at Dangriga,

Hopkins, Seine Bight, Punta Gorda, and Barranco
Dangriga having the highest concentration of Garifuna people
living there
 C O N T R I B U T I O N TO B E L I Z E ' S
DEVELOPMENT

the greatest influence the Garinagu has exercised on the Belizean

community can be found in their ability to successfully display and
preserve aspects of their culture at every available opportunity to
this day there are still people displaying Garifuna making Belize a
great tourist destination
OUTSTANDING
INDIVIDUALS
 ALEJO BENI

- 1821 he came to Belize to seek permission to settle, this was after twenty three years
after the battle of St. Georges Caye.
- Alejo Beni’s group ,along with his brother Santiago Beni stayed overnight at the
settlement before leaving the next day in search of an ideal place to settle.
-He got permission from Mayor General Codd, but he was not settle less than 10 miles
from Belize Settlement ,which is now Belize City.
-while on their journey which was south ,that took them to the Mullins river where they
stayed for few months .They continued the search for an ideal place to settle then finally they
stumble upon Dangriga town and the cool taste of river water there beckoned them to stayed.
P I C T U R E S O F A L E J O B E N I & H I S PA R K

Alejo Beni Alejo Beni Park

 THOMAS VINCENT RAMOS

-Thomas died at age 68 on November 13th ,1995.

-Since 1956 a torch light parade is held in honor of him.

-On January 24th ,1926 Thomas was registered as a member of the Arrival Fund
Committee which was founded for all Caribs in Central America.
-He founded the Carib Development Society, one of the aims of society is to help
those who are sick and to assist those who need financial assistance to bury their dead.
-Thomas started the celebration of Carib Settlement Day in Stann Creek in
1941,this was extended to the Caribs in Toledo in 1943.
THOMAS VINCENT RAMOS
 JOSEPH CHATOYER
-He is also known as Satuye
-Joseph was a Garifuna chief who led a revolt against the British Colonial government of Saint Vincent in
1795,he was also killed in this year.
-He is now considered a national hero of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and also of Belize and Costa
Rica. Vincentian politician Camillo Gonsalves described him in 2011 as his country’s “Sole national hero”.
-1772,the population rebelled, led by chatoyer was the first Carib War forced the british to sign a treaty
with them in 1773.this was the first time Britian had been forced to sign an accord with none-white people
in the Caribbean.
-In the second Carib War , Chatoyer divided the island with his brother Duvalle,who was another
chieftain.
P I C T U R E S O F J O S E P H C H AT O Y E R
& HIS GROUP
 REFERENCES

Islandexpeditions.com

13 chapters of Belize(Book)

Belmopanonline.com