Dugu: Garifuna Thanksgiving Ceremony

There are three main Ancestral Rites Practiced by the Garinagu:

1. The Amuyadahani- Bathing the spirit of the dead

2. The Chugu- Feeding of the Dead

3. The Dugu- Feasting of the Dead

Among these three rites, the most sacred elaborate and the one Demonstrating the climax of Garifuna respect, appreciation for and feeling of communication with the is the Dugu.

The Dugu is Preformed following a request made by a deceased ancestor. The request are made known in a ceremony previously held by the Buyae. This particular ceremony is called Arairaguni(bringing down). In this rite, the Buyae call upon his/her Hiuraha(spirit helpers) to explain a particular problem.

A family having gone through a series of misfortunes including sickness and death will consult with the Buyae. The Bayue in the Arairaguni ceremony, along with the Huiraha acts a medium between a representative of the ill-fated family and the Gubida- deceases ancestors.

There and then the deceased ancestors make their desire known in oracles - for example, a great grandfather having been slighted by his delinquent grandchildren, has visited them with their misfortunes. As result, he requests a three-day Dugu.

Preparations for this rite take three main parts:

1. Invitation of relatives and friends from home and abroad Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, U.S.A. and worldwide wherever the family member can be found.

2. Acquiring food and drinks with special effort given to acquire the particular food and drink requested by the ancestors.

3.A date is agreed upon with the Buyae who in turn informs other officiating performers which includes:

a. Drummers- 3 segunda (bass drummers)

b. Afunahountinya - dressed in red - gusewe

c. Gayusas - singers

d. Adugathatinya- appointed fishermen to find and catch sea foods.
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The Dugu ceremony entails four types of dance:

1. Abaimahani- a semi-sacred song of the women.The women forms a line or two lines if there are plenty of women and sings these sacred songs.

2. Amalihani- a song and dance of supplication.Whereby the Buyei and the drummers goes down to the floor/ ground with only the drums and maracas sounding. At this time there is no singing; call "maniguati" .This is done followed by the participants, dancing from a North, West, East and South direction in the temple ( Dabuyaba).

3. Awangulahani- a dance of rejoicing. 

4. Hugulendu- a dance in circular formation.Whereby the Buyei and the drummers followed by all participants inn dancing inna all directions of the temple


During the Hugulendu- four components are constant.

1. The circular formation

2. The presentation of ritual foods is associated with the circle.

3. Progress around the circle labored and

4. The direction of the circle alternates


The Amalihani and the Awangulahani- two Dugu dances are also circular in design direction reversals.


The primary purpose of the Dugu is placing or appeasing of the Gubida ancestors (deceased Garinagu) on whose behalf it is being held. The Gubida is endowed with human qualities for the duration of the Dugu by all those participating. The ancestor may invite other Gubida to feast. The Ancestor Spirit is asked to drink, eat, and dance as wishes. At tense moments during the ceremonies, one or more of the participant may lose consciousness and enter a trance-like state called Owehani during which the person assumes the characteristics of the Gubida ancestor being honored. At the end of the ceremonies, the ancestor is asked whether he acknowledges receipt of the Dugu. Depending on what he says, the ceremony may have to be repeated.


Benefits associated with the Ritual Dugu:

1. It serves as a place for psychological release.

2. General improvement in people's condition, including curing of disease to the sponsorship of these rites.

3. The greatest benefits to be derived from ancestral rites is that they are a means of re-asserting group solidarity among friends, relatives and within the community at large.