It existed until the mid-19th century, when it was destroyed by fire, but played a significant role in shaping the local Creole culture. The town’s population was predominantly of Igbo (Eboe) descent, along with individuals from other African groups such as the Ashanti from Ghana. According to Renate Johanna Mayr in Belize: Tracking the Path of It’s History (2014), members of the “Eboe” tribe were particularly well represented in the Bay Settlement. Auctioneers in Kingston, Jamaica, often advertised “Eboe Negroes” as prime choices, as noted in historical documents.
The Eboe people settled in a specific area near the mouth of the Belize River, which later became Belize City. Historical maps continued to refer to this section as “Eboe Town” until the 1850s.
For more information, see the Eboe Town oral history from the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (NICH).
