Garifuna Settlement Day celebrates a beautiful culture and the spirit of endurance

A ceremonial procession from Central Park to the municipal football field marks the beginning of Thursday’s crowning of a new Miss Garifuna San Pedro ambassador. Three of the contestants and the outgoing Miss Garifuna lead a procession of drummers and palm-bearing followers.

The Garifuna people of San Pedro, Belize, have a new ambassador for 2015-16. She is Sheila Montero, sponsored by Victoria House. As Miss Garifuna, Sheila will help to tell the story of the rich history and culture of her ancestors to the schools and other groups on the island.

And it is an amazing — and heartbreaking — story to tell.

A ceremonial procession from Central Park to the municipal football field marks the beginning of Thursday’s crowning of a new Miss Garifuna San Pedro ambassador. Three of the contestants and the outgoing Miss Garifuna lead a procession of drummers and palm-bearing followers.

Garifuna are descended from shipwrecked African slaves who married into indigenous peoples on the Caribbean islands starting as far back as the 1600’s. They survived wars and ethnic cleansing by the conquering French. But in the late-1700’s the island of St. Vincent came under British rule and the British expelled the darkest skinned natives from the island. About 5,000 were shipped to the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras. Only half survived the journey.

Even so, the island could not sustain the new population and so the Garifuna headed for the mainland, settling in coastal Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Belize. Garifuna have preserved their distinct culture — their own language, foods and music — while integrating into these countries. They are a distinct group within the diverse populations of Belize and the country recognized this by making Nov. 19, a national holiday, Garifuna Settlement Day.

On Back Street: A ceremonial procession from Central Park to the municipal football field marks the beginning of Thursday’s crowning of a new Miss Garifuna San Pedro ambassador. Three of the contestants and the outgoing Miss Garifuna lead a procession of drummers and palm-bearing followers.

There is so much more to this story. For example, the Garifuna have large populations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The pictures here are the culmination of a week’s celebration of the Garifuna culture. For the first time in 19 years, Miss Garifuna San Pedro is not an appointed ambassador of the culture. She was selected from among four young ladies who on Wednesday night demonstrated their knowledge of the culture and history and ability to speak the Garifuna language, on stage at the municipal field.

A ceremonial procession from Central Park to the municipal football field marks the beginning of Thursday’s crowning of a new Miss Garifuna San Pedro ambassador. Three of the contestants and the outgoing Miss Garifuna lead a procession of drummers and palm-bearing followers.

The four contestants were Nicole Dun, sponsored by Fido’s Restaurant and Courtyard; Sheila Montero ,sponsored by Victoria House; Ashanti Martinez, sponsored by Caribbean Villas; and Zennia Nuñez, sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board.

The outgoing Miss Garifuna, Tisane Martinez, crowned her successor Sheila Montero on Thursday morning under a brilliant Belizean sky. The ceremony was brief and lightly attended, preceded by a procession of the contestants from Central Park. After the previous night’s celebration of the Garifuna, Thursday’s ceremony was more of a quiet affirmation that the bloodline continues and the people will endure.

Scenes from the crowning of Miss Garifuna 2015-16:

Arriving at the municipal field.

Outgoing Miss Garifuna San Pedro Tisane Martinez, and her mother, Julia awaiting the crowning ceremony for her successor.

Tisane Martinez is currently attending junior college and upon graduation plans to take a year off to work before enrolling at university inon the mainland. This past yer she has visited many schools and spoke to the young students about her heritage.

Two of the four contestants: Nicole Dun, sponsored by Fido’s Restaurant and Courtyard and (at right) Ashanti Martinez sponsored by Caribbean Villas.

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

 

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

 

Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16. At left is the Belize Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Jr.

The young ladies danced briefly before departing the stage. Scenes from the crowning and shashing ceremony for Miss Garifuna San Pedro 2015-16.

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