Garífuna International Forum 2026 - Ulster University, Coleraine

Uncover a Living Heritage: From Yurumein to a Global Diaspora

Organisers: Ulster University's Arts and Humanities in partnership with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team, hosting the Garífuna Heritage UK C.I.C.

Catering: Light refreshments will be available on arrival from 1030am with event to commence at 11am. Lunch will be provided for contributors and participants.

Event Details:

The Garífuna International Forum 2026 invites scholars, cultural practitioners, and the public to explore the extraordinary history, language, and artistic expressions of the Garinagu.

Forged in Yurumein (St. Vincent) through the convergence of Indigenous Caribbean and African peoples, the Garífuna built a distinct maritime culture, surviving forced relocation to Roatán in 1797 and establishing enduring communities across Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 and inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Garífuna drumming, dance, and language represent a rare, living legacy sustained across generations.

This forum brings together diverse perspectives to honour this heritage, examine historical and anthropological research, and discuss how community memory adapts within an evolving global landscape.

Forum Focus Areas

• Ancestral Foundations & Diaspora History: Exploring the convergence of Indigenous Caribbean and African populations in Yurumein, colonial resistance, exile, and modern global migration networks.
• Collective Rights & Contemporary Realities: Rigorous examination of legal frameworks, territorial defense, and human rights advocacy facing Garífuna communities today.
• Preserving the Intangible: Tackling the UNESCO-identified threats to the Garífuna language and passing ancestral knowledge to future generations.
• Living Archives & Cultural Memory: Demonstrating how oral history, journalism, literature, and documentary film keep historical memory alive.

Program Highlights

• Academic & Community Symposia: Historical presentations and multi-perspective panels bridging academic research with lived experience.
• Cultural Traditions Showcase: Live demonstrations of traditional music, rhythm, and storytelling that embody Garífuna memory.
• Media & Narrative Exhibits: Screenings, investigative journalism features, and literary readings showcasing creative expressions of heritage.

Who Should Attend?

Academics, Researchers & Students Specialised in: History, Anthropology, Human Rights, Indigenous Studies, Linguistics, Performing Arts, Caribbean, Latin American, and African Diaspora studies.

General Public: Cultural heritage enthusiasts, local community members, educators, writers, and anyone interested in oral histories and living traditions.

Join us to experience, learn, and contribute to the ongoing story of Garífuna culture and history.