Bronx Borough Prez Vanessa L. Gibson addresses a Girls’s Historical past Month celebration within the Bronx.
Photograph courtesy Workplace of Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson/Josh Mock
José Francisco Ávila, managing director of the Bronx-based Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc., mentioned on Wednesday that Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson will host the annual Garifuna Heritage Celebration on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. on the Bronx County Borough Corridor, Rotunda, 851 Grand Concourse, the Bronx.
Ávila mentioned Gibson, whose father hails from Trinidad and Tobago, will host the occasion along with The Bronx Financial Growth Company and the Bronx Tourism Council.
“This occasion is a part of Garifuna Heritage Month (March 11 – April 12), which celebrates the wealthy historical past, vibrant tradition, and important contributions of the Garifuna individuals,” Ávila mentioned.
He mentioned the celebration will characteristic a cultural efficiency by Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater and an awards ceremony.
“Annually since 2008, the Garifuna in New York observes March 11 to April 12 as Garifuna Heritage Month, in observance of the 228th Anniversary of the Forcible Displacement of the Garifuna Folks from their Ancestral Homeland St. Vincent ‘Yurumein’ (presently generally known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and their settlement in Central America in 1797,” Ávila mentioned.
He mentioned New York Metropolis is dwelling to the most important Garifuna inhabitants exterior of Central America, with an estimated inhabitants of 250,000, with over half the inhabitants calling the Bronx dwelling.
Ávila mentioned this makes it the most important Garifuna group exterior of Central America.
“Though the Garifuna have been migrating right here in the hunt for a greater life for the reason that Nineteen Thirties, the group was nearly obscured till the Completely satisfied Land Social Membership fireplace on March 25, 1990; many of the victims had been Garifunas,” Ávila mentioned.
“Due to the assist of elected officers, together with then-Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, who, in 2014, offered the primary annual proclamation on the New York Metropolis Council, declaring March 11 – April 12 as Garifuna-American Heritage Month in New York Metropolis, New Yorkers can achieve a larger appreciation of Garifuna historical past, heritage, tradition and traditions, and of the function Garifunas have performed, and can proceed to play, in New York’s society,” he added.
Since her election as Bronx Borough President, Gibson “has joined with the Garifuna Coalition USA to host the Annual Garifuna Heritage Month celebration starting in 2023,” Ávila mentioned.
