Belize
Culture and Language
For such a tiny country Belize's population has a diverse ethnic mix. Creoles, descendants of British pirates and African slaves, make up approximately 30% of the population. They speak a unique dialect of English which sounds familiar but can be hard to decipher for standard-English speakers. A rather distinctive segment of the population found in Southern Belize is the Garifuna, descendants of South American Indians and African slaves. Their unique and colorful culture is a mixture of traditions, music, dance and spirituality of both heritages. Three distinct linguistic groups of pure-blooded Maya make up another 10% of the population; and Mestizos
(mixed European and indigenous ancestry)
make up the largest ethnic group in the population at around 44%.
