Arrival of Africans in Saint Vincent (Yurumein): 1635
Many compelling events that shaped the History of the (Black Caribs) Garifuna people on St. Vincent ensued until the infamous banishment. For survival the new comers adapted the language, culture, traditions, music, system of agriculture, religious beliefs and customs of their hosts (Caribs and Arawaks).
Banishment of Black Caribs (Garinagu) from Saint Vincent: 1797
After the death of Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer during the Carib War (1795) at Dorsetshire Hill, the Black Caribs surrendered and were imprisoned for 8 months on the desolate Island of Balliceaux as prisoners of war (POW's). On March 11, 1797, 2080 men, women, and children were shipped away from their homeland to Roatan, Honduras. This was, perhaps, the gloomiest day in the life of the Garifuna people.
From 1797 (Banishment to Roatan) to 2000 (Millennium): 203 years
The Black Caribs were loaded on eleven battle ships and banished to Roatan. This unkindly act by the British was a form of ethnic cleansing or genocide. It is interesting to note that there were no human rights organizations at that time to speak up on behalf of the Black Caribs. Their suffering went unnoticed. The journey (1300 miles) took 31 days 18 of which were spent in Jamaica (Wewerugu) to repair one of the ships.
Time spent by the Black Caribs on the Island of St. Vincent (Yurumein): (1635 – 1797) 162 years
The Black Caribs and the yellow Caribs resisted the efforts of the French and the British to occupy their fertile lands. Several attempts at occupation and colonization by the British were successfully thwarted by the two groups of Caribs.
Two slave ships laden with African captives were shipwrecked off the coast of Bequia near St. Vincent.
The Africans, assisted by the natives (Caribs), overpowered the crew of the Spanish ship, escaped and joined the Indians. They intermarried with the Indians. This event marked the birth of the Garifuna Nation.
From 1666 (Garifuna Vocabulary Compiled) to 2000: 334 years
These words are still an integral part of our present-day vocabulary after more than 300 years. Many of them have undergone structural changes, but some have endured unchanged, for example, bena, nichari, nitu, yao, liani eyeri, baba, nauba nita, nari, and nabo. The following are examples of words that have changed slightly: nibache, ouaiali, aika, arikaba, aochabae, choubakouba akani, oulibati, mechou, hehue, kanarou, and battia.
