info@battleofthedrums.bz
(501) 722-2956
Battle of the Drums
  • Menu
    • Events
    • Shop
      • Cart
      • Checkout
      • My account
    • News
    • About Us
      • Battle of the Drums Activities
      • About Battle of the Drums Competition & Show
      • The Secretariat
info@battleofthedrums.bz
(501) 722-2956
Battle of the Drums
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT BOD
    • THE SECRETARIAT
    • ANNUAL ACTIVITIES
  • EVENTS
    • CALENDAR
  • SHOP

Garifuna Survival Day

Homepage Education Garifuna Survival Day
Education, News

Garifuna Survival Day

April 12, 2022
By Admin
0 Comment
432 Views

A woman reeling with emptiness and crying uncontrollably…a child, bewildered, feeling confused and lost and trying to console her Mom even though she herself needs consolation. A man, broken in spirit; still limping from the injury he suffered during the war and exacerbated by the month-long travel to a place unknown, hundreds of miles from his native homeland…devastated with the capture and subsequent banishment of him and his people…staring at his wife with a feeling of utter hopelessness in their circumstances but having the quiet resolve to survive and thrive…
Along with the other 2,023 who had survived the inhumane and treacherous journey, this day would be the first day of the rest of their uncertain existence. This day was, Wednesday, April 12, 1797, and the place was Roatan, Honduras.
Today, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, marks 225 years, since 2,026 Garinagu were dumped onto the shores of Roatan, Honduras by the British, after their forcible removal and deportation from their native homeland of St. Vincent. Their plight began in 1773, after the Garinagu, in defense of their land, defeated the British in what was referred to as the “First Carib War”. Being the superpower that it was, it was a blow to the British ego that men of inferior arms could defeat them in war. So they spent the next twenty-two years reinforcing and strategizing and declared war on the Garinagu again in March 1795. Unfortunately, on March 14, 1795, the Paramount Chief of the Garinagu, Joseph Chatoyer, a fearless military strategist was killed. Notwithstanding, the war waged on until the Garinagu surrendered in June 1796.
As a result of the surrender, Garifuna villages were burnt to the ground. Some men, women, and children were massacred, while others were hunted down and gathered to become the next victims of atrocity that was unleashed by the British. During the period July 1796 and March 1797, Garifuna men, women, and children were forcibly taken and kept in confinement on a desolate, barren island sitting on steep cliffs located in the most eastern Grenadine island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, miles from St. Vincent, and fit for only reptiles to live, by the name of Balliceaux. Between 4,195 and 5,200 Garinagu were kept as prisoners on Balliceaux.
Approximately half the number of those who were confined on Balliceaux died either by committing suicide by jumping off the steep cliffs or as a result of the epidemic that spread within their number. On March 3, 1797, the remaining 2,700 Garinagu were loaded onto a convoy of British Battleships and banished forever from their native homeland. 674 Garinagu perished during that journey and the remaining 2,026 arrived in Roatan, Honduras on Wednesday, April 12, 1797. Since then we have not only survived, but we have thrived.
The Battle of the Drums Secretariat strongly encourages all Garinagu, to honor the legacy of our forefathers and not only survive but thrive…We owe them no less. In the words of the song, Duna Orinagu, “Meredera wamá agumahouni ya ubouwagu” (English translation: “Let us not be the least on this earth”) and in the words of the Matriarch of the Battle of the Drums, “Bungiu Wama!!” (God with us!!).


Previous Story
VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP 2021
Next Story
The Belize Garifuna Song Competition Awards

Related Articles

High School Battle of the Drums 2022

Friday, November 25, 2022, the 10th annual High Schools Battle...

17th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition & Show

The 17th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition and Show...

Search

Recent Posts

  • High School Battle of the Drums 2022
  • 17th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition & Show
  • The Belize Garifuna Song Competition Awards
  • Garifuna Survival Day
  • VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP 2021

Products

  • BOD Chenille Patch Hoodie (Belize) $70.00 – $80.00
  • BOD Bucket Hat $25.00
  • BOD Classic-2 $21.99 – $24.99
  • Classic Text -T (LCO) $24.50 – $31.50
  • BOD Classic Organic Crop Top $28.00

Upcoming Events

  • There are no upcoming events.

Get In Touch

info@battleofthedrums.bz
(+501) 722-2956
58 Gerorge Price Street, Punta Gorda Town
Toledo District, Belize

Sign Up Newsletter



Follow Us:
Battle of the Drums - Copyright 2022. Design by BK Creative Belize
SearchPostsLoginCart
Friday, 25, Nov
High School Battle of the Drums 2022
Sunday, 13, Nov
17th Annual Battle of the Drums Competition & Show
Monday, 31, Oct
The Belize Garifuna Song Competition Awards
Tuesday, 12, Apr
Garifuna Survival Day
Monday, 9, Aug
VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP 2021
Tuesday, 13, Oct
Battle of the Drums Virtual Event 2020

Welcome back,