Alanah Luna

Composing Process: Mr. Ubaldimir Guerra

21/08/2017
Dugu for Tourism is an insult to Garinagu…”, is a plea for the sacred practice of the dugu which

is done by the Garifuna culture; to not be incorporated in the focus of tourism development. The

Dugu focuses on the attainment of wisdom from ancestry. However, the government should

initiate their own form of Dugu to gather wisdom with its inclusion in tourism.

Enriquez’ article, “Dugu for tourism an insult to the Garinagu…” argues that the inclusion of the

sacred ritual of Dugu, is potentially exploiting the spiritual sanctity of the Garifuna culture.

Enriquez furthers his claim by stating that the functionality of the Dugu has been sustained

because of the sacred nature it possesses, despite many threats for its extermination. The

formality of religion has conjured the thought that the Dugu is a form of idolatry. So in attempt

to alienate the practice of Dugu, British rulers separated the two groups of Afro-descendants so

that the remaining group does not become exploited to it. Although the opinion is that the

Garinagu’s are worshiping an idol for wisdom; the withhold a foundation of religion as well

which is Catholicism. Coincidentally, the Catholics and other religions have conformed to the

custom of Dugu as well, despite many years of condemnation towards the practice. The original

notion was that the ritual is to be included for entertainment purposes in quest for financial gain

with foreign capital. Enriquez asserts that such planners for this strategy must be morally corrupt

for pursuing to exploit spiritually of a high regard to tourist, stating that is insulting and

condescending. The presence of Neo colonialism has altered the process of application in many

forms which Enriquez states that this is so because the leaders are naïve and greed driven. It is

sated that if not carefully planned and monitored the cruise tourism industry can limit Belizean

participation to meagrely paid jobs and destroy the quality of communities visited. The induction
of the Dugu reduces the high regard that is upheld for its process and the culture of the Garinagu.

He concludes his argument by stating that such leaders must initiate their own form of Dugu to

gather wisdom for themselves. I believe that the Dugu ritual should not be incorporated within

the entertainment sector of the tourism industry because it dilutes the cultural authenticity of the

Garifuna. According to Enriquez it is deemed as insulting and condescending which I share

similar sentiments because it treats the sacredness of the Dugu as something meaningless for the

Garifuna culture.