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Belize population is made up of diverse ethnic groups. Belize culture puts some light on the Belize people, who are a mixture of race, caste, religion, customs and traditions. The country is small and is inhabited by around 240,000 people. Therefore Belize can be termed as the conjuncture of diverse cultures, to form an unparalleled national heritage. The ethnic groups like Creoles, Mayans, East Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Garifunas and Mestizos together constitute the Belize people.
Ethnic Groups of Belize
Creoles constitute 40% of the Belize people. They are a mixture of the Africans and the Europeans who ruled this country for sometime. The Creoles speak English as it is the official language of the country. The Creole dialect rules the Belize city, which they mainly inhabit. Rice and beans is one of the dishes invented by the Creoles and is counted as one among the national specialties.
The Mayans form the third substantial ethnic group contributing to the Belize people. They are further categorized into Mopan, Yucatecan and the Kekchi Maya. They mainly reside in the districts of Orange Walk and Corozal.
The East Indians, Arabs, Chinese and the Mennonites form the least part of the population. The Garifuna people are the descendants of the Africans, who were deported to Belize as slaves. The present Garinagu are the mixture of the Africans and the natives of Belize. The Garinagu culture feature an indigenous tradition of art, cuisine, crafts, music and dance.
Mestizos are the descendants of the Mayan and the Spanish people, who inhabited the country in the early years. They settled in Belize in order to avoid the Caste Wars. They mainly speak Spanish among themselves and English or Creole outside their community.
Famous People of Belize
Arlie Petters is one of the famous people of Belize.
The Belize people are a mixture of ethnic groups unique in their culture, but mingle together to create a unique Belize culture.
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