THE GARIFUNA CLOCK

Designed by: Ruben Reyes

P O Box 621013

Los Angeles, CA 90062

E-mail: wagia1@yahoo.com

The Garifuna “Ariani”, symbolizes a wise way of using time in times prior to the invention of the mechanical clock.

(The name of the clock in Garifuna is ARIANI)

The inner yellow circle represent the six periods of day light:

From 5:00 am – 7:00 am Binafin-binafin / Early morning / Mañanita

From 7:00 am – 9:00 am Binafin / Morning / Mañana

From 9:00 am – 11:00 am Lubá Amidi / Before noon / Ante ameridiano

From 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Amidi / Noon / Mediodia

From 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Lárigi Amidi / Pass Noon / Pasado Mediodia

From 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Rabounweyu / Sun down / Caida del sol

The outer green circle represent the six periods of night time:

From 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Ineweyu / Dusk / Crepúsculo

From 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Guñoun / Evening / Anochecer

From 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Ariebu /

From 11:00 pm – 1:00 am Irawini / Midnight / Media noche

From 1:00 am – 3:00 am Lumamarabun /

From 3:00 am – 5:00 am Lubá larugan /Dawn / Alba

WEYUAGU: is the daylight period

ÁRIEBU: Is the nighttime period

BINAFIN: Is the time between 6:00 am and Noon

RABOUNWEYU: Is the time period between Noon and 6:00 pm

The Garifuna people mastered the reading of time at any given period of the day or night. The sun allowed them to pinpoint the hour during the six periods of daylight, while at night other various elements provided clue about the hour. At Dusk some animals or birds set to rest at the same time every single day, the cycle of the moon also provides clue about the time at night.

The singing of some kind of birds (rooster) during the rest of the night determines the exact time.

Today, the Garinagu still rely on the Garifuna Clock system in some remote Garifuna Villages of Honduras.