Post by BelizeanBrownSugar on Feb 11, 2003 17:07:26 GMT -5
This was taken from the website:http://www.telcomplus.net/gbrandt/Web_Dev/hopkins/culture.html
The Garifuna Culture
Garinagu, the people, whose language and culture is Garifuna, have a rich and interesting culture which in Hopkins is continued and preserved more than any other Garinagu settlement in Belize. The shipwrecked Africans (see our history page) quickly adopted as their own the Carib Arawak language, customs, traditions, occupations, music and dance, and traditional religion -- chugu, amuyadahani, and the highly celebrated "Dugu" --Aduguruhani-- the Feasting of the Ancestors, which is conducted by the Garifuna traditional healer --Buyae or Shaman. At the same time, the Garifuna African ancestry can be traced back to the region of West Africa, to the Yoruba, Ibo, and Ashanti tribes specifically, in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, to mention only a few.
The Garifuna Language
The Garifuna speak an Amerindian language with a small number of loan words from the French, Spanish, and English.
The Garifuna Music
Garifuna music is a rich and creative amalgan of all the cultural traditions to which the Garifuna are heir. Songs, dances, mime, plays, processions, storytelling, and poetry make up the branches of Garifuna performing arts. Everyone is encouraged to participate and small children perform publicly with a mastery rare in cultures where musicianship is considered the special gift of a privileged few.
The Garifuna use drums and rattles in their music. The drums are typically made from hardwood, such as mahogany, and the skins of peccary, deer, or sheep. The rattles, known as sisira, are made from seed filled gourds with hardwood handles. In secular dance music two drummers are the rule, one the primero and the other designated as segunda. Each drummer plays his own part, with the sugunda acting mainly as a steady accompaniment to the more expansive and elaborate cross-rhythms of the primero player. Three large drums are used in sacred music.
Lyrical themes vary widely. Many themes concern travel, expressing a desire to leave, or the lonliness of being far from loved ones. other songs are written to commemorate an event, comment on someone's foolish behavior, or poke fun at some situation.
Traditional Religion
Dr. Joseph Palacio states that there are three main Ancestral Rites practised by the Garinagu:
1. The Amuyadahani - Bathing the Spirit of the Dead
2. The Chugu - Feeding of the Dead
3. The Dugu - Feasting of the Dead
Among these three rites, the most sacred, elaborate and the one demonstrating the climax of Garifuna respect, appreciation for and feeling with the ansestors is the Dugu.
The Dugu is performed following a request made by a deceased ancestor. The requests are made known in a ceremony previosly held by the Buyae; this ceremony is called Arairaguni (bringing down). In this rite the Buyae calls upon his/her hiuruha (spirit helpers) to explain a particular problem.
A family having gone through a series of misfortunes including death and sickness, will consult the Buyae. The Buyae in the Arairaguni cermony, along with the huiruha acts as a medium between a represenative of the illfated family and Gubida (the deceased ancestors). There and then, the deceased will make their desire known. Usually this involves a week long Dugu with the whole family in attendance (to ensure the happiness of the ancestor being honored) food, drink, drummers, fishermen appointed to bring sea foods, and ritual dances.
WHEN IN BELIZE CITY VISIT THE MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE GARINAGU - THE GARIFUNA CULTURAL MUSEUM, 4202 FERN LANE, CORNER OF JASMINE AND MAHOGANY STREETS.
The Garifuna Culture
Garinagu, the people, whose language and culture is Garifuna, have a rich and interesting culture which in Hopkins is continued and preserved more than any other Garinagu settlement in Belize. The shipwrecked Africans (see our history page) quickly adopted as their own the Carib Arawak language, customs, traditions, occupations, music and dance, and traditional religion -- chugu, amuyadahani, and the highly celebrated "Dugu" --Aduguruhani-- the Feasting of the Ancestors, which is conducted by the Garifuna traditional healer --Buyae or Shaman. At the same time, the Garifuna African ancestry can be traced back to the region of West Africa, to the Yoruba, Ibo, and Ashanti tribes specifically, in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, to mention only a few.
The Garifuna Language
The Garifuna speak an Amerindian language with a small number of loan words from the French, Spanish, and English.
The Garifuna Music
Garifuna music is a rich and creative amalgan of all the cultural traditions to which the Garifuna are heir. Songs, dances, mime, plays, processions, storytelling, and poetry make up the branches of Garifuna performing arts. Everyone is encouraged to participate and small children perform publicly with a mastery rare in cultures where musicianship is considered the special gift of a privileged few.
The Garifuna use drums and rattles in their music. The drums are typically made from hardwood, such as mahogany, and the skins of peccary, deer, or sheep. The rattles, known as sisira, are made from seed filled gourds with hardwood handles. In secular dance music two drummers are the rule, one the primero and the other designated as segunda. Each drummer plays his own part, with the sugunda acting mainly as a steady accompaniment to the more expansive and elaborate cross-rhythms of the primero player. Three large drums are used in sacred music.
Lyrical themes vary widely. Many themes concern travel, expressing a desire to leave, or the lonliness of being far from loved ones. other songs are written to commemorate an event, comment on someone's foolish behavior, or poke fun at some situation.
Traditional Religion
Dr. Joseph Palacio states that there are three main Ancestral Rites practised by the Garinagu:
1. The Amuyadahani - Bathing the Spirit of the Dead
2. The Chugu - Feeding of the Dead
3. The Dugu - Feasting of the Dead
Among these three rites, the most sacred, elaborate and the one demonstrating the climax of Garifuna respect, appreciation for and feeling with the ansestors is the Dugu.
The Dugu is performed following a request made by a deceased ancestor. The requests are made known in a ceremony previosly held by the Buyae; this ceremony is called Arairaguni (bringing down). In this rite the Buyae calls upon his/her hiuruha (spirit helpers) to explain a particular problem.
A family having gone through a series of misfortunes including death and sickness, will consult the Buyae. The Buyae in the Arairaguni cermony, along with the huiruha acts as a medium between a represenative of the illfated family and Gubida (the deceased ancestors). There and then, the deceased will make their desire known. Usually this involves a week long Dugu with the whole family in attendance (to ensure the happiness of the ancestor being honored) food, drink, drummers, fishermen appointed to bring sea foods, and ritual dances.
WHEN IN BELIZE CITY VISIT THE MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE GARINAGU - THE GARIFUNA CULTURAL MUSEUM, 4202 FERN LANE, CORNER OF JASMINE AND MAHOGANY STREETS.