Cricket, afternoon tea and popular festivals reflect the coexistence of traditions inherited from different cultures in one Caribbean island with a cultural personality that defines a large part of its national identity.
Yolaidy Martínez Ruiz
Barbados has a unique identity, strongly influenced by British fashions and customs despite 90% of its inhabitants being of African descent.
This island was under British colonial rule for more than 300 years, which left various traces of its culture as well as its native language and monarchical system of government. Evidence of the Anglo-Saxon legacy is the Caribbean island’s national sport: cricket; a discipline originating from Europe, which has produced from this small state renowned athletes, such as Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell. Another example is the traditional afternoon tea at 5 o’clock, a habit in Barbadian daily life, which is a social ritual proceeding from the United Kingdom.
As in the former colonial power, elegance in public places, especially restaurants, is very important for the inhabitants of this Caribbean country.
Furthermore, the broken trