The Garifuna Experience Podcast
Dive into the heart of New York City's vibrant Garifuna community, the largest diaspora outside of Central America. This podcast amplifies authentic Garifuna voices, explores their rich history, and navigates contemporary issues, all while showcasing how Garifunas are driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in NYC and the Diaspora.
Perfect for cultural enthusiasts, curious locals, and travelers seeking an authentic NYC experience.
Episodes
34 episodes
Episode 30 - Traditional Fedu
In this episode, host José Francisco Ávila dives deep into the Traditional Fedu, a cornerstone of Garifuna cultural identity and celebration, particularly in New York City. The Fedu, meaning "celebration" or "traditional women's dance," ...
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Episode 30
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7:31
Episode 29 - Activating the Garifuna Economy: Our #BuyGarifuna Strategy
The future of Garifuna prosperity is in our hands! Host José Francisco Ávila lays out a powerful, multi-faceted strategy to champion Garifuna entrepreneurship in NYC and beyond. This episode introduces the #BuyGarifunamovement—mor...
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Episode 29
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12:43
An Immigrant's Journey 56 Years Later: From Honduras to Boston
Join me as I celebrate the 56th anniversary of the Avila family's migration to the United States. In this touching episode, I retrace our steps from December 1969—traveling by train across Honduras and flying into the biting cold of a Boston wi...
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5:52
Episode 28 - Pororó a Guatemalan Garifuna Tradition
Join José Francisco Ávila for a festive exploration of The Pororó, a unique and enduring Guatemalan Garifuna tradition!Discover how the Garifuna community celebrates the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th wit...
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Episode 28
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6:02
Episode 27: Remembering the Great Andy Vivien Palacio
This week, we pause to honor the life and profound legacy of a man whose vision, music, and activism continues to shape our identity: Andy Vivien Palacio (1960–2008).Andy was not just an artist; he was a cultural champion whose jo...
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Episode 27
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13:58
Episode 26 - Garifuna Settlement Day in Guatemala
Join host José Francisco Ávila for an inspiring journey to the Caribbean coast of Guatemala as we celebrate Garifuna Settlement Day, observed every year on November 26th.This episode honors the historic arrival of th...
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Episode 27
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9:24
Garifuna Settlement Day Celebration in Nicaragua
Garifuna Settlement Day in Nicaragua: The Legacy of Orinoco and the Sambola FamilyJoin host José Francisco Ávila for a special episode honoring Garifuna Settlement Day in Nicaragua. Celebrated every Novembe...
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7:19
Episode 25 - Garifuna Settlement Day Celebration in Belize
The Trailblazing Legacy of Thomas Vincent Ramos: The Birth of Garifuna Settlement DayJoin host José Francisco Ávila as we trace the incredible historical journey of the Garifuna people—from their forced exile on St. Vincent in 1797 to th...
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Episode 25
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7:05
Episode 24: Garifuna Distinguished Service in the U.S. Military
On this Veterans Day episode, host José Francisco Ávila pays tribute to the remarkable, yet often overlooked, legacy of Garifuna soldiers in the U.S. Military. Discover the 200-year warrior tradition of the Garifuna people—from resisting...
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Episode 24
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11:01
Episode 23 - Why NYC Garifuna Political Representation Matters
The Garifuna community in New York City is on a mission to shift from a community of presence to a community of power.Host José Francisco Ávila dives into the critical importance of increasing Garifuna political visibility ...
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Episode 23
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9:51
Episode 22 - The History of Garifuna Community Organizing in New York City
The Garifuna Experience in NYC Podcast takes you back to the foundation, tracing the evolution of Garifuna civic strength in the diaspora. Host José Francisco Ávila chronicles how our community successfully transformed from informal Home...
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Episode 22
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13:25
Episode 21 - Beyond the Narrative: The Garifuna American Law Enforcement
Episode 21: Beyond the Narrative: The Garifuna American Law Enforcement Association, Inc.Host: José Francisco ÁvilaThe Garifuna Experience in NYC Podcast goes "Beyond the Narrative" to highlight the powerful i...
