Lirahunu Ugundani: Preserving Garifuna Culture

Preserving Garifuna heritage honors their ancestors and keeps traditions, language, and stories alive for future generations. This cultural continuity helps to maintain a strong sense of identity and community. Garifuna culture is a unique blend of African, Arawak, and Carib influences, which enriches the cultural tapestry of Belize and the world. By maintaining their heritage, they contribute to the diversity and richness of global culture. It also fosters pride and resilience within the Garifuna community, empowering them to celebrate their history and achievements. Sharing indigenous traditions, music, dance, and language with others promotes cultural understanding and respect. It helps bridge gaps between different communities and fosters a more inclusive and harmonious society.  In tonight’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Isani Cayetano looks at the preservation of the Garifuna culture.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

As a couple, Mathew and Virgin Martinez have devoted their lives to keeping tradition alive and preserving the rich heritage of the Garifuna people.  Together, they are the embodiment of Garifunaduo, a cultural experience that celebrates the language, music, dance, cuisine, attire, spirituality, and lifestyle of the Garifuna people.

 

Mathew Martinez, Cultural Activist

“It is a very powerful movement that we are experiencing at this particular point in time.  It is a renaissance because a lot of people are now gravitating towards their cultural identity.  We need to have more of that so we can strengthen, in order for us to strengthen the true Belizean identity.”

 

With so many people reconnecting with their cultural heritage these days, the Martinezes are at the heart of this movement. This dynamic husband-and-wife team and a group of passionate advocates are inspiring the next generation of Garifuna boys and girls.  Among them is Angela Palacio.

 

Angela Palacio, Belize City Resident

“My parents were very proud Garinagu and they spoke Garifuna to us.  So, even though back then it wasn’t popular to be Garifuna, they would try to ridicule you, but my parents, they said you have to be proud and they spoke Garifuna to us.  Our friends would come and they would talk to us in Garifuna, and so, our friends knew we were Garifuna.  We didn’t have to hide that.”

 

Back then, being Garifuna and celebrating the culture wasn’t widely accepted. It took a long time for Garifuna pride to truly flourish here in Belize City.

 

Mathew Martinez

“When we first moved to Belize City in the Eighties, there was still that prejudice, that discrimination, that whole thing about Garifuna, the mix, about people who are Garifuna, Garifunaduo itself.  People were still ashamed of who they are.”

 

To nurture a strong sense of pride, they came together and created Ugundani, a dance group that still thrives today, almost four decades later.  Naomi Guzman is the founder of that collective.

 

Naomi Guzman, Founder, Ugundani Dance Group

“When I founded Ugundani, it was with the idea that we continue to teach our Garifuna culture and keep the tradition and the traditional dancing, the traditional drumming because we found out that there were certain that take the Garifuna tradition into different directions.  We are about keeping it the traditional way.”

 

Back in 2001, UNESCO honored Belize’s Garifuna language, dance, and music by declaring them a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”  This recognition celebrates the rich cultural tapestry and vibrant traditions of the Garifuna people.

 

Kamin Matura Jr., Participant, Lirahinu Ugundani

“It’s important to know about your culture and how to speak it, the cultural dances, the cultural traditions and everything that the culture does.”

 

To keep this cultural masterpiece alive, Ugundani is passing down each element to a group of children affectionately called Lirahinu Ugundani, or Children of Joy.

 

Joseph Williams, Participant, Lirahinu Ugundani

“I like the dancing and the drumming.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“You like the Wanaragua, or the John Canoe, right?”

 

Joseph Williams

“Yes.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“What about the Wanaragua do you like?”

 

Joseph Williams

“How to make a fast pace moving.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“So you like the drums, too?”

 

Joseph Williams

“Yes.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“What about the drums do you like?”

 

Joseph Williams

“I like the sounding of it.”

 

The timbre of the primero and Segundo are unmistakable.  Together, the polyrhythms of the Garifuna drums are indeed a spiritual experience.  What makes Wanaragua truly special is that the dancers take the lead, with the drummers following their rhythm. This unique dynamic creates an engaging and lively performance that captivates everyone watching.  However, dancing is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to reviving and preserving our culture. There’s so much more involved in keeping these rich traditions alive.

 

Mathew Martinez

“It is a powerful start.  With the children, they are interested in whatever we do, in the language, especially, in the music, in the dance, they are interested.  So hopefully now, we will be moving into the history of the Garifuna people.  So we will be teaching that, hopefully next year, we start that in January.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.