Garifuna translation services

The Garifuna are an Afro-indigenous ethnic group that resides primarily along the Caribbean coast of Central America, including some towns in Guatemala.

The Garifuna trace their origins to the mixture of African, Caribbean, and Arawak peoples on the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. In the late 18th century, the Garifuna were exiled from St. Vincent by the British and eventually settled in communities in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

In Guatemala, the Garifuna people are found in the Livingston municipality of the Izabal department, located on the country's Caribbean coast.  

The Garifuna population is estimated to be around 300,000 people in total.  The largest Garifuna communities are in Honduras, with around 200,000 Garifuna residents, and in Belize, there are an estimated  20,000 Garifuna people.

The Garifuna, also known as Garinagu, have a vibrant and distinct culture.   They are known for their music, dance, and cuisine, which blends indigenous, African, and Spanish influences.

Economically, many Garifuna in Guatemala rely on fishing, small-scale agriculture, and tourism-related activities. They have faced challenges in maintaining their lands and livelihoods in the face of development pressures and marginalization.

However, Garifuna communities in Guatemala and Central America  are working hard to preserve their language, traditions, and collective identity, making valuable contributions to the diverse cultural mosaic of Central America.