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The Garifunas: A fascinating culture and people |
| On Thursday nights at Paya Bay you will be able to experience our Garínagu Tribal Beach Party with the Garífunas. The party is held on the Lil’ Bay Beach and has become a favorite event of our guests. You’ll get to experience the great energy of the Garifuna people and enjoy their amazing dancing accompanied my drums, a seashell trumpet, and percussion instruments made from turtle shells. The Garífunas have brought their ancient culture rooted in African and American Indian traditions into the 21st Century and Paya Bay gives you the rare opportunity to experience a living culture. |
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| Many people refer to the Garífunas as “Morenos” [dark ones] simply because it was the term used by the Spanish colonists. From the very beginning, Morenos referred to the population with black colored skin that lived on the north coast of Central America. After 1797, however, not only the Garífunas inhabited the coast of the isthmus. There were also English slaves, slaves fugitives of Belize, and blacks or exiles after the Haiti revolution and other islands of the Caribbean under the French domain. |
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| The term “Carib” even though it is based on the names used by the indigenous people of the Islands, was adopted and used by the Spaniards. They used Carib to refer to the “savage” aborigines, who valiantly opposed their intention to conquer America. They used the word “Black Caribs” or “Caribs” to refer to the mix of indigenous and African people. |
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| Garífuna is the Spanish version of the name Garínagu. Garínagu is what the Garífunas call themselves in their own language. (Yes, they have their own language!) Garifuna and Garínagu are used interchangeably in this text. |
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| In 1635 two Spanish slave ships set a course for the New World from Africa. The ships were caught in a violent storm and wrecked on a reef near St. Vincent island. The survivors swam ashore, established a beach head, and eventually mixed with the Carib and Arawak indians. |
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| During the mid-18th Century the English attempted to conquer the Garínagus of St. Vincent. Josepa Satuye was their chief at the time. His brother Duvale Satuye fought the English fiercely until 1778. In 1779, the Garínagu were forced to surrender to the British. On March 13th, 1795, Josepa Satuye died. On the 12th of April, 1797, two thousand and twenty six (2,026) Garínagus were gathered up and brought to Roatan were they were put ashore and abandoned to their own fate. |
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| It is now part of Garínagu culture to render tribute to past and present generations, for their bravery in surviving the most difficult circumstances. They maintain their culture by their masked dances or “yancunu”. The “yancunu” is a dance of war. |
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| The rhythmic dance represents the battle of the Garífunas against the British on the island of St. Vincent, Lesser Antilles. There they used their mask and costumes to confuse their enemies and take advantage in the battles. The peculiarity of this dance is that the dancer sets the rhythm. At the beginning the dancer’s movements are usually slow, allowing the drummer to go along with the tune and also the words of the singers. The dancer can make a sudden stops, jump or even roll on the ground, but this moment can be made in seconds and in harmony with the music. |
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| Punta is a dance of joy and celebration. It is also a dance of “ninta nigat.” After some one has been buried, performing this dance adds a little joy to a sad moment in the Garífunas' lives. For others, this dance is done on birthdays, Christmas, and new year. This dance is were Punta Rock originated. |
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| The costumes on the dancer are colorful: long skirts and stockings, along with noisy sea shells (caracolitos) which are attached to the knees and elbows so they can directly be part of the sound that each movement produces. Dancers also wear long sleeved shirts, a mask, and on their heads a crown with feathers or china paper. When a masked person decides to participate in the dance, almost every time he starts with a slow rhythm, allowing time for the drummers to follow his timing, keeping a rhythm in harmony with the drummers. The sound of the sea shells (caracolitos) rattling and the singing that accompanies the dance is very impressive. |
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| The Director of the National Folklore Ballet of Honduras (Crisanto Norales Melendez) says that the dance is a “ritualistic war dance” which simulates the life of the Anglo-Saxon enemy, who tried to force Garífunas into slavery. The origin is African. Their clothing and masks are like an African Nigerian king, and the original name is “Indundu” . With these mask they eliminated their enemies on St. Vincent. The Garifuna communities of Central America still maintain their culture, especially on festive dates or patron saint celebrations, in which not only the masked participate, but all those that feel assured that they can do the dances well. |
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| Paya Bay is a spiritual experience. There is no price too high for this once in lifetime place. |
- Canda Corcoran
Denver, Colorado |
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