Belize (a.k.a. British Honduras)
Copyright 2014 by Teofilo Colon Jr. (a.k.a. “Tio Teo”) All Rights Reserved. Telephone: (646) 961-3674.
Information on the country of Belize (“Balisi” in the Garifuna Language).
Map Belize Photo
Belize is unique among Central American countries in that it was the sole country controlled by Britain.
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In other words, it’s the only country that isn’t Latin American (although I understand that the demographics of that country are changing to such a degree that that may not be the case a few years from now).
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Considering that Belize was initially a British colony, it’s worth briefly exploring the relationship between Belize and Garifunas.
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Mention of Black Caribs in Belize were recorded as early as 1802 with the publication of the minutes of a Magistrate’s meeting of August 9th 1802, “that the admission of Caribs into the settlement rests with the Superintendent”. [ref]Sir John Alder Burdon “The Archives of British Honduras” 1931-1934 (11 :57)[/ref] .
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I am not sure, but I think that the Black Caribs sought to settle what was called Carib Town, which later became Stann Creek and is now known as Dangriga.
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Between August 1802 and December 1802, there were an estimated 150 Black Caribs in the British Colony. At least, that is what has been documented.
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According to Sebastian Cayetano, while the presence of the Black Caribs in Belize (then known as British Honduras) was unwelcome, they were needed to settle the land and help protect that part of the country from roving Spanish forces.
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The Black Caribs sought to find work as wood cutters. [ref]Sebastian R. Cayetano, “Garifuna Re-Settlement in Central America: Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize” — from the book, Garifuna History, Language and Culture (1989).[/ref]
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Church Photo
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Alejo Beni led a large group of Garifunas to British Honduras after fleeing Honduras.
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I am not sure whether not this was due to war in Honduras but this took place on November 19th (most state the year as 1832, other sources state 1823).
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What are the Garifuna towns in Belize?
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According to the National Garifuna Council of Belize, Garifuna Towns or Villages located in Belize include: [ref]http://ngcbelize.org/content/view/18/147/[/ref]
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- DANGRIGA (Stann Creek) — Coastal town which serves as heart of Garifuna culture in Belize. According to the National Garifuna Council of Belize, 80% of the population there, around 7,000 are Garifuna. The Gulisi Garifuna Museum can be found at the entrance to this town. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=157[/ref]
- HOPKINS – This village was established as a small Garifuna fishing village in 1942. According to the National Garifuna Council of Belize, Hopkins is the only town in Belize where Garifunas learn the Garifuna language as their first, native language. English is the official language of Belize. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=152[/ref]
- GEORGE TOWN – This is a newer Garifuna community established in the 1960s by Garinagu from Seine Bight looking for farmland. Today, approximately 200 people live in this village. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=151[/ref]
- SEINE BIGHT – Small Garifuna Village of approximately 700 residents. According to the National Garifuna Council of Belize, the Garifuna settled in Seine Bight in 1869. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=150[/ref]
- PUNTA GORDA – This town was established as a fishing village in the early 1800s. Because of other ethnic groups migrating to this town and transforming it into a commercial center of Southern Belize, it no longer is considered a predominantly Garifuna town. However, about 1,500 Garifunas remain at its core. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=149[/ref]
- BARRANCO – Garifuna village located in southern Belize. It was settled in 1860 and is a fishing and agricultural center. This Garifuna village has around 150 residents and is recognized as one of the last traditional Garifuna communities in Belize. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=148[/ref]
- LIBERTAD – a small group of Garifuna families make up the smallest Garifuna community in Belize. The community developed around the Belize’s first sugar mill, which was established in the 1930s. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=155[/ref]
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What other towns and/or cities can you find Garifuna people in Belize?
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Other towns where you can find Garifuna communities include:
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- SAN PEDRO – this town was mostly founded by Garinagu who went to Ambergris Caye looking for work in the island’s tourism industry. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=156[/ref]
- BELIZE CITY – A significant Garifuna community resides in Belize City, including several hundred from Honduras. While the Belizean Garifuna are spread out throughout Belize City, the Honduran Garifuna can be found in a little section called ‘Little Honduras’. Some of the more talented Garifuna musicians in Central America live there, including Garifuna Singer Musician Lugua Centeno. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=154[/ref]
- BELMOPAN – relatively new Garifuna community is based here. Garifunas who are well-educated went there looking for work as teachers, nurses and civil servants in the Belize’s capital. [ref]http://www.ngcbelize.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=153[/ref]
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What ethnicities make up the Total Population in Belize?
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According to the 2010 Census in Belize, from figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize; out of a total Belize population of 322,453, Garifunas make up 19,639. [ref]http://www.sib.org.bz/Portals/0/docs/publications/census/2010_Census_Report.pdf Table 8: Percentage of Population in each Ethnic Group by District, Belize 2010.[/ref]
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Population totals of some of the other ethnic groups in Belize are also instructive.
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Mestizo / Spanish / Latino = 170,446
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Creole = 83,460
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Maya = 36,507
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GARIFUNA = 19,639 (6.1% of the Population).
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East Indian = 12,452
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Mennonite = 11,574
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Caucasian / White = 4,015
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Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese) = 3,316
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Other = 4,010
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Not Stated = 845
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NOTE: There’s an interesting footnote to this Table, where they say the column percentages will NOT sum to 100, as some persons claim more than one ethnic group.
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photo map
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Again, while the official Language is ENGLISH in Belize, it sure was a surprise for me to learn about the size of the Spanish / Latino / Mestizo population in Belize in 2014, at least when it was said to me by a Half Garifuna Half Creole friend from Belize.
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photo map
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It should also be remembered that it was Garifuna intellectuals from Belize who were responsible for submitting the application to UNESCO designating the Garifuna Language, Music and Dance of the Garifuna People a Masterpiece of The Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. [ref]Marion Cayetano, Roy Cayetano “Garifuna Language, Dance and Music–A Masterpiece of The Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. How did it happen?” — from book “The Garifuna: A Nation Across Borders–Essays in Social Anthropology” (2006).[/ref]
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There are many Belizean Garinagu (plural for Garifuna, Garifunas) who have successfully integrated into Belizean society and have made serious strides serving as teachers, public servants, etc.
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In fact, I included the Population Totals by Ethnic groups in Belize above to point out that although Belizean Garifunas make up a small percentage of the Belizean population, they nonetheless pretty much serve as the cultural face of the country.
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Also, Belize is the only country on EARTH that recognizes Garifuna Settlement Day as a national public AND bank holiday. That did not happen by accident folks.
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garifuna lady in church pew photo
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While there are many prominent Belizean Garifuna to profile, for the purposes of this posting, I’d like to mention Garifuna Singer Musician Andy Palacio and note that his ambitions for a successful music career alternatively helped shape him as an ideal Garifuna ambassador and vibrant embodiment of Garifuna culture and values while he was still alive.
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Below is a a Look Behind The Music of Andy Palacio and the making of his breakthrough, “Watina” album.
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youtube link
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Multi-lingual (Fluent in the Garifuna, English and Spanish languages) and made the rounds in media circles both nationally and internationally to promote his Watina album, his role as a Garifuna ambassador (in 2007, he was designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace) has been noted but at the same time, been largely unexplored. [ref]http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41640&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html[/ref]
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Finally, a posting about Garifunas and their connection to Belize would be incomplete without talking about Garifuna Civil Rights Leader, Thomas Vincent Ramos (T.V. Ramos).
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About Thomas Vincent Ramos (T.V. Ramos)
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