Yurumein (Homeland): The Caribs of St. Vincent
Details
Title: Yurumein (Homeland): The Caribs of St. Vincent
Director: Andrea E. Leland
Year: 2014
Country: St. Vincent and the United States
Runtime: 50′
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Trailer
Synopsis
Yurumein (your-o-main) reveals the powerful, untold story of Carib-Garifuna resistance to slavery—a narrative that rightfully belongs in the history of the African Diaspora. The film delves into the painful history of the Caribs on St. Vincent, recounting the tragic extermination of many ancestors by the British, while offering an intimate look at Garifuna culture in transition today.
Through firsthand accounts, the film amplifies the voices of Carib descendants who remain on St. Vincent and those of returning descendants whose ancestors were exiled to Central America – where Garifuna traditions have survived and thrived. Yurumein follows members of the Garifuna Diaspora as they reunite and make a collective pilgrimage to Balliceaux, the sacred site of the genocide. This profound journey reveals the emergence of a movement to revitalize Garifuna language, music, dance, and rituals.
As Garifuna from around the world come together to honor the resilience and legacy of their shared ancestors, they also discover new possibilities and hope for the future of their culture and its role in a larger global community.
‘The film considers the effects of colonization, slavery, genocide, and exile as they continue to reverberate across generations, but also beautifully highlights the central role of dance, drumming, and food ways in diasporal survival and revival. This film will be a great resource for any student of Caribbean history or culture’ (Monica Hairston O’Connell, Ph.D., Executive Director, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago).
Yard Vibes
This film is part of YardVibes, a streaming platform for content from independent African and Caribbean makers. The platform offers many titles for rent, from feature films and web series to documentaries and short films, with new content added each month. All titles can be rented individually for a modest fee, which will largely benefit the makers. You can find the complete YardVibes film streaming catalogue at www.yardvibes.nl.