Belize achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 and was the UK's last colony in the Americas. Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize is the only country in the region with a British colonial heritage, which gives it a distinctive cultural identity. Thus English remains the official language although much of the population speak Spanish and Creole. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Belize's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, its current Prime Minister is Dean Barrow, who is Belize's first black head of government.
Belize possesses the world’s second largest barrier reef and stunning historical landscapes, which make it an attractive tourist destination. In fact, Belizeans affectionately refer to their country as 'the Jewel'. Moreover, the country's history as part of the ancient Mayan civilisation renders it a popular archaeological site; this includes Caracol, which was the region’s most important cultural and political centre during the Mayan reign.
The culture of Belize is reflective of its history of immigration and colonisation, and Belize today is a multicultural country with a mix of British, Latin American and Caribbean origins. Belize's colourful folklore and local legends stems from the country's long-standing oral tradition. The best-known contemporary Belizean novelist is Zee Edgell whose works draw from the turmoil of Belize before and after independence. Her novels include Beka Lamb , and The Festival of San Joaquin . Since 1995, the Belizean Writers Series has sought to preserve and anthologise the best selection of contemporary Belizean short fiction, poetry, plays, and folklore.
The music of Belize is the product of Garifuna, Creole, Mestizos and Maya influences. Garifuna music has gained considerable popularity in recent years as a result of themodernisationof 'punta', or punta rock in its modern form. Traditionally, drums made of mahogany or mayflower hardwood and animal skin were played in combination with shakers, or sisera. Famous Garifuna musicians such as Andy Palacio, Mohobub Flores, and Pen Cayetano have contributed to the popularisation of the genre. In 2001, UNESCO described Garifuna music as a 'masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'. Amongst young people, however, imported pop music and Jamaican artists remain the most popular genres.
Belizean visual arts, and in particular painting and sculpture, are culturallypre-eminent. In fact, Belize has seen the development of a dynamic Modern Art scene thanks to the works of artists such as Santiago Cal, Alfonso Gálvez, Michael Gordon, and Yasser Musa. The latter notably created the Image Factory Art Foundation, which is a preeminent contemporary art space in the country.