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Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast. It has an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) and a population of 441,471 (2022). Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. It is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America. Its population growth rate of 1.87% per year is the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is the namesake city of Belize City. Belize is often thought of as a Caribbean country in Central America because it has a history similar to that of English-speaking Caribbean nations. Belize's institutions and official language reflect its history as a British colony.
This article is a demography of the population of Belize including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The music of Belize has a mix of Creole, Mestizo, Garìfuna, Mayan and European influences.
The Garifuna people are a people of mixed free African and indigenous American ancestry that originated in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language, and Vincentian Creole.
Punta is an Afro-indigenous dance and cultural music originating in the Caribbean Island of Saint Vincent And The Grenadines by the Garifuna people before being exiled from the island. Which is also known as Yurumei. It has African and Arawak elements which are also the characteristics of the Garifuna language. Punta is the best-known traditional dance belonging to the Garifuna community. It is also known as banguity or bunda, before the first arrival of the Garifuna people in Punta Gorda, Roatan, Honduras on April 12, 1797.
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Sports have had an important role in Belizean culture. While Belize has never been an international sporting power, the nation's athletes have had some international success. Sports in the country are plagued by a lack of finance and sporting facilities, and there is little emphasis on sports as an integral part of national culture and pride. Nevertheless, sports continue to bring Belizeans together on and off the field.
The History of Belize dates back thousands of years. The Maya civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC to 1200 BC and flourished until about 1000 AD. Several Maya ruin sites, including Cahal Pech, Caracol, Lamanai, Lubaantun, Altun Ha, and Xunantunich reflect the advanced civilization and much denser population of that period. The first recorded European incursions in the region were made by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century. One attraction of the area was the availability of logwood, which also brought British settlers.
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G. Pritchy Smith is a Professor Emeritus of Foundations and Secondary Education at the University of North Florida (UNF), Jacksonville, Florida where he taught courses in multicultural education. His writings and research concerned issues of multicultural education and social justice. He was one of the founders of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). From 1996 to 2006, he coordinated UNF's M.Ed. Program in Belize, Central America. He is known for promoting and defining an expanded knowledge base about diversity for use in teacher training.
Nelcia Robinson-Hazell is a Black Carib poet, community organizer and activist. She has spearheaded the development of policy initiatives throughout the Caribbean on issues regarding gender and indigenous identity. Serving as the president of the National Council of Women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, she began in the 1980s to change the organization toward political action. Recognizing a need to establish research on the needs of women, she was involved in the creation of both local and regional organizations to analyze and develop information about the socio-economic and political inequalities women faced. She created similar initiatives for indigenous peoples, beginning first in Saint Vincent and then expanding them regionally. Robinson has been involved in international directives including the World Summit for Social Development and the 1995 World Conference on Women, as well as follow-up conferences discussing such issues as poverty, economic empowerment and violence against women. She has served as a civil society representative on the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commissions and as chair of the Commonwealth Women's Network.
Iris Myrtle Palaciao is an educator and social planner from Belize. She is an advocate for Garifuna culture, and good governance in the public sector.
Dame Froyla Tzalam,, is a Belizean Mopan Maya anthropologist and community leader, who has served as the Governor-General of Belize since 27 May 2021.
References
- 1 2 "Profile of Dr. Joseph Palacio Keynote Speaker, International Garifuna Conference," Searchlight Newspaper, 10 February 2012, https://searchlight.vc/searchlight/features/2012/02/10/profile-of-dr-joseph-palacio-keynote-speaker-international-garifuna-conference/
- ↑ Teofilo Colon Jr. "Retired Garifuna Anthropologist DR. JOSEPH O. PALACIO Elected Chairman of Garifuna Village of BARRANCO in Belize" Being Garifuna News, 24 May 2013, https://www.beinggarifuna.com/blog/2013/05/24/retired-garifuna-anthropologist-joseph-o-palacio-elected-chairman-of-garifuna-village-of-barranco-in-belize/
- ↑ Palacio, Joseph. "Joseph Palacio". LinkedIn. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ↑ Joseph Palacio, "Belize: Barranco - The Dügü Capital," International Ecotourism Club, 16 October 2013, https://ecoclub.com/headlines/eco-news/907-131016-palacio
- ↑ "The Garifuna: A nation across borders".
