Belize Celebrates Gales Point Traditions on UNESCO Heritage List

They are the heartbeat of Gales Point “Malanti,” traditions passed down generation after generation: Belize’s Krismos Bram and Sambai.

Today, those traditions are officially recognised as more than dance and music on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“It is a remarkable day for our communities to celebrate and enjoy the shared culture we have in Belize. The international community agreed with us that the living heritage of the Manatee Village is part of the shared human culture that we should all share and protect,” said ISCR Director, Rolando Cocom.

For locals, the recognition is a source of pride. It honours decades of dedication by families, elders, and cultural leaders who kept the rhythms and dances alive.

The Bram and Sambai bring villagers together to share food and drink, dance from house to house, and celebrate their roots. Even those who have moved away return each year to join the festivities.

Selene Solis of the National Kriol Council said UNESCO’s recognition “elevates the visibility of this cultural event and cultural activity. It brings visibility to a small community that isn’t often seen and isn’t often made to feel like they have value or contribution. So here we are at the national and international level, saying that there is value in our community heritage,” she said.

“Here we are in an international space saying that our Belize, our Gales Point, our Krismos Bram, and our Sambai have universal value, that we can learn from them, that they are pillars of safeguarding, and that we should continue to elevate the things that we are doing in Belize and ensure that they continue to be practised into the future,” Solis added.

This December Belize has another reason to celebrate as it joins the Gales Point community to honour the music, dance and traditions that have earned their place on the world stage.

The announcement came during the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi, India.