INDIGENOUS-HONDURAS: Garifunas Celebrate 200 Years of History

By Thelma Mejía Reprint | | Print |

Thelma Mejia

TEGUCIGALPA, Apr 15 1997 (IPS) - The ‘Garifunas’ of Honduras, whose forebears were shipped to the Caribbean as slaves, are celebrating their 200th anniversary of their arrival here from the island of San Vicente.

The 100,000 strong community is scattered along the Caribbean coastline of Honduras where their ancestors landed on April 12, 1797 after escaping from a slave ship that was transporting them to work sugar plantataions.

The Garifuna trace their ancestory to numerous African tribes – the Efik, Ibo, Ashanti and Yoruba of West Africa and the central Congo. They established themselves along the Caribbean coast of Honduras and developed a total of 54 communities.

Calling upon their gods, Baba and Chugu – protectors against illness and other evils – the Garifuna used the main celebrations as a vehicle to seek full title to their lands, full political participation and the development of social infrastructure and health care facilities.

Honduran President Carlos Reina noted their demands were “just, and are being taken into account. But be patient. Nothing is accomplished in haste.”

The President told a weekend gathering he was “conscious that, since arriving in Honduras from San Vicente, life has not been easy for you. You have experienced great discrimination and marginalization. However, my government has offered you unprecedented help, and will continue to do so. But we are not going to set everything right in a single day.”

Other VIP attendees at bicentennial ceremonies, included James Mitchell. Mitchell, Prime Minister of San Vicente, who said he was flattered to attend “an event of such importance to the black community.”

Guetemala’s Rigoberta Menchu – the champion of indigenous rights in Central America – sent a message to the Garifunas urging them to remain true to their customs and traditions while fighting for their rights and to create a common front in the struggle against political and cultural discrimination.

Although the Garifuna are not truly ‘indigenous’ they are considered as such here in light of their long contribution to culture in mainstream society. Their rites and dances have been admired all over the world.

The “punta Garifuna” is especially graceful. It is characterized by the vigorous movement of feet and hips which expresses the power and vitality of the black community.

The “punta” is a religious dance that recalls departed ancestors. It is used to celebrate Easter and the arrival of newborns.

Celio ALvarez Casildo, a Garifuna leader, says that “although our contribution to Honduran culture is well known, we experience the discrimination typical of minority populations. We have not been sufficiently united in asserting our socio-political claims.”

One of the greatest difficulties that the Garifuna are now experiencing is the loss of their traditional lands to large landhalding interests intent on tourist development.

Casildo said that as a result of a jointly financed State and private development project involving 18 billion dollars Garifuna lands are being taken over without anyone giving a proper hearing to their grievance.

In recent bicentennial celebrations, the Garifuna have invoked their traditional gods to protect their lands, and to lead them out of the darkness of “louvabagu” — the far-off, forgotten side of Honduras.