Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater Will Celebrate Garifuna Culture at Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson's Garifuna Heritage Celebration
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2023
Contacts: José Francisco Ávila (917) 383-7014 info@garifunacoalition.org
New York– The Board of Directors of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc., a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization is pleased to announce that Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater will celebrate Garifuna Culture at Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson's Garifuna Heritage Celebration, on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, 5:30 PM, at the Bronx Borough Hall, 851 Grand concourse, The Bronx, NY 10451.
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Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater is a New York City based Garifuna Dance Company, proudly preserving, and sharing the rich Gariuna Culture nationwide through live music, song, drama, and dance. It was founded in 1992 (originally named Hamalali Wayunagu “Voices of Our Ancestors”) by Choreographer Luz F. Soliz. Since its establishment, Wabafu has been an instrumental source for people in search of information about Garifuna history, dance, and culture through the arts.
The company’s mission is to share the rich Garifuna culture and traditions nationwide by beautifully portraying it through live music, song, drama & dance. Culture, innovation, pride, and energy are the values, Wabafu thrives from. Known for its uniquely, innovative choreographies, the company is the longest running Garifuna dance troupe in New York City.
As the “Cultural Capital” of the World, New York City has the privilege of hosting one of the original "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." On May 18, 20001, UNESCO proclaimed the Garifuna Language, Music and Dance as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater has contributed to the Safeguarding of the Garifuna Language, Music and Dance in New York City with a view to confronting the erosion of the Garifuna culture in the heart of modern day society.
Garifuna American Heritage Month promotes greater knowledge of and respect for the heritage, culture, and contribution of people of Garifuna descent to the development of societies.
Each year since 2008, Garifunas in New York observe March 11 to April 12 as Garifuna-American Heritage Month, in commemoration of the 226 Anniversary of the Forcible Transfer by the British of the Garifuna People from their Ancestral Homeland St Vincent “Yurumein” (presently known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines), to Central America in 1797.
On March 11, 1797, our Garifuna Ancestors embarked as One People, on a convoy of ten British ships, on a 33 days and 33 nights forced voyage across the Caribbean Ocean, which arrived at Roatan on April 12, 1797! Never Forget!
New Yorkers are cordially invited to Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson's Garifuna Heritage Celebration, featuring Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater, and witness a living intangible cultural heritage which remains an active part of life for today’s Garifuna generation. Thursday, March 9th, 2023, 5:30 PM, at the Bronx Borough Hall, 851 Grand concourse, The Bronx, NY 10451.
