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Tiny but mighty Belize packs a powerful history rich and cultural tapestry that is single-handedly shaped by the convergence of various ethnic groups. The Mayan civilization, British colonialism, African heritage, and the presence of indigenous communities are simply what makes Belize, well, Belize!
Across the country, Belize in November becomes flush with the Garinagu flag—stacks of black, white, and yellow—as all Belizeans celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day: a testament of resistance, recognition, and resilience. Every November 19th in Belize, the day is set aside as a public holiday to celebrate the journey endured by the Garinagu in an effort to preserve their own people and traditions.
But for those unfamiliar with Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize, you may have more questions than answers. For example, where and why did the Garifuna arrive in Belize? What defines the Garifuna way of life? Are there more ways to celebrate Garinagu culture beyond just a Garifuna day in Belize in November? Keep reading to learn more about Belize in November, why Belizeans are celebrating Garifuna Settlement Day, the Garifuna language, Garifuna music, and more.
After all, thе Nаtіоnаl Gаrіfunа Соunсіl hаѕ rеvеаlеd thе оffісіаl thеmе fоr thіѕ уеаr’ѕ Gаrіfunа Ѕеttlеmеnt Dау сеlеbrаtіоnѕ in Belize as: “Wаmúа, wаnісhіgu lubá ámuñеgü: óundаrunі hаmа nіburеіntіаn lun lаbаgаrіdu Gаrіfunа.” From the Garifuna language, this trаnѕlаtеѕ in English tо “Оur lаnd, оur сulturе, оur futurе: іnvоlvіng оur уоuth fоr Gаrіfunа ѕurvіvаl.” Undoubtedly, the story of Garifuna culture begins and ends with their survival.
It’s a ѕіgnіfісаnt еvеnt іn Веlіzе’ѕ сulturаl саlеndаr, but the spirit of Garifuna Settlement Day isn’t confined to just one calendar date. Throughout the month of November, elements of Garifuna culture come to the forefront as Belizeans honor a heritage that singularly shaped a collective identity—especially in Dangriga, where the first Garifuna people landed in Belize.
The Garinagu people and their Garifuna culture began centuries ago during the slave trade, where first accounts place a Nigerian ship sinking in the Atlantic Ocean in 1635. While being transported to the Caribbean to work on plantations, many managed to escape to the coasts of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVI) where they were received by indigenous Arawak communities. The indigenous communities of SVI are those who initially subjugated them before becoming allies and giving birth to the Garifuna people—their initial survival alone is a code of resistance that remains more than three centuries later within the Garinagu!
Fast forward to 1763, Saint Vincent was given to Great Britain and was briefly under French rule from 1779 until 1796. During that time, tensions rose between the Garinagu and the French but after fighting the British for more than a century, the Garinagu were forced to surrender and the French were kicked out of the islands of the Lesser Antilles. Cue a second layer of oppression: apartheid.
Garinagu survivors were then separated by phenotypes, where those with stronger African-presenting traits were banished in a violent act of exile into the open sea, with little chance of survival. Luckily, more than half of that population made it to the coast of Honduras, where Spanish colonizers received them under conditions of exploitation, mostly on banana plantations.
It was not until November 19, 1802, that the Garinagu once again escaped civil war and arrived on the peaceful southern coast of Belize–then British Honduras—instead of facing further oppression and possible death. Fleeing under the leadership of Garifuna leader and activist Alejo Beni, their goal was to rebuild collective agency and strength as one Garinagu people while navigating an entirely new homeland, where their proud strength and adaptability remain unshakable. Embracing change while preserving the essence of who they are, the 19th of November was earmarked in Dangriga as Garifuna Settlement Day in 1941, which later became a national public and bank holiday in 1977 thanks to the advocacy of Thomas V. Ramos, Catarino Benguche, and Matias Avaloy.
