Belize City, the largest city in the country and former capital of British Honduras, is a vital site for understanding Blackness and Black identity in Belize. Originally known as Belize Town, it was the entry point for thousands of African slaves brought by the British in the 18th century to work in the logging industry, establishing the roots of the Creole population. Today, Creoles remain concentrated in Belize City and along the coast, and the city continues to serve as a cultural, political, and historical hub where Black identity has been shaped, challenged, and redefined across generations.
Belize City, located at the mouth of the Belize River along the Caribbean coast, was established in the 1600s by British logwood cutters and soon developed into a central colonial settlement. In the 1700s, it became the main entry point for enslaved Africans brought to work in the timber industry, forming the roots of what would become the Creole population. The 1763 Treaty of Paris granted Britain formal rights to log in the region, reinforcing its control despite Spain’s continued claims to the territory. Known then as Belize Town, the city became the administrative and commercial hub of British Honduras, officially named a Crown Colony in 1862. Colonial laws regulating labor, land ownership, and movement often marginalized Black Creoles, limiting their access to resources and reinforcing racial hierarchies. After Hurricane Hattie caused widespread damage in 1961, the capital was relocated to Belmopan in 1970. Even so, Belize City remains the country’s largest and most influential urban center, where a significant portion of the Creole population still resides. Today, it is a key site for understanding how Black identity in Belize has been shaped by centuries of colonialism, resistance, and cultural continuity.
In the 1700s, Belize City—then known as Belize Town—became the main site where enslaved Africans were brought by the British to work in the timber industry. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, these communities lived in overcrowded, flood-prone areas near the river, forming churches, burial societies, and informal markets to sustain themselves. After emancipation in 1838, Creoles remained concentrated in the city, developing cultural practices like the Kriol language and brukdown music that reflected both African heritage and colonial experience.
BCA is a platform dedicated to amplifying Black Central American history, culture, and scholarship. Through curated content, innovative programming, and collaborative initiatives, we explore the collective memory, cultural and political organizing, and creative place-making practices of Black Central American communities across the isthmus and its diasporas.
