Directory of Garifuna Resources

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In Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Caribbean Islands there is the Garifuna culture, numbering approximately 500,000 people. The Garifuna are descendants of Kalinagu who were Guianas of South America. Nigerian slaves escaped from a slave ship that had run aground near St. Vincent in 1675. These black people were assimilated into the native culture of the Caribs and their offspring were known as "Black Caribs" or Garifuna. These people went into Honduras, and then later, because of the political climate, migrated to Belize around 1893. This is celebrated as Garifuna Day or Settlers' Day. In Guatemala there are less that 4,000 Garifuna living in Livingston, Guatemala. They are a cultural minority, being neither Latinos or Indians. There are now also Garifuna communities in the Bronx and Los Angeles. -- from Minnesota State University

Resources in This Category

• Belize - The Exile's Song

  http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/belize/
  The World's report on Garifuna music, with a personal account by the reporter, photos, audio samples of several styles, and background information on the culture.

• El Espíritu de mi Mamá (The Spirit of my Mother)

  http://www.flamefilms.com/
  Film about a young Garifuna woman raised in Los Angeles, who travels to the Caribbean after her mother's death. Includes annotated list of links about the culture, with Spanish-language notes on the music and movie reviewers' comments.

• Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United

  http://www.garifunaheritagefoundation.com/
  Southern California group seeking to preserve and disseminate Garifuna culture. They list upcoming fundraisers and concerts, with news stories and links to related groups.

• Garifuna Migration Teacher's Guide

  http://www.stanford.edu/group/arts/honduras/teacher/migrationteacher.html
  Lesson plans for studying the Garifuna migration, as well as exploring the roots of students' own families.

• Garifuna: Vibrant, Soulful, African

  http://www.globalrhythm.net/Food/GarifunaVibrantSoulfulAfrican.cfm
  Personal account of a visit to Livingston, Belize, and of a New York City food and music gathering. Includes descriptions of seafood and coconut dishes, with recipes.

• Garinet

  http://www.garinet.com/
  A portal with an array of links for contemporary Garifuna news, issues, culture, and organizations.

• Language Planning in a Transnational Speech Community

  http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/ILAC/ILAC_5.pdf
  Paper describing the current situation of the Garifuna language by country, with a discussion of the challenges and actions in maintaining the language across dispersed countries with varied dominant languages.

• Lebeha Drumming Center

  http://www.lebeha.com/
  Hopkins Village, Belize. Teaches local children traditional music, and offers concerts each night.

• National Garifuna Council of Belize

  http://www.ngcbelize.org/
  Non-governmental organization which works to preserve culture and to carry out projects with the national government. They describe Garifuna history by city, explain traditions, and list events.

• Paranda

  http://www.stonetreerecords.com/albums/paranda.php
  The producer's site for this audio collection of traditional musicians includes audio clips, photos, and biographies of the artists.

• Pen Cayetano and the Original Turtle Shell Band

  http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/cayetano.shtml
  RootsWorld article provides background on punta rock's development, with reviews of several of the band's albums.

• The Garifuna - Weaving a Future from a Tangled Past

  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2001/09/01/html/ft_20010901.6.html
  Excerpts from a National Geographic article, with personal notes from the writer and photographer, music samples, and map.

Related Categories

• Home > Arts > Music > Styles > R > Regional and Ethnic > Caribbean
• Home > Regional > Central America > Belize > Stann Creek > Localities > Dangriga
• Home > Regional > Central America > Guatemala > Localities > Livingston
• Home > Regional > Central America > Guatemala > Localities > Puerto Barrios
• Home > Regional > Central America > Honduras > Islands > Roatan
• Home > Regional > Central America > Honduras > Localities > Tela
• Home > Regional > North America > United States > New York > Localities > N > New York City > The Bronx
• Home > Society > Ethnicity > African
• Home > Society > Ethnicity > The Americas > Indigenous > Caribbean > Caribs

 

Home > Regional > Central America > Society and Culture > Garifuna

 

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