Today, Dangriga Town in Stann Creek District is considered the “culture capital” of the country, with all merit given to it hosting the greatest concentration of Garifuna people in Belize. There are other Garifuna villages and towns in Belize that Garinagu has also settled of course, which include Hopkins, Punta Gorda, Barranco, Livingston, Monkey River, Seine Bight, and Punta Negra. Within all, you can find the portrayal of their history through song, dance, food, and language. In fact, in 2001, UNESCO officially declared the Garifuna language, dance, and music in Belize to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, as a testament to the profound additions to Belizean history and culture. Let’s break down a few more elements of Garifuna culture in Belize, including cuisine, flag colors, dance, language, and music.
Notably, two major cultural events and traditions are integral to Belizean celebrations, which are Yurumein and the Jankunu. Yurumein features the re-enactment of the ancestral Garinagu's journey from St. Vincent to Belize—complete with beating drums, traditional clothing, and Garifuna songs as boats make their way to the coastlines at the crack of dawn on the 19th of November. Meanwhile, Jankunu—or Wanaragua—is a male-dominated masked dance with headdresses that mimics male prowess and continued existence. Typically on December 26, Boxing Day, this Garifuna festival held in Dangriga is a means of commemorating African ancestors’ resistance to European slavery, which varied from militant upheaval to theatrical forms intended to mock their master.
Coconut, cassava, purple basil, and seafood fresh from the Caribbean Sea–these are some of the staples of Garifuna cuisine in Belize! A traditionally coastal community, the Garinagu heavily relies on ground provisions and hand-caught fish in the form of decadent stews and porridges. Here are a few traditional Garifuna dishes to try when in Belize!
1. Hudut: A coconut milk stew infused with spices, which is served alongside mashed green and seasoned ripe plantains with coconut called fufu.
2. Conch Soup: Another coconut milk-based seafood stew, fresh vegetables like okro and whole habanero are cooked with conch until thick and creamy.
3. Tapou: A fish-based creamy soup with a range of ground provisions like cassava, green plantain, and ripe plantain.
4. Darasa: Think of darasa like banana tamales, which are a well-known Belizean snack. Green banana is grated into coconut milk, lime, orange, and savory seasonings before being steamed inside banana leaves.
5. Sahou: A thick, smooth, and sweetened cassava porridge that’s spiced with nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Sahou is served to be sipped at wakes, during a 9-night ceremony, or on chilly mornings.
6. Bundiga: With a consistency closer to chowder, this starchy soup is made of green banana and coconut milk soup with various seafood like conch, lobster or snapper.
7. Boil Up: Lots of ground provisions ( ripe plantain, sweet potato, okra, white cocoa, cassava) are boiled and smothered in a tomato-based sauce with whole fried snapper or barracuda steaks, pigtail, and flour dumplings.
8. Sere: this fish broth is prepared with fresh coconut milk, okra, onions, cilantro, and pan-fried fish. While the other stews and soups are served with cassava, this is also traditionally served with coconut fried rice.
9. Ereba: Cassava is grated and flattened into a flatbread, which is baked over a flat griddle until crispy.
One of the best times to see the traditional dress and costumes of the Garifuna people is during the festivities of Garifuna Settlement Day and the Jankunu dance over the Christmas holidays. The costumes feature headdresses, shells around the dancer's knees, and white shirts with white or black pants bearing a black, green, or pink ribbon across the chest. However, more commonly, it’s not uncommon to see proud Garinagu men and women don vibrant Africanesque prints called mandaguina, available in more than just yellow, white, and black—which are the colors of the Garifuna flag. Women often wear long dresses sewn from checkered material along with colored headpieces. The men wear a traditional shirt of special design shirt that would normally complement the female’s which is referred to as ‘Dashiki’.
Garifuna spirituality and religion are a blend of the rituals and beliefs of Arawak, Island Caribs, and West African beliefs and culture. Above all, respect for the ancestors is paramount. That’s because, in Garifuna culture, the Garinagu have a spiritual tradition of reciprocity with their dearly departed—where they believe spirits of dead ancestors communicate with and protect living family members in a continuing cycle of parent-to-child and child-to-parent reciprocal relationship even after death. Communication occurs during trance, when one takes on the persona of the Ancestral Spirit when alive, or via dreams of the Ancestral Spirit. Formal communication sessions or séances are held only with the Spirit Medium, the Buyei. Also, interpretations of the trance and dreams can be further clarified or articulated through séances by the Buyei.
