Welcome to the website of the Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United. Here you can find out more about our organization, our events and our services.
The mission of GAHFU is to serve the Garifuna-American community in the greater Los Angeles area, the Untied States and abroad through cultural programs, outreach, advocacy and social services programs. GAHFU is dedicated to the dissemination and preservation of Garifuna heritage through the arts, music, culture and language education, in addition to providing social & cultural awareness programs such as youth mentoring/leadership, Garifuna classes, cultural competency and enrichment programs, community forums, and more. GAHFU believes that having an appreciation of one’s own culture sets the stage for developing partnership with people who come from culturally diverse backgrounds. GAHFU serves a nation that reaches across the globe annually and seeks to educate and inform the larger Los Angeles County about Garifuna culture and the contributions that Garifuna-Americans have made and continue to make in the social and cultural fabric in Central, North America and the Caribbean.
An educational, historic study of Garifuna culture tells you that Garifuna people were never enslaved. Garifuna people have always been free and have managed to keep their culture intact and alive wherever they are. (An educational, historic study of Garifuna culture tells you that Garifuna people never suffered the inhumane act of enslavment, a terrible crime against humanity that brutalized so many others, and their cultures. The Garifuna culture has preserved a lot that should be shared with our descendants and the world.) *Un estudio educativo e historico determino que el Garifuna nunca fue esclavo. Los Garifunas siempre han sido libres y se han hechado a la tarea de nunca olvidar ni abandonar su cultura y costumbres. - (Un estudio educativo e historico de la cultura asevera que Los Garinagu nunca sufrieron el acto inhumano de la esclavitud, un crimen terrible en contra de la humanidad el cual afecto y brutalizo a muchos otros y sus culturas tambien. La cultura Garifuna ha logrado preservar mucho de lo cual deberia de ser compartido con los Afro-descendientes y todo el mundo.) - Garifuna In the picture: Our Paramount Chief Joseph Chatuye. En la foto nuestro Jefe Supremo Joseph Chatuye.
Our Paramount Chief Joseph Chatuye. En la foto nuestro Jefe Supremo Joseph Chatuye.
GAHFU, INC. GARIFUNA LANGUAGE & CULTURE ACADEMY
The Garifuna Language & Culture Academy of Los Angeles is a concept started by GAHFU, Inc. and a project developed in association with Mr. Clifford Palacio, Mr. Ruben Reyes, Mr. Carlos Domingo Alvarez, Mr. Sidney Mejia with the help of The Blazer Learning Center run by Mr. Bennie Davenport. The school was born in 2005 and it was first held at Maabatuwa Cultural Center of Los Angeles. Mr. Palacio and Mr. Alvarez had previously taught at another location years before. After Maabatuwa, GAHFU saw the need to establish a more permanent school where families could attend and learn. The purpose of this project is to preserve the Garifuna language spoken and written which is the lifeline of the Garinagu as we know it. Those who are fluent in Garifuna can also improve their vocabulary and learn how to write it following the standarized rules accorded in the last convention by the Garifuna Nation scholars. GAHFU"s school started in April 2008 at The Blazer Learning Center 1517 W. 48 St. LA, CA 90062. Classes are offered every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. For more information call (323) 898-6841. The online classes is also supported by Martin Bermudez and Labuga.com website.
*This project has been made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation.
Session V Starts on Sat. November 5th thru December 17. We have a Children's Class, a Beginner's Class and an Advanced Class. All of these classes will be offered in the morning at 10 am including the Drumming Class.
Garifuna Language & Culture Academy announces that its courses begin every 8 weeks from 10am to 1pm at The Blazer Learning Center 1517 West 48th Street LA (corner of Denker and 48th St. Call to register (323) 898-6841 and to find out when the next course starts! e-mail: garifunaheritagefoundation@yahoo.comgahfuinc@garifunaheritagefoundation.org
Garifuna American Heritage Foundation United is an exempt organization under section 501 ( c) (3) and all donations are tax deductible. Our purpose is to preserve the uniqueness of the Garifuna culture, history, language, music, arts & crafts and spirituality by working closely with the Garifuna community not only in Los Angeles County, but throughout the world. We seek to enhance and showcase the image and vision of the Garifuna people through education, music and the arts. GAHFU believes that having an appreciation of one’s own culture sets the stage for developing partnership with people who come from culturally diverse backgrounds.
