And it is with the confidence that the doyen of the Garifuna musical
tradition will be fine that activities to commemorate the anniversary of the
Garifuna’s arrival in Belize were held yesterday. History now tells us
that the first Garifuna came to Belize from Honduras in 1802 – though
1823 is the acknowledged date because it was the first mass arrival. Two centuries
more or less and this year the call to continue traditions seemed more urgent
than ever. And for the Garifuna that meant reaching out from their base in Dangriga
into Belize City where the official ceremonies were held. We captured every
bit of it. We begin with the Yuru-mei at 7:00 in the morning.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Belize City residents gathered near the Belcan Bridge from before 7:00 to wait
for the first sight of the boats with the Yurumei re-enactment crew. The first
sight was downriver near the Bel China Bridge. And while that was the sight
– this was the sound when they got closer, the singing, and the drumming
the conch shell sounding a tribune of the arrival.
[Footage of Boat Approaching]
The drums never stopped as they got off the boat – leading directly into
a spirited procession on Central American Boulevard to the church.
[Footage of Street Procession]
And into St. Martin De-Porres Church which was a stage for the syncretism between
Catholic and Garifuna spiritual beliefs. The church was alive with song and 
we don’t mean hymns. And if it looks celebratory, it should be, it is
a mass of thanksgiving, a celebration of the survival of a people.
Sebastian Cayetano, Garifuna Elder
“It really means a lot, especially when you look at tribulations,
having to journey a month at sea from St. Vincent to Roatan Honduras and then
from Honduras to Belize, all on sea. It was God with us that we survived and
when we arrived here in Belize, we survived despite all the other odds and we
have made Belize our home. Praise God for it.”
And while it is about Garifuna identity, it is also about inclusion, Mayor
Zenaida Moya was right in the middle of it.
Sebastian Cayetano,
“This is what Belize rich. We’re piece of the patchwork of what
it is to be Belize and we’re very proud of it. The Belizeanization but
continue but we’ve got to continue the education to teach Belizeans about
our culture.”
And that culture is imbued upon every aspect of the traditional mass, from
the entrance hymn of Watina to the Bible readings.
[Sebastian Cayetano reading Bible reading in Garifuna]
And while the elders did the readings, the next generation also did their part.
[Footage of Youths Dancing]
And the guest homilist made it clear that tradition is what this is about.
“Watina, let us answer the call of our ancestors. The English translation
of this theme today does not begin to capture really what we attempt to say
in Garifuna…let us bless the call of our ancestors, let us endorse the
call of our ancestors, let us affirm the call of our ancestors and that is what
we do today in our celebration.”
The offertory partially answered that call and the communion continued it.
And when the mass was dismissed and the Belizean flag led the way out –
the union of the faiths and cultures was clear.
Sebastian Cayetano,
“This makes more united and more Belizean.”
And that culture was on proud display as the procession went from the
church to the Memorial Park for official ceremonies.
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