Belizeans: The People Of Belize

Belize is a melting pot of diverse cultures and ethnic groups. The country's population of around 360,000-400,000 people is primarily of mixed Mestizo, Creole, Mayan and European descent. The largest ethnic group in Belize is the Creole people, also known as Kriols, who are the descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans and make up around 25% of the population. The Mestizo people, descended from a mix of Spanish and Mayan heritage, are another predominant group in Belize. The Maya people, divided into three subgroups, are the original inhabitants of the region. Other ethnic groups in Belize include the Garifuna, Mennonites, East Indians, Middle Easterners, and Asians. Each group contributes uniquely to the country's rich cultural tapestry, showcasing their heritage and traditions while coexisting harmoniously with one another.

Belizean Creoles, or Kriols

Belize is a small country with a population of around 360,000, but it is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The country is often referred to as a "melting pot" of cultures, but this is inaccurate as the various ethnic groups in Belize stand out proudly, displaying their unique ethnicities and sharing their cultures. The Creole, sometimes spelled "Kriol", are the largest ethnic group in Belize, with the 2010 Belize Census recording that 25.9% of the population claimed Creole ethnicity. The Belizean Creoles, or Kriols, are people of Afro-European origin, primarily descended from enslaved Africans. They can be found in every district of the country.

Belizean Creole, or Kriol, is an English-based creole language that is closely related to Miskito Coastal Creole, San Andrés-Providencia Creole, and Jamaican Patois. It is estimated that there are more than 70,000 speakers of Belizean Creole in Belize, with over 130,000 claiming to speak the language according to the 2010 Belize Census. It is the first language of some Garifunas, Mestizos, Maya, and other ethnic groups in Belize, and it is understood by almost all Belizeans, even non-Creoles. The language is derived mainly from English but is influenced by other languages brought to the country through the slave trade, including Native American Miskito, Spanish, and various West African and Bantu languages. Belizean Creole first started as a pidgin, or contact language, that allowed slaves and English colonisers within the logging industry to communicate with each other. Over generations, the language developed into a creole as it became the mother tongue of subsequent generations.

Belizean Creoles have been instrumental in creating some of the most iconic aspects of Belizean culture, including the native Kriol language, which has been recognised as an official language. The food of the Belizean Creoles, now termed Belizean Food, is also an iconic part of the country's culture, with Rice & Beans being one of the most notable dishes.

Garinagu, or Garifuna

The Garifuna, also known as the Garinagu, are descendants of an Afro-indigenous population from the Caribbean island of St Vincent. They are the descendants of indigenous Arawak, Kalinago (Island Carib), and Afro-Caribbean people.

The Garifuna are the founding population of the Central American diaspora, estimated at 2,500 to 5,000 people, who were transplanted to the Central American coast from the British West Indies island of Saint Vincent. Small Garifuna communities still live in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with a larger diaspora in Honduras, the United States, and Belize.

The Garifuna were historically known by the exonyms Caribs, Black Caribs, and Island Caribs. The Carib people migrated from South America to the Caribbean around 1200, according to carbon dating of artifacts. The Garifuna were formed when the Carib intermarried with enslaved Africans. The Garifuna were exiled to the Honduran coast in the 18th century and later moved to Belize.

The Garifuna people speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language, and Vincentian Creole. Almost all Garinagu are bilingual or multilingual, speaking the official languages of the countries they reside in, such as Spanish or English, in addition to Garifuna.

The Garifuna have a rich cultural heritage, with traditions in music, dance, and food. Their music includes work songs, hymns, lullabies, ballads, and healing songs, with African-influenced call-and-response patterns and complex drum rhythms. The punta is a popular dance with roots in African courtship dances, performed by couples who compete for attention with their moves. The Garifuna also have a sacred dance called the abaimahani, performed at the dugu, a feast held for the spirit of a deceased ancestor.

The Garifuna have traditionally lived by fishing and small-scale farming, but since World War II, many have sought employment with the United States merchant marine.

Mestizos

Mestizo culture is a blend of Spanish and Mayan traditions. Their language is Spanish-based, with some Maya, English, and Creole influences. Their cuisine combines Spanish, Mexican, and Mayan foods, with corn as a staple. Traditional Mestizo clothing includes the huipil, a loose-fitting white tunic commonly worn in Mexico, often stitched with vibrant colours and ribbons. Mestizo music is heavily influenced by Spanish traditions, featuring guitar music and songs like the Serenata, which young men would sing outside their beloved's bedroom window.

The Mestizos' belief system combines Catholicism with ancient Mayan traditions. They celebrate Christian festivals like Christmas and Easter while also performing rituals to honour Mayan spirits and gods. Their folklore includes characters like El Duende, a dwarf who guards the woods and plays tricks on humans, and La Llorona, a weeping woman who mourns the drowning of her children.

Maya

The Maya are an ethnolinguistic group of indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. They are the descendants of nomadic people who settled in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Maya are divided into three sub-groups: the Kekchi Maya, Mopan Maya, and Yucatec Maya. Some of these groups were originally from other regions of the Maya empire but emigrated following the Spanish conquest.

The Maya are believed to have been in Belize and the Yucatán region since the second millennium BC. Archaeologists believe that Belize was once the center of the ancient Maya world, home to more than 2 million Mayas. The Maya Empire evolved around 350 BC in the lowlands of Belize and northern Guatemala and reached its height from 250 AD to 900 AD. The Maya are known for their brightly colored, yarn-based, textiles that are woven into capes, shirts, blouses, huipiles, and dresses. Each village has its own distinctive pattern, making it possible to distinguish a person's hometown.

The Maya religion is a combination of Roman Catholicism and indigenous Maya beliefs. While they no longer revere their old pantheon or perform blood sacrifices, they remain deeply spiritual and hold a deep appreciation for the Earth. Maya communities are usually small, self-governed villages that tend to reject outside governance, technology, and formal education. They practice subsistence farming, employing the milpa system of crop rotation, growing corn, beans, and squash, which are the staples of their diet.

The Maya were incredibly advanced for their time, with a rich legacy of art, science, and mathematics. They developed the concept of zero by 36 BC, which allowed them to work with larger sums and dates and make extremely accurate astronomical observations and calculations. They also had advanced agricultural practices, water systems, and food storage methods.

Today, the Maya of Belize account for about 11% of the population. They live mostly on communal lands, self-governed under an alcalde, or village leader, system. The Maya language and some traditions survive in these areas, and the Maya support themselves through agriculture, hunting, and the production of arts and crafts.

Mennonites

The Mennonites are a distinct community in Belize, with a population of around 12,000. They are a sect of Christianity that began as an offshoot of Anabaptism in modern-day Holland in the 16th century. They are named after Menno Simons, who reinterpreted the Bible at the time.

In 1873, a group of these "Russian" Mennonites moved to Manitoba in Canada. In 1922, a group emigrated to Mexico, and in 1958, a splinter group of these Mexican Mennonites relocated to British Honduras, now Belize. They were offered farmland, religious freedom, and exemption from certain taxes and military service by the Belizean government.

There are several different subgroups of Mennonites in Belize, and they vary in how much they have modernised. Some Mennonites are very traditional and conservative, shunning modern technology and electricity. Others have modernised to varying degrees, with some embracing computers, cell phones, and modern dress.

Frequently asked questions