Garifunas are descendants of an Afro-indigenous group from the Caribbean island of St Vincent who was exiled by the Honduran coast in the eighteenth century and later moved to Belize. The Garifuna live mostly on the coast, but some also live alongside the Creole population in the main towns. The Garifuna are mainly supported by agriculture, fishing, and foreign remittances sent by relatives abroad. Garifunas who live in the rural areas usually follow a subsistence lifestyle, with a few participating in the technical trades. Those in the urban areas, however, live similar to their Creole neighbors and are employed in professional occupations.
Garifuna culture is a mix of Caribbean fishing and farming with South American music, dance, and spirituality. They combine the beats of Primero (tenor) and Segunda (bass) drums. Garifuna drums are generally made from hollowed-out hardwood such as mahogany or mayflower, which are native to Central America. Garifuna music styles are well-known for using percussion instruments and the use of different drumming styles. The most popular and well-known genre of Garifuna music and dance is punta, an evolved form of traditional music played using traditional instruments. As it evolved, punta lyrics were traditionally written by Garifuna women and often addressed a specific gender. An energetic punta dance was described as being consciously competitive.
The Garifuna language is part of the Arawakan language group and has survived centuries of discrimination and linguistic dominance. It is rich in tales, originally recited at wakes or large gatherings, that combine African and Amerindian elements. The texts are a veritable repository of the history and traditional information, such as how to grow cassava, how to do fishing, and build canoes. A significant amount of satire is also present in these songs, which are accompanied by various drumming and dancing, in which spectators can join in as well. Apart from being a significant part of the Garifuna culture, dancing also plays an important role in the culture. One of the most famous of these dances is the Jankunu Dance, which is performed over the Christmas Holidays.
The Garifuna people hold these traditions in high regard, as they are very important to their culture and survival. Elders, who are responsible for many of the ceremonies and celebrations, can maintain many of them. Economic migration, discrimination, as well as the complete absence of the Garifuna language from the school system are endangering their survival. Although they are still widely spoken, the language is only taught in one village these days. Garifuna has traditionally been victimized by discrimination and persecution, primarily because of their place within Creole culture which has a heritage of enslavement and Eurocentric assimilation, and whose stereotypes have sometimes excluded them as being too elemental and rural.
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