Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast: Explore Caribbean Ancestry & Culture

In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into Caribbean history and heritage through an insightful conversation with Professor Karl Offen on the Miskito Kingdom. They explore how colonialism shaped the historical split between the Sambo and Tawira groups, examining the influences of colonial powers, missionaries, race, geography, and language on Miskito identities and movements across northeastern ...

Host Wendy Aris reflects on an extraordinary 2025 for the Dis A Fi Mi History podcast, celebrating 100 episodes with over 10,000 downloads and listeners spanning 125 countries. Charting on multiple Apple Podcasts history charts, this milestone episode honors the podcast's focus on Caribbean history, family genealogy, and the enduring impact of colonialism. Wendy thanks all guests and listeners for their support and highlights vital...

In this insightful episode, host Wendy Aris dives into Caribbean history and family genealogy with Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor as they discuss his book 'Flying Fish in the Great White North.' Together, they explore the migration of Black Barbadians to Canada, highlighting migration laws, community-building, family impacts, and identity formation among the Caribbean diaspora.

This conversation uncovers overlooked stories of resili...

In this episode of  Dis A fi mi explores Caribbean history and colonialism with Mr. Shayron Tower, founder of the Corn Islands Virtual Library. They delve into the island's rich family history, Kukra origins, British colonial influences, and Afro-Caribbean culture. The discussion highlights evolving languages, local economies such as fishing and tourism, and political changes that shaped the community. A central focus is on preserv...

In this episode, host Wendy Aris speaks with historian Ryan Mann-Hamilton about the often-overlooked 19th-century migration of free African Americans from the United States to Samaná, Hispaniola. They explore why these individuals left, how they settled, and the rich cultural, linguistic, and genealogical legacies they created. Delving into crucial aspects of colonialism and Caribbean history, this conversation sheds light on famil...

In this captivating episode of Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into the complex history of slave marriage and resistance in the British West Indies with Professor Cecilia A. Green. They explore how colonialism and legal frameworks in the Caribbean profoundly shaped intimate family life under slavery. 

Professor Green unpacks the legal contradictions and fears colonial powers held regarding slave unions, and the ...

Host Wendy Aras dives into Caribbean history and colonialism with Dr. Kumar Mahabir in this compelling episode exploring the East Indians of Belize. They trace three waves of migration and examine the communities' unique industries, cultural markers such as food and dance, and rich heritage preserved through museums and folk tales.

The conversation sheds light on family genealogy and oral history as vital tools in reclaiming and pr...

Host Wendy Aris and guest Jacquie Stewart delve into Caribbean history, specifically focusing on Jamaican genealogy and the impact of colonialism on family identity. This episode explores the powerful role of storytelling in reclaiming heritage and understanding migration patterns through DNA testing and archival research. They discuss the ethical, social, and emotional challenges faced during genealogy research, offering insightfu...

Welcome to the Dis A fi mi History Podcast, where we explore Caribbean history through the lens of DNA testing and family genealogy. In this episode, we discuss how genetic research is helping Caribbean people reclaim lost roots erased by colonialism and the slave trade. Through real-life stories and explanations of autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA tests, we reveal connections to Indigenous Taino, African ethnic groups, and South Asian ...

In this episode of Dis A fi mi History, Brian Birch of Griot's Table explores how food acts as a powerful storyteller in Caribbean history, family genealogy, and cultural heritage. Using the "Eat, Feel, Dream" framework, he shares how dishes carry deep memories of migration and the legacy of colonialism across diasporic communities. Brian also highlights how food events blend music and art to create immersive experiences that honor...

In this episode, host Wendy Aris explores Caribbean history and heritage with Professor Francesca Negro, focusing on her article "Tumba Francesa, Kinetic and Linguistic Archive of the African Diaspora." They discuss how Tumba Francesa—a vibrant dance and musical form rooted in Afro-Caribbean culture—serves as a living archive preserving collective memory and identity across the Caribbean. Tracing its origins from Haiti to Cuba, the...

In this compelling episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris dives deep into Caribbean history and colonialism through a conversation with Jamaican poet and author Olive Senior. They explore Senior's novel Paradise Once, a researched reimagining of the Taíno people in Cuba two decades after Columbus's arrival, shedding light on indigenous heritage and the legacies of colonialism in the Caribbean. The discussion covers...

In this episode, Wendy Aris interviews Crispin Gregoire about the Kalinago people of Dominica, exploring their rich family history and cultural traditions. We delve into their deep heritage and governance, examining how they have survived through colonization to the present day. The episode covers critical topics such as the impact of colonialism, the Carib Act of 1978, land rights, cultural preservation, and language revitalizatio...

In this episode, we explore St. Eustatius — the "Golden Rock" — and how its prosperity during the 18th century was deeply rooted in colonialism, powered by the transatlantic slave trade and the brutal sugar economy. We trace the island's pivotal role in global commerce, featuring insights into the Golden Rock Plantation and the recent discovery of an African burial ground. We also discuss the ongoing impact of slavery on the island...

In this episode of Dis A fi mi History, we dive into the Caribbean history of the 1930s as Wendy Aris speaks with Dr. Natasha Gordon‑Chipembere about the migration of Afro‑Caribbean communities to Costa Rica. The conversation focuses on themes of identity and resilience, examining the social and economic forces—such as railroads and the banana industry—that shaped their lives. 

This episode delves into family histories, language, a...

In this episode of the Dis A fi mi History Podcast, we delve into the near-forgotten 1639 uprising on St. Kitts, an important event in Caribbean history where over 60 enslaved people fled to Mount Misery, built a fortified maroon community, and resisted colonial power before facing brutal repression. This exploration of family history and spirit highlights how resistance is woven into the island's fabric. 

We also trace the ongoing...

In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into the extraordinary life and legacy of Archibald Monteath — a notable figure in Caribbean history, embodying the narratives of colonialism and resilience. Born in West Africa and sold into slavery in Jamaica, Monteath’s story reflects both the violence of colonialism and the indomitable human spirit. 

Monteath’s rare autobiography provides a first-person acco...

In this episode of Dis a Fi Mi History, host Wendy Aris and guest Suleiman Bulbulia delve into the overlooked story of African Muslims in the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Muhammad Kaba Saganuhu — an enslaved scholar who penned a 50-page Arabic manuscript in Jamaica. This episode illuminates how themes of colonialism, Arabic literacy, faith, and cultural memory have influenced resistance, identity, and the broader Caribbean...

Host Wendy Aris sits down with filmmaker Gbolahan Peter Macjob to explore Ireke, Rise of the Maroons — a powerful, language-rich film about the Maroon rebellion in 18th-century Jamaica. They discuss the film's use of Yoruba, Patois and English, its sound design and songs, themes of surveillance, betrayal, spiritual resilience, and the historic role of Nanny and the Maroons.

Through a blend of history and fiction the episode examine...