Benque House of Culture (NICH)

17/08/2026

Tribute to the Honorable Mrs. Elvira Duarte, Senior Justice of the Peace.

The Benque House of Culture extends its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of the Honorable Mrs. Elvira Duarte, a founding member of the Benque House of Culture and a respected Senior Justice of the Peace.

Mrs. Duarte served as a District Officer in Human Development for the Cayo District, providing professiona Home Economicsl support to families through capacity-building in food preservation, crafts, and creative skills, particularly assisting single families and community members.

For over 30 years, she contributed to the preservation of local culture through Posadas, Legion de María, Baile de los Moros, folklore, and Pastorcitos.

After retirement, she continued sharing her talents at the Benque House of Culture through arts and crafts workshops, passing her skills and knowledge to younger generations.

She was also the founder of Benque HelpAge and the HelpAge Centre Building. Her dedicated service earned her several recognitions, including the Belize Meritorious Service Award from the Governor-General of Belize.

We honor her service, compassion, creativity, cultural dedication, and commitment to community development.

Her legacy will forever remain in our hearts.

May her soul rest in eternal peace.🕊️🇧🇿🕊️

14/08/2026

"We can see now that there is a difference among the Belizeans of the North, those we called “Spanish” in the old days: there are those who are Mestizo and those who consider themselves Maya ... The Maya are a minority in the North. " Amandala from the Publisher August 2nd, 2013

"The Yucatec Maya ...reside in the Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo Districts. Today the Yucatec Maya are primarily English and Spanish speakers." By World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Belize : Maya
Publisher Minority Rights Group International

Many Maya people in northern Belize cannot speak Maya due to many reasons which had explain in previous post . They continue to preserve traditions and their Maya Identity . Other words used for identification are Mayero ,maaya and maaya Máasewáal. According to the 2022 census only 2,160 people speak Maayat'aan (Yucatec Maya) in Belize . Ko'one'ex Kanik Maayat'aan - Let's learn Yucatec Maya language

Bix a bel - How are you
Ma'alob - Good
Jach ma'alob - Very Good
Kuxtun teech - and you ?
Maayat'aan - Maya language (Maya Yucatec)
Maaya wíinik - Maya person
Yuum bo'otik /Dyos bo'otik - Thank you
Ko'ox Janal - Let's eat
Ko'ox xíimbal - Let's walk

Picture from the schools of Xaibe (Corozal) and San Antonio (Cayo) representing the Maaya wíinik (Yucatec Maya) culture.


TO READ THE LETTER OF THE AMANDALA COMPLETE CLICK LINK: https://amandala.com.bz/news/publisher-82/

13/08/2026

Artisan Creativity & Recycling ✨♻️

From discarded materials to dazzling art — every piece tells a story of imagination, tradition, and sustainability.

Handmade. Vibrant. Eco-friendly.

Facilitated by HOC Artisans Mrs. Nancy Santos and dedicated support staff.

We also honor the legacy of Mr. Eric Cruz (RIP), whose piñata artistry taught and inspired generations with creativity and tradition. 🎊🎨

13/08/2026

01/08/2026

Happy Emancipation day!

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

On this day in 1838, freedom was declared — but it was through resilience, resistance, and the unbroken strength of our ancestors that freedom was truly won.

Today, the National Institute of Culture and History honours the memory of those who endured, and celebrates the culture, spirit, and identity they passed down to us. 🇧🇿

Happy Emancipation Day from Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture; Mr Albert Vaughan, President; Board of Directors, Administrator, Institute Directors and Staff of the National Institute of Culture and History.

30/07/2026

🎉 Celebrate Emancipation Day at the Ebo Town Festival!

Join the festivities at the Ebo Town Festival on Saturday, August 1, at Isaiah Morter Square, Albert Street West, Belize City, as we commemorate Emancipation Day with a lively celebration of Belizean heritage, food, music, and family fun!

Here's what you can look forward to:
🍞 Powder Bun Competition
🍛 Rice & Beans Competition
🎶 Live Entertainment
🎨 Kolcha Lane
🎈 Free Kids' Zone
🍹 Food & Drinks
🎉 And so much more!

Bring your family and friends and celebrate the food, music, traditions, and togetherness that make Ebo Town a special part of Belize’s culture.
📍 Venue: Isaiah Morter Square, Albert Street West, Belize City
📅 Date: Saturday, August 1

30/07/2026

30/07/2026

📌 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟯.𝟬: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲
Under the leadership of the Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science, and Technology, the Ministry of Culture through the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), is excited to present the Belize Culture Fund (BCF) 2026 grant cycle.

This initiative provides $30,000 in grants to local creators, cultural custodians, researchers, and community groups working to safeguard Belize’s cultural heritage and drive creative innovation.

Applications are now OPEN!
Check out the official Belize Culture Fund Application Guide to review the guidelines and prepare your submission: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Guide

PDF Application here: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Apply

Call 822-3307 or email us at [email protected] for more information.