What is the history of Garifuna?

Garifuna, also known as Garinagu, are the descendants of an Afro-indigenous population from the Caribbean island of St Vincent who were exiled to the Honduran coast in the eighteenth century and subsequently moved to Belize. Garifuna mainly live on the coast but are also very present in towns and villages.

Is Garifuna a language?

Today, Garifuna communities mainly live in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize. The Garifuna language belongs to the Arawakan group of languages and has survived centuries of discrimination and linguistic domination.

What language do the Garifuna speak?

Arawakan
Garífuna language, formerly also called Black Carib language, 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.

What kind of language is Garifuna?

Arawakan language

What does the name Garifuna mean?

Cassava is so closely tied to the Garifuna culture that the very name Garifuna draws its origin from the Caribs who were originally called “Karifuna” of the cassava clan. They later adopted the name “Garifuna”, which literally means cassava-eating people.

What does it mean to identify as Garifuna?

“Being Garifuna means being a part of a rich legacy,” Gaillard, a youth worker, says. “It means having a rich legacy filled with a resilient history, a vibrant culture, delicious food, unique traditions and a spirited people.

Who are the Garifuna people?

The Garifuna people are a group of mixed racial ancestry living in Central America, especially in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua .

What is Garifuna culture?

Garifuna Culture: Drumming and Punta Music. As the UNESCO recognition suggests, Garifuna culture is closely identified with music and dance. Garifuna music styles are known for their heavy use of percussion instruments and distinctive drumming, which combines the beats of primero (tenor) and segunda (bass) drums.