The Garifuna community

Garifunas

In the year 1763 two Spanish ships laden with slaves shipwrecked near St. Vincent and the slaves on board escaped and took refuge with the Caribbean Indians and they welcomed them and protected them with their culture and traditions.

Of this mixture resulted in a new hybrid breed of African and island Caribs, with African features and the Caribbean that became known as Garifuna or Black Caribs, most African customs and traditions were kept and mixed with the Caribbean.

They are also known as Black Caribs or Garinagu being this last the better term accepted by them as the term Garifuna refers only to the person and their language, while Garinagu is an African word that refers to the group of people in general.

Geographic Location

The Garifuna people, is one of the largest ethnic groups inhabiting the coast of Honduras with an approximate population of 300,000.

They are distributed in 47 communities located along the North Coast of Honduras, specifically in the departments of Cortes, Atlantida, Colon, Gracias a Dios and Islas de La Bahia. Garifuna are also present in the sister Republics of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize.

Garifuna culture

 

The Garifuna people have a very ancient history and culture, same, even though the events experienced has not changed much in the last years. They still keep alive their language, customs and traditions such as: music, dance, religion, ceremonies, food, beverages, etc.

Religion

Religion professed by the Garifuna People is the Dugú, which is a mixture between Catholicism and some African, European and Amerindian beliefs. Although today many Garifuna have been converted to the Catholic religion.

Garifuna Language

Their language is the "Garifuna" a language belonging to the Arawak linguistic family to survive many years of persecution and domination of indigenous languages​​.

The Garifuna language is spoken by most of Garinagu in Honduras and also speak Spanish. Following its origin and permanence for centuries on the island of San Vicente Garifuna language is a mixed language that undergone many significant changes in morphological structure.

Garifuna music

The music, singing and dancing of  Garifuna people mix many African and Amerindian elements, which are a traditional artistic expression of his people. The dances usually perform in a circle to the sound of drums, maracas and snails.

Its representative dance is "Punta". The song lyrics and melodies of Garifuna tells their story and their knowledge of farming, fishing, canoe making and building their typical houses.

The songs are sung to the rhythm of the drums while the persons dance by turns.

Garifuna Gastronomy

The Garifuna food is based on coconut, yuca, banana and seafood. Dishes reflect their rich Caribbean flavors learned from their ancestors. Among their most representative foods are coconut bread, cazabe, rice and beans, tapado and machuca.

Also typical of their culture have drinks, the most popular is the “guifiti”, Garifuna language that means "bitter". It`s a drink made of various herbs and rum.