National Garifuna Council- Peini PG Branch

07/10/2026

27/09/2026

The annual Grand Gala Parade in Limon, Costa Rica - 31 August 2026 - marking the close of African Heritage Month festivities.

NGC-PG organized and led a 32-person international excursion to attend. It included Belizeans from at home and abroad, as well as individuals from Guatemala and Guyana.

Enjoy the pics!

24/09/2026

There is still space available folks. Contact us to reserve your seat.

11/09/2026

https://youtu.be/Ben4nyx3ftQ?si=5PhvP0Y5KUi7Vk0P

09/09/2026

In our efforts to continue to reconnect with our African roots here in the regional diaspora, the recent NGC-Peini-led excursion to Costa Rica to attend the Limón Roots Awards made some time to cross continents to Colombia in South America, and visit the Afro-Colombian village of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African municipality in the Americas, and which in 2005 was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

History relates that in 1599 some 30 runaway enslaved Africans escaped into the forest under the leadership of Captain Benkos Biohó. They eventually established the town of San Basilio de Palenque. This maroon community was made up of “Bozales” (i.e. individuals born in Africa) as well as “Creoles” (i.e. individuals born in the New World).

The village of Palenque has a population of about 3,500 inhabitants and is located in the foothills of the Montes de María, southeast of the regional capital, Cartagena. They have no police station and no police force. The elders form the government. They also have no formal hospital. Traditional medicine is what is practiced there. They recorded zero deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of Palenque’s inhabitants are black and still preserve their language, customs and traditions inherited from their African ancestors.

Sources: Wikipedia & Post author

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/w7c5tZ0LdOE?si=DtM6WLVRrL4YiE0j

06/09/2026

The Annual Limón Roots Awards, Hotel Barceló San José Palacio, San José, Costa Rica - Thursday 27 August 2026.

27/08/2026

Our second annual excursion to Costa Rica comprised of 32 Belizeans and Belizean-Americans will be attending the Annual Limón Roots Awards gala in the capital city of San Jose tomorrow, Thursday 27 August.

Organized by the Executive Committee of the Punta Gorda Branch of the National Garifuna Council, the diverse group of 24 individuals from various parts of Belize departed the country this morning, and will be joined in Costa Rica by 8 Belizean Americans traveling from the United States.

Some members of the group will also be traveling on Friday 28 August to the historic city of Cartagena in Colombia, as well as to the equally historic Afro-Colombian village of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African municipality established in the Americas, and which in 2005 was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

On Monday 31st August which is observed in Costa Rica and globally as the International Day for People of African Descent, our group will travel to the city of Puerto Limón to attend the annual Grand Gala Parade which showcases Pan African history, culture, and pride, and marks the culmination of African Heritage Month festivities for 2026.

We will then travel to Panama on Tuesday 1 September where our group will tour the Panama Canal, the Panama Causeway. and other historical landmarks in the city, before returning home on Wednesday.

The Annual Limón Roots Awards is one of the crowning events of African Heritage Month in Costa Rica, and recognizes and honors the accomplishments of Afro-Costa Ricans, as well as others in the African Diaspora. This year, the nation of Barbados will be the main honoree, and will be represented by a high level delegation comprising of government officials and members of the private sector.