|
|
Could not connect to db
|
News -> Do you Gari?
|
THIS E-MAIL IS RATED PG (PURE GARIFUNA) |
02/24/02
By: Jerry Castro
|
There was a song in the background while I stood in front of my match: The challenge I had be given to give my body and mind a strength it needed terribly after 9/11, Ferrer's election and Michael Bloomberg's recent budget to cut some city programs. The dish manifested the celebration of my culture surviving 205 years and counting. I needed it, BADLY!
The dish consisted of: Guliliwaru taun alabundiga falunmoun. I had been warned about the aftermath to which many around the community had stated that "not even an PH,D doctor can find the perscription to control the side effects". They're right because I fell to regain the strength.
The music in the background kept shifting and controlled my physical and mental state. For a moment I thought I neded special medical attention, but then I realized it was only the sound of the #2 drum of Aurelio's "YITA" that was controlling me. "It's OK", I said to myself, "Thank God it's not Pen or Pali"
Throughout the whole week, I have not been able to act "properly". A fellow Garifuna woman said it was my "diet".
"You have to go back to your roots", she said. "You're looking a little weak".
She passed me a brown piece of paper as if we were about to roll-a-blunt. But when I opened it, the words "Alabundiga falumoun lau guliliwaru" was written in black ink and stuck in my mind.
"You'll thank me later", she said as she took the BX19 going towards Fordham in the Bronx.
In the process the fish was bought along side the coconut and the bananas. Hours later I faced the plate that will bring my strength to where it was.
The drums kept playing without fear. The thought of not using the spoon flashed my head as I remember my grandmother back in Labuga. The days where joy were found as we shared the dish of strength.
I grabbed the plate: switch from Aurelio to Pali to Andy to Pen's 1981 record to James to Gadu to Rebels and GK (1995 Garifuna Kids). I became a traditional Garifuna in a modern world where most of the costums, especially the food being replaced by the Micky D's and B-Kings, has been replaced by the hi-tech world and the J-los and P. Diddys.
When I finished my moment with the Alabundiga, I quickly realized that the I just continued the survival by celebrating one more day into the 205 years of cultural survival.
Thank God for my Grandmother, Joseph Chatoyer and you who are working to keep it "SEMETI 205" years more.
Serenmein,
Jerry Castro, Editor
HAPPY 205
TO ALL GARINAGU WORLD WIDE
|
| Other Articles By Jerry Castro | | 09/06/05 | GARIFUNA IN NEW YORK RALLY FOR HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS IN THE SOUTH |
| 04/27/05 | Garifuna Web sites increasing the importance of news |
| 04/19/05 | Garifuna Heritage Events a success |
| 04/19/05 | Remembering Jimmy Suaso: A Punta Rock Lord |
| 04/18/05 | Friends, Fans and Family around the globe remembers Jimmy Suazo |
| 03/29/05 | The Lords of Punta Rock: Jimmy Suazo |
| 03/22/05 | Lidani Garifuna Times interviews Dr. Joseph Palacio |
| 03/22/05 | The Beginning of Punta Rock |
| 03/18/05 | How safe are we, the Garifuna, 50 years from now? |
| 03/14/05 | In Celebration of Garifuna Heritage Month |
| 02/14/05 | Valentine's with a Long Distance Connection and a Local Affect |
| 05/13/04 | Garifuna Soccer in Center Stage at the Asian Champ League |
| 04/18/04 | Punta Rock Loses One of its Artists: Jimmy Suazo |
| 03/26/04 | April 12 is a Garifuna Holiday, and Garifumericans are getting ready (Part 1) |
| 03/20/04 | Garifuna All Stars in the Bronx |
| 03/19/04 | Family passing in Guatemala... |
| 01/27/04 | How proud & Garifuna are you? Find out here... |
| 12/10/03 | BRONX COURT ORDERS GARIFUNA TRANSLATION TO A GARIFUNA DEFENDANT |
| 11/27/03 | Legendary composer, Polo Martinez, rests in peace |
| 11/21/03 | Tomas Brooks Is Strong And Fearless |
| 11/17/03 | LIVING IN THE STATES, MIND BACK IN LABUGA |
| 11/07/03 | CELEO ALVAREZ TAKES THE BRONX BY STORM: Why you should attend this important event! |
| 10/27/03 | ONECA Conference to go on: Celeo to meet Garinagu in November-Lamiselu II |
| 10/25/03 | Garifuna Coalition USA divorces ONECA |
| 10/13/03 | Garifuna community in New York and Borough President, Adolfo Carrion, Jr. |
| 10/06/03 | GARIFUNA MUSICAL REVOLUTION: BROOKLYN, NY - 10 YEARS AGO |
| 09/09/03 | Garifuna Collections of Jerry Castro: Essay 1 of 1 |
| 08/23/03 | Garifuna Resident in the Bronx and his dreams of... |
| 07/22/03 | GARINAGU IN SEARCH OF A HEALTH CENTER IN LIVINGSTON |
| 07/20/03 | VILO GETS HOME AS A SUSPECT IS BEING HELD.... |
|
|
|
|
|
Secure Online Ordering