The Garifuna in Belize are the descendants of African slaves and the native Caribs that once populated the Caribbean islands. It is this duality, which makes them a subject of great interest for researchers. In Belize, the two cultures seemed to have merged to create a distinct and seamless group. The Garifuna population exhibits a very Afro-centric sensibility, with many of the starkly African traditions very prevalent and observable in modern day Garifuna. The influence of the Carib is equally important and evident as it has contributed to the essential "native" association that Garifuna people have to this region. While many African slaves were forcibly displaced from Africa and later formed unions with European whites, some formed unions with the Caribs in this region, and by doing so, they accepted, and tied themselves to a destiny that was born free and undeterred. As a matter of fact, the merger also created a community of people who were resistant to the stigma that African slaves, in their forced contact with their European masters were often subjected. While many of them recognize of course, their African heritage, they appear as equally comfortable here as they might anywhere else.

The Garifuna arrived in southern Belize in 1802 in small numbers, and in larger numbers in 1823 after fleeing violent confrontations in Honduras. The free status of the Garifuna in a settlement whose black population was still enslaved created quite the predicament. In those early years, the Garifuna was not embraced by the white or influential "landed" class, and contact between African slaves and the Garifuna was largely discouraged. The Garifuna were also restricted from entering politics and their attempts to improve their living conditions through the sale of produce in Belize Town was dampened by an ordinance decreeing the need for the Garifuna to obtain permits in order to do so.

The Garifuna, despite the early attempts of the British to dislodge them or keep them wholly incapable of advancing within the settlement, proved to be a resilient people, many of them adopted Roman Catholicism while maintaining many of their distinctly Afro-Carib customs. The Garifuna of today are a major influence in the education sector. Many Belizeans today if asked may regard with a smile an old primary school teacher, who was Garinagu. Belize today embraces the Garifuna for their contributions to music, food, and the arts. The Garifuna have largely managed to retain most of its culture, its customs and its beliefs, and they have proven to be a people that have much pride and profound intellect, skills that today enable them to approach any obstacle with firm conviction and artful expression.