Belize’s Garinagu communities mark 200 years of settlement on Garifuna Settlement Day

Published by BBNTEAM at November 19, 2023

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Posted: Sunday, November 19, 2023. 8:30 am CST.

Photo Credits: KREM Television, National Garifuna Council

By Aaron Humes: Official ceremonies are underway countrywide to mark the double centennial of Garifuna settlement in Belize.

Earlier this morning, there were re-enactments of the November 19, 1823 arrival of the Garifuna party led by Alejo Beni to the shores of Belize, following a smaller migration in 1802.

Traditionally, this involves asking the head of the local settlement to grant permission for the Garinagu to land, which was not always freely given considering the suspicions of the elite.

Following the ‘Yurumein’ as it is known, there is a parade to the local Roman Catholic Church for a mass of Thanksgiving, and a larger parade thereafter to the site of official ceremonies.

Here in the City those will take place later this morning at the Freetown Reserve area opposite Atlantic Bank on the Northside, while in Dangriga the official national ceremony gets underway at 10 a.m. at the Alejo Beni Park, followed by the official national parade in the afternoon.

Thе оffісіаl thеmе fоr thіѕ уеаr’ѕ Gаrіfunа Ѕеttlеmеnt Dау сеlеbrаtіоnѕ: “Wаmúа, wаnісhіgu lubá ámuñеgü: óundаrunі hаmа nіburеіntіаn lun lаbаgаrіdu Gаrіfunа – Оur lаnd, оur сulturе, оur futurе: іnvоlvіng оur уоuth fоr Gаrіfunа ѕurvіvаl.”

A happy Garifuna Settlement Day to all our Garinagu friends and all Belizeans from BBN.

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