Come Celebrate the Reclamation of Balliceaux with us through Indigenous Cinema!
- Island Rebel
- Mar 7
- 4 min read
The Garifuna Heritage Foundation (TGHF) proudly presents an unforgettable cinematic journey at the UWI Global Campus, Kingstown, from March 11-13, 2025. Join us as we honor the national reclamation of Balliceaux—a sacred island tied to the Garifuna legacy—with a transformative series of Indigenous film screenings. Partnering with acclaimed Vincentian filmmaker Akley Olton, TGHF invites you to immerse yourself in stories of resilience, heritage, and revival. This is more than a film series—it’s a celebration of our cultural soul, a bridge between past and future, and a vibrant call to reclaim our narrative.
This series of screenings comes at a time that coincides with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ recent announcement on March 5, 2025, marking a historic step in reappropriating Balliceaux into the ownership of the State of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a significant milestone in the journey to establish the island as a protected Indigenous heritage site. This event amplifies the voices of the Garifuna people who were exiled in 1797. Come, let these films ignite your spirit and connect you to the heartbeat of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Indigenous story.
The Call to Curate
The story began with a simple yet profound outreach from TGHF, an organization born in June 2001 with a mission to rebuild and retrieve the Garifuna heritage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines—the ancestral homeland known as Yurumein.
“Mrs. Zolia Ellis Browne contacted me through, asking me to curate a screening of Indigenous films,” Akley recalls, his voice tinged with pride. For him, it was a summons that hit close to home. The Garifuna, descendants of the Indigenous Kalinargo exiled from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in1797, carry a legacy of resistance and revival that mirrors Akley’s own drive as a storyteller.What emerged is a lineup that promises to captivate from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM each night.
On March 11, Yurumein: Homeland by Andrea Leland will trace the Caribs’ exile and the Garifuna’s spirited efforts to resurrect their language, music, and rituals.
On March 12, a trio of Vincentian filmmakers—Colin Browne, Dante Ollivierre and Akley himself—will present short films that stitch together threads of heritage and resilience.
It’s a cinematic tapestry that feels like a dialogue across centuries. Closing on March 13, offers Wayunagu (Part 1), Angel Valerio’s gripping tale of a man’s spiritual quest to become a Garifuna Buyeii, confronting evil with newfound courage.
Akley Olton: The Filmmaker with a Vision
For Akley Olton, this isn’t just an event—it’s personal. Raised in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ lush embrace, he’s a son of its soil and its complex past. His filmmaking journey took him from UWI’s film program to the renowned Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión (EICTV) in Cuba, sharpening his lens on stories that matter.
His 2022 film SugarLands, commissioned by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, unearths the Caribbean’s colonial scars with unflinching beauty—a testament to his craft.
But Akley’s impact stretches beyond the screen. Through has collaboration with Opida and Instituto Hondureño de Cinematografía. He has journeyed to Garifuna communities like Sambo Creek and Vallecito Faya, leading a filmmaking workshop to empower Garifuna youth to tell their story.
“Watching them tell their own stories through a camera—that’s what fuels me,” he says. That same fire burns in this series, where one of his own shorts will shine alongside his peers’. “Cinema is a bridge,” he muses, “bringing together peoples to share the dream of a united nation.” For Akley, curating this event is a chance to amplify voices like his own and honor the Garifuna spirit that pulses through Vincentian veins.
TGHF: Two Decades of Reclamation
The annual International Garifuna Conference, nearing its 12th chapter in March 2025, remains a pillar of this endeavor..The Garifuna Heritage Foundation (TGHF) is the heartbeat of this movement. Established in June 2001, TGHF has devoted more than two decades to reviving and reclaiming the Garifuna heritage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines—a land etched with the indelible marks of exile and resilience. Through their tireless efforts, they’ve rekindled traditions teetering on the edge of oblivion, from the pulsing rhythms of Garifuna drums to the ongoing struggle for recognition of sacred sites. The Prime Minister’s recent announcement about Balliceaux adds a powerful layer to these discussions, marking a historic step toward acknowledging the Garifuna’s enduring legacy. This film series weaves another vital strand into that rich tapestry.
“Akley’s passion made him the perfect choice to bring these stories to life,” a TGHF spokesperson reflects. In collaboration with TGHF, they’re forging a cinematic space that serves as both mirror and lighthouse—casting reflections of a resilient past while illuminating the path to the 2025 conference, now charged with the promise of Balliceaux’s recognition.
The Nights Come Alive
Behind the scenes, it’s a team effort. UWI provides the venue, projector, and sound system. “We want everyone there—students, families, anyone who feels these stories,” Akley says, his excitement palpable.
A Legacy in Motion
For Akley, this is a milestone in a journey that’s carried him from St. Vincent and the Grenadines’s shores to global classrooms and back home. It’s a tribute to the Garifuna, whose endurance inspires his own. And with the 2025 TGHF Conference—a hybrid event poised to deepen these conversations—on the horizon, it’s a stepping stone to something greater.
So, save the dates: March 11-13, 2024, at UWI Open Campus Kingstown. Come for the films, stay for the stories, and leave with a piece of Vincentian heritage in your heart. Akley Olton and TGHF are ready to welcome you—because this isn’t just a screening. It’s a homecoming, two decades in the making, that you won’t want to miss.
For more details, get in touch Akleyolton@gmail.com or 1-784-496-4287.
For more info about the Rastaman with the Camera,
Visit www.akleyolton.com
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