Garifunas
The Garifunas or "Black Carib" have survived legal and geographic barriers for over 200 years but after the signing of the Peace Agreement they have claimed their place as a musical and turistic gem in Guatemala. New turistic interests of the international community like rescuing nature, visiting exotic places and ethnical curiosity have made this community located in Atlantic Coast of Central America the prefered destination of choice. Two of the foundations of the Garifuna people are its music known as "Punta" that combines sensuality and eroticism and its african amerindian roots.
The Guatemalan Garifuna population shares its origins with their neighbors of Belice, Honduras and Nicaragua. Garifunas live from artesanal fishing and ecoturism. Livingston, Izabal is visited by many turists attracted to the rythms of the Garifuna music and their rich culture. The Garifuna people have a defined geographic space, their own language and culture but it was until the signing of the Peace Agreement in 1996 when they started gaining legal space even though they were recognized as and entity in the middle of the 1980’s.
The Gariguna presence in Livingston, Izabal started in the XVIII century when groups of black slaves escaped persecution of the English colonies on the islands. Their language is a combination of the Arawak and Kalipuna. The Garifunas were recognized by United Nations for Science and Education as a masterpiece of the Oral Language for humanity.