We are committed to bringing the necessary resources to improve the well being of the Garinagu through health seminars, HIV and AIDS and Drug & Alcohol education.
GAHFU also recognizes the need to assist in acquiring adequate healthcare, child care, proper nutrition, clothing and shelter for our elders and our children. GAHFU will act as an extended family to advocate for services needed by our our senior citizens which will enable them to live in dignity with cultural pride during their golden years. We will develop afterschool cultural enrichment classes, and leadership programs for our youth . GAHFU is also committed providing mentoring programs and provide scholarships to socio-economically disadvantaged Garifuna children in California and in Central America.
And last but not least, our endeavor also includes to be able to properly channel the music, dance and the arts to the world. There is a strong, talented and artistically inclined group of Garifuna artists who are the lifeline of the Garifuna culture. This talent is in danger of being lost if not preserved and/or exposed properly.
The Honorable Prime Minister of Belize Mr. & Mrs. Dean Barrow along with Miss Garifuna Heritage Arteshia Welch and her mother Agatha Augustine taken during the PM visit to Los Angeles, CA 2010
On May 18th 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, proclaimed the Garifuna Language, Music and Dance a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
GARIFUNA FLAG
The meaning of the colors of the Garifuna flag are: The Yellow is for our Amerindian heritage,hope and liberation. The white is for the peace and freedom. The black is for Africa, death and suffering.
Many Garinagu have migrated to the United States of America. Some of the major US cities where a substantial number of Garifuna live in are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco. The Los Angeles City Council declared April 12 , 2003 "Garifuna Day" in the City of Los Angeles. November 19th is the "Garifuna Day" in New York City which was signed and recognized by former Mayor David N. Dinkins in 1991.
SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Also known as Yurumein, St. Vincent & The Grenadines is the original homeland of the Garinagu. This is the birthplace of this hybrid people who are a combination of African and Arawak and Carib natives. They are considered the aboriginal of Yurumein. Presently, there is a Garifuna reservation still vibrant in Sandy Bay.
HONDURAS
The Bay Islands or Roatan is the original landing place where the Garinagu settled after being exiled from St. Vincent & The Grenadines by the British empire. From Roatan, the Garinagu, migrated to the mainland Honduras and currently there are over 28 communities spread out along the Caribbean coast. Indura (Honduras) celebrates its settlement day on April 12.
GUATEMALA
Garinagu came to Livingston, also known as La Buga, in 1802. They were led by Marcos Sanchez Diaz. They also settled from Chewecha (Quehueche) to Puerto Barrios. La Buga is a vibrant community which is highly popular among tourists for its display of the Garifuna culture, food and music. Livingston celebrates the arrival of the Garinagu to Guatemala now on the 26 of November.
BELIZE
The Garifuna were led by Elejo Beni into what was formerly known as British Honduras - Belize territory in 1832. Belize has the second largest Garifuna community in Central America after Honduras. The major settlements are in Punta Gorda, Seine Bight, Georgetown, Hopkins, Dangriga ,Barranco and Belmopan. Garinagu celebrate their settlement day on November 19.
The Garinagu who settled in Nicaragua, arrived there by accident. They were in search of the route back to their homeland in St. Vincent, unfortunately they never made it and remained in this beautiful country. Nicaragua has the smallest population of Garifuna in Central America. Some concerned Garinagu from the neighboring nations have dedicated themselves to the re-acculturation of the people of Nicaragua from Garifuna descent.
CARIB VILLAGE IN SAINT VINCENT (Picture below)
FROM BALICEAUX, GARINAGU WERE EXILED TO ROATAN (RUBADAN)
Map of the Bay Islands, Roatan Honduras
AGarifuna operated non-profit organizaton - Copyright GAHFU, Inc. All rights reserved.
Our Paramount Chief Joseph Chatuye. En la foto nuestro Jefe Supremo Joseph Chatuye. 
The Honorable Prime Minister of Belize Mr. & Mrs. Dean Barrow along with Miss Garifuna Heritage Arteshia Welch and her mother Agatha Augustine taken during the PM visit to Los Angeles, CA 2010