Ancestral Spirits are reciprocated and voluntarily celebrated through various rituals, which are incorporated into day-to-day existence. As ofrendas are to the Mexicans as a way to honor their loved ones, the Garinagu will celebrate loved ones who have passed through prayers or mass, singing, dancing, and sharing of food with both the living and the dead. However, it’s not to say that Garinagu have their own religious system, but rather, spiritual traditions that complement their own denomination of choice. For example, Garifuna people also embrace other belief systems such as Christianity, and as practicing Christians, have assimilated or absorbed aspects of Christian belief systems into Garifuna spiritualism.
Buiti binafi, or hello! The Garifuna language is an Arawakan language spoken by approximately 190,000 people in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and also by many who have emigrated to the United States. Still, many experts say it’s also a language facing extinction that’s now finding new life through the arts! Through songs, music, dances, and related performing art forms that promote local, regional, and international Garifuna festivals, modern-day Garifuna communities are confronting Garifuna culture and language head-on in a way that’s loved by even non-native speakers. Think of this as you listen to Garifuna music like Punta Rock and Paranda!
The Garinagu proudly boasts its own Garifuna language, foods, cultural attire, music, and of course, dance, which is organically bound to the red soil of the southern land on which it is performed. From those indigenous Garifuna communities like Dangriga, Punta Gorda, Barranco, etc., Belize has given birth to a resurgence in Garifuna music in recent years, thanks to musicians like Andy Palacio, Mohobub Flores and Adrian Martinez. While Punta is the traditional Afro-indigenous music on string instruments, piano, brass, and woodwind instruments, Punta Rock is the unique Belizean spin, adding more percussion, musical accompaniment like electric guitar, and sophisticated arrangements. The maracas are the only other instruments utilized in traditional Punta.
It’s a contemporary take, which took off in the 1990s with the late Andy Palacio’s debut album Watina, which won the World Music Awards in 2007, and Umalali: The Garifuna Women’s Project, both released on the Belizean record label Stonetree Records. And while Paranda music can be compared to a slower take on punta, it’s actually the only traditional drumbeat and song genre in Garifuna culture to involve the guitar.
In November, Belize comes alive with vibrant celebrations centered around Garifuna Settlement Day on the 19th, honoring the resilience and cultural richness of the Garinagu people. The month is a tapestry of events that pay homage to the Garifuna culture's endurance and positive spirit, highlighting Belize's unique historical narrative. The official theme for this year’s celebration, “Wаmúа, wаnісhіgu lubá ámuñеgü: óundаrunі hаmа nіburеіntіаn lun lаbаgаrіdu Gаrіfunа,” underscores the importance of involving the youth for Garifuna survival, emphasizing the enduring spirit of the Garinagu.
Beyond the cultural festivities, November in Belize offers pleasant weather, making it an ideal time to explore the country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Whether you're captivated by the ancient Mayan ruins, pristine beaches, or lush rainforests, Belize in November provides a comfortable climate for outdoor adventures. Additionally, the month brings other cultural events, adding to the vibrancy of the atmosphere.
As you immerse yourself in the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations, consider exploring other facets of Belizean culture, such as its delicious cuisine and the captivating Garifuna music scene. Indulge in traditional Garifuna dishes like Hudut, Conch Soup, and Bundiga, each a culinary delight reflecting the coastal roots of the Garinagu people. The Garifuna flag, with its distinct colors of black, white, and yellow, is proudly displayed during festivities, offering a visual representation of the community's identity.
Moreover, Belize in November provides an opportunity to delve into the spiritual beliefs of the Garinagu, with a unique blend of Arawak, Island Carib, and West African traditions. Explore the Garifuna language, a cultural gem spoken by approximately 190,000 people across Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and witness its revival through music, dance, and other performing arts.
Whether you're drawn to the historical significance of Garifuna Settlement Day, the delectable flavors of Garifuna cuisine, or the rhythmic beats of Garifuna music, November in Belize promises an enriching and immersive cultural experience. Embrace the warmth of the weather, the diversity of traditions, and the welcoming spirit of the Garinagu people as you explore the beauty and cultural tapestry of Belize in this enchanting month.
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