Being Garifuna Website Has Now Been in Service for 15 Years

This website has covered News regarding People of Garifuna Heritage since February of 2010

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Copyright 2025 by Teofilo Colon Jr for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved.

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New York City, New York, USA – The BEING GARIFUNA website recently passed a Milestone as it observed being of service for Fifteen Years.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) at The 2024 Central American Independence Parade Gala

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There’s more to do and more to cover as it relates to generating media about People of Garifuna Heritage.

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Due to my website being accidentally deleted by it’s Internet host in late 2020, much of my original writing has been lost.

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Fortunately, one can go to the BEING GARIFUNA Facebook page and see most of the Photos I have taken of the Garifuna Community over the Years.

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I hope to recover as much of it as I can, but I worry about being penalized by Google if I do so.

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There are plans for expansion and I hope to get on that as soon as I can. I need to complete some personal work projects first, though.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) at The 2024 Bronx Central American Independence Festival

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As I get older, I can’t help but notice how so many people I have gotten to know in the New York City Garifuna Community have grown, developed and matured over the years.

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Some have gotten married, had a child or children, some have gotten divorced, and some have passed away and in their transition to the next world, have become Ancestors. It’s an spooky feeling to be a witness to all of that.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) Marching in The 2024 Bronx Central American Independence Parade

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Growing up, my engagement with the Garifuna Community was limited to family gatherings and family functions.

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My Point of View as I Marched in The 2024 Bronx Central American Independence Parade

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In 2008 and/or 2009 I began going to Public Garifuna Events on a regular basis and simply took mostly free photos of people. Talking to Garinagu (plural for Garifuna) while photographing them during those social exchanges were enriching for the soul.

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Attending those events as well as reading books and watching videos have allowed me to learn more about our Garifuna Heritage, Culture, History, etc.

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And it was with that I decided to start the Being Garifuna Website in February 2010 on the WordPress website.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. Tio Teo) at The 2010 Bronx Central American Independence Parade. Photo by Carlos Gamboa, I think.

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In the beginning, it was HARD being one of the few people documenting Garifuna News Items, but now, as technology has advanced and become more accessible, more people are documenting and sharing aspects of Garifuna Culture for the World to experience. And that’s a good thing.

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Your reading of articles and viewing of videos over the years is very much appreciated.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) at The 2024 Bronx Central American Independence Festival

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Your continued engagement is welcome. Feedback is crucial and every comment and sharing of the media is helpful, believe it or not.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) on the way to The 2024 Guatemalan Independence Festival in Brooklyn

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I hope to continue to generate media that Garifuna people and Non-Garifuna people can relate to and find of interest.

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Please write to me if there are any subjects or topics you’d like to see explored on this website.

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Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a Tio Teo) at The 2024 Guatemalan Independence Festival at Red Hook Park in Brooklyn

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