Garifuna
noun
Ga·ri·fu·na
ˌgär-ē-ˈfü-nə 
1
plural Garifuna or Garifunas
: a member of a people of African and Caribbean Indigenous descent that live mainly along the Caribbean coast of northern Central America
2
: the Arawakan language containing many Cariban elements that is spoken by the Garifunas
Examples of Garifuna in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aurelio Martínez, Honduran Garifuna musician and politician, dies at 55
The Honduran ambassador of Garifuna music and politician died at 55 in a plane crash.
—
Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Visit Canada After Palacio’s death, Martínez became arguably the world’s most prominent Garifuna musician.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Typically performed on acoustic guitar with percussive accompaniment, Garifuna songs combine West African rhythms with Latin, reggae, and calypso music.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2025
Musician and congressman Aurelio Martinez among those killed Among those killed was Aurelio Martinez, a prominent Honduran musician known for his involvement in the Garifuna scene, his record label confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Martinez, a popular member of the Garifuna music scene, was the first Afro-Honduran member of the National Congress of Honduras.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
However, his legacy will live on through his songs, in the memories of those who knew him, and in every young Garifuna inspired by his example.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Photo by Yair Valladares/Shutterstock Cayos Cochinos, Honduras Spanning 300,000 acres with about 250 Indigenous Garifuna residents, this group of islands 20 miles off the northern Honduran coast remains mostly off the tourist radar.
—Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025
Yet beyond its inviting waters is another treat, a vibrant culinary scene shaped by Maya, Mestizo, Creole, and Garifuna traditions.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
Visit Canada After Palacio’s death, Martínez became arguably the world’s most prominent Garifuna musician.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Typically performed on acoustic guitar with percussive accompaniment, Garifuna songs combine West African rhythms with Latin, reggae, and calypso music.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2025
Musician and congressman Aurelio Martinez among those killed Among those killed was Aurelio Martinez, a prominent Honduran musician known for his involvement in the Garifuna scene, his record label confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Martinez, a popular member of the Garifuna music scene, was the first Afro-Honduran member of the National Congress of Honduras.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
However, his legacy will live on through his songs, in the memories of those who knew him, and in every young Garifuna inspired by his example.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Photo by Yair Valladares/Shutterstock Cayos Cochinos, Honduras Spanning 300,000 acres with about 250 Indigenous Garifuna residents, this group of islands 20 miles off the northern Honduran coast remains mostly off the tourist radar.
—Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025
Yet beyond its inviting waters is another treat, a vibrant culinary scene shaped by Maya, Mestizo, Creole, and Garifuna traditions.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Garifuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Garifuna. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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