Is Garifuna Creole?

The Garifuna people (/ˌɡɑːriːˈfuːnə/ GAR-ee-FOO-nə or Spanish pronunciation: [ɡa’ɾifuna]; pl. Garínagu in Garifuna) are a mixed African and indigenous people who originally lived on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language, and Vincentian Creole.

What are garifunas mixed with?

Afro-Caribbean Garifuna culture combines Caribbean fishing and farming traditions with a mixture of South American and African music, dance and spirituality. UNESCO declared Garifuna language, dance and music in Belize to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2001.

Where did the Garifuna people come from?

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.

Who are the Garifunas and where are they located?

The Garifuna live in Central America along the coast of the Caribbean sea. Their territory spreads across the borders of four different nations—Belize (formerly British Honduras), Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They are descendants of the Caribs, a people of the island chain known as the Lesser Antilles.

What is Garifuna in Honduras?

Garífuna are the third largest minority or indigenous community in Honduras, numbering 43,111 people. They are the descendants of African-Carib populations from the Caribbean island of St Vincent who were exiled to the Honduran coast in the eighteenth century.

Are Garifuna Latino?

Given the geographical location, history or countries Garifuna people reside in and the language they speak (somewhat influenced by Spanish along with other languages) yes they are considered Hispanic to some extent though given French and other influences in language some would say they are more Latino than Hispanic.

What problems do Garifuna face in Honduras?

As Hondurans of African descent, Garifunas have faced discrimination within Honduran society for centuries. Now, real estate developers are infringing on their homes along the pristine coastline, hoping to evict them to cash in on the country’s growing tourism industry.

Where are the Garifuna in Honduras?

While there are significant Garífuna populations in the cities, most are located in coastal communities extending from Nicaragua to Belize. Garífuna are distributed in some 43 villages in Honduras mainly in the departments of Cortés and Gracias a Dios.

Why were the Garifuna called Black Caribs?

The Black Caribs or Garifunas, are the largest ethnic minority in Honduras. The British colonial administration used the term Black Caribs to distinguish them from Yellow and Red Carib, the Amerindian population that did not intermingled with Africans. It was the custom of French settlers who came to St.

Who are the Garifuna in Honduras?

Garífuna are distributed in some 43 villages in Honduras mainly in the departments of Cortés and Gracias a Dios. With at least 100,000 Garífuna living in the United States, millions of dollars from this group are pumped into the Honduran economy annually through transfer payments to relatives.

What is the Garifuna language?

The Garifuna language is an offshoot of the Island Carib language, and it is spoken in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua by the Garifuna people. It is an Arawakan language with French, English, Dutch, and Spanish influences, reflecting their long interaction with various colonial peoples.

Who are Afro-Hondurans and Creoles?

Garífuna and Creoles, as Afro-Hondurans, have a history of organizing together against racial discrimination. In the 1970s they founded the Fraternal Black Honduran Organization (La Organización Fraternal Negro Hondureño, OFRANEH) which continues to play a critical role in Honduran civil society.

Are Garifuna Afro-descendant?

As with other indigenous communities, Garifuna are closely associated with traditional ancestral lands but are not recognized by the Honduran government as a people. Many Garifuna activists avoid calling themselves Afro-descendant, since they feel that it detracts from their unique culture and identity.