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Episode 21
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8:41
Episode 20 - Garifuna: A Living Cultural Afro-Indigenous Treasure
Episode DescriptionCelebrate International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples with host José Francisco Ávila as we journey into the powerful and persistent world of the Garifuna people. Far more than a historical footnot...
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Episode 20
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16:03
Episode 19 - The Garifuna Educational Journey: From Village Schools to the Doctorate
Join host José Francisco Ávila as he explores the profound and inspiring history of Garifuna progress through education. This episode traces the community's journey from the immense sacrifices made by early generations—sending chi...
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Episode 19
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17:49
Episode 18 - Garifuna Literary Arts
Host José Francisco Ávila dives deep into the power and necessity of Garifuna Literary Arts. For a people whose history was often deliberately erased from official records, the written word is not just culture—it's rec...
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Episode 18
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9:49
Episode 17 - Happy Heavenly 56th Birthday Aurelio Martínez Suazo
Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of a Garifuna icon, the late singer, composer, and politician Aurelio Martínez Suazo, on what would have been his 56th birthday.In this special episode, we explore one of his greatest artistic ...
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Episode 17
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8:28
Episodio Especial - Catarino Castro Serrano: Historiador de la Independencia de Honduras
Este episodio especial de The Garifuna Experience Podcast conmemora la vida de Catarino Castro Serrano (1892-1939), una figura importante en la historia hondureña y el primer intelectual y congresista garífuna documentado.L...
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16:54
Episode 16: Honduras' Independence Historian: Catarino Castro Serrano
In this episode, The Garifuna Experience Podcast commemorates the life of Catarino Castro Serrano (1892-1939), a significant figure in Honduran history and the first documented Garifuna intellectual and congressman.Listener...
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Episode 16
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11:35
Episode 15 - The Garinagu and Belize’s Independence Movement
On this episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila explores the extraordinary journey of the Garinagu people and their vital role in the history of Belize.We'll uncover the story of the Garinagu's unwelc...
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Episode 15
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16:34
Episode 14 - Thomas Vincent Ramos: "Father of Garifuna History"
Explore the life and legacy of Thomas Vincent Ramos, a true pioneer and visionary leader. This episode, "Father of Garifuna History," delves into Ramos's journey as a Garifuna historian, civil rights activist, and journalist. Discover ho...
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Episode 14
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12:00
Episode 13 - Garifunas and the Central America Independence Revolutions
In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked history of the Garifuna people and their role during the tumultuous Central American independence revolutions of the early 19th century. As Central American nations began their fi...
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Episode 13
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10:46
Episode 12 - Hispanic Heritage Month and the Garifuna Diaspora
This episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast dives into the complexities of Hispanic Heritage Month through the unique lens of the Garifuna people. Host José Francisco Ávila explores how the broad term "Hispanic" can often over...
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Episode 12
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13:31
Episode 11 - Art & Identity- Visual Expressions of Garifuna Culture in NYC
Explore the vibrant world of Garifuna visual art in Episode 15: Art & Identity: Visual Expressions of Garifuna Culture in NYC. Hosted by José Francisco Ávila, this episode goes beyond the well-known music and dance to highlight how p...
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Episode 11
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9:05
Episode 10: Threads of Heritage: Weaving Culture into NYC's Fashion Scene
In this episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila unveils a bold new initiative: Garifuna Fashion Weekend 2026. This special event, timed to coincide with Garifuna-American Heritage Month, is designed t...
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Episode 10
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10:34
Episode 9: NYC Restaurant Week and the Urgent Need for a Garifuna Restaurant!
NYC Restaurant Week is in full swing, but host José Francisco Ávila notices a heartbreaking absence on the list of participating restaurants: a proper Garifuna restaurant. In this impassioned episode, José explores why a dedicated, sit-down Gar...
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8:08
