About The Author

Gaünbü

Gloria T. Avilez Ferguson is a proud Garifuna and direct descendant of the resilient Garinagu people who were exiled from their homeland of Yurumein (now known as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) by the British in March 1797. Her ancestors endured a harrowing journey, deported on four slave ships to the remote island of Roatan in Spanish Honduras, Central America, along the Caribbean coast.

Gloria’s paternal lineage reflects the remarkable resilience of her family. Her great-great-grandfather, Gaumbu (later renamed Santiago Avilez), was born in 1804 in Dangriga and passed away in 1894 in Baranco, Toledo District, British Honduras. The legacy continued through Gaumbu’s son, Bangui (later renamed Justo Avilez), his grandson John Justo Avilez, and her father, Cypriano J. Avilez, who was Gaumbu’s great-great-grandson.

Gloria is deeply connected to the story of her ambitious ancestors and their journey from St. Vincent to Spanish Honduras, a journey that reflects the strength and determination of the Garinagu people. Today, the Garifuna population has grown to over 400,000, thriving in Central America, the United States, and beyond.

Gloria celebrates her heritage and the Garifuna motto: “I for you and you for me,” a testament to the enduring unity and spirit of her people.