Roatan Online Reports on the Garifuna Festival in Punta Gorda, Roatan

The Garifuna people of Roatan celebrated their annual festival this year in Punta Gorda. Here is a
recap of the event. The Garifuna people have lived in Central America since April 12, 1797. They
speak the Garifuna language. Most speak English today as well as Spanish. Most of the Garifuna
people live along the coast of Honduras in places like Trujillo, La Ceiba, Tela, Puerto Cortes and
other costal towns.

Houston, TX, April 28, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Garifuna Festival Recap

Roatan Online is dedicated to promoting the culture of Roatan, online. And this year, our very own
Garifuna's threw a party in Punta Gorda.

Few things give a culture pride as does heritage and few embody heritage as do the Garifuna people of
Roatan. This year, Roatan Online went down to Punta Gorda, Roatan to record the annual festival. Our
aim is to bring our viewership closer to the Garifuna's culture by providing them with images from the
event along with a highlight video.

Roatan Garifuna Culture

The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed the Garifuna
language, music, and dance a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage of Humanity in Honduras, Belize, and in
Nicaragua. The first Garifuna Summit was held in 2005 in Corn Islands, Nicaragua, with the participation
of many Central American countries.

History of the Garifuna

Los "Garifuna" (/aYrjfnY/ gY-rif-uu-nY);(pl. Garinagu in Garifuna) Are mixed-race of descendants.

The Garifuna are a mix of people from West Africa, Carib Islands, and Central Africa. Known by British
colonial administrators in the early days as "Black Carib" and "Garifuna" so that they could be
distinguished from "Red" or "Yellow" Caribs which were the original Amerindian population before
intermixing with Africans. It is believed that the Black Carib or Garifuna are descendants of the Igneri
people. The Igneri became residents of the Lesser Antilles, present day St. Vincent, Trinidad, and
Dominica.

Garifuna's Arrive in Roatan

The British brought the Garifuna to Roatan. Five thousand Garinagu (Garifuna) were exiled based on
racial profiling. Half of the exiled Garifuna shipped to Roatan survived the voyage to Roatan. But Roatan
island was too small and infertile to support even the arriving 2,500 Garifuna. Over time, the Garifuna
petitioned Spanish authorities so that they could be relocated to the mainland in Spanish colonies where
they were employed by the Spanish. The Garifuna spread across the Caribbean coast and into Nicaragua,
Belize, and along the Caribbean Coast of Honduras.

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Garifuna Language
The Garifuna language derives from the Island Carib language. The Garifuna language is spoken in
Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Nicaragua. The Garifuna language is an Arawakan language. It has
English, French, & Spanish influences. The is a reflection of the Garifuna people and their association
and interaction with various colonial people. Most, if not all, Garifuna are bilingual or multilingual. Most
Garifuna has as their first language the native language of the country they live in; English in Belize and
Spanish in Honduras, for example. Also, most of the Garifuna people also speak Garifuna.

Garifuna Music
Garifuna music is very traditional and different from the rest of Central American music. The most
famous form of music is Punta. Punta dancers are charismatic and move their hips in a circular motion
while keeping their upper bodies still. Punta is still played using traditional instruments. But in modern
times, Punta has experienced an electrification to its sound which is commonly referred to as Punta Rock.

The Garifuna people have a variety of music in addition to Punta. They also have hungu-hungu,
combination, wanaragua, sambai, and Paranda among other. Paranda is showcased in the video found in
Roatan Online's Roatan Blog.

When "La Banda Blanca" of Honduras released their ever popular song "Sopa de Caracol" (Conch Soup),
it sold over 3 million copies. Originally, Sopa de Caracol was written by Belizean Chico Ramos.
Garifunas from Belize felt cheated, but enjoyed the famous song and celebrated its success as it brought
light to all Garifuna people and their culture.

Highlight Video of Roatan's Garifuna Festival.

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Contact Information:
Roatan Online
Emilio F. Castillo
+1 (832) 305 5757
Contact via Email
https://roatan.online
https://roatan.online/roatan-blog/2017/4/18/roatan-garifuna

Online Version of Press Release:

You can read the online version of this press release at: http://www.pr.com/press-release/714310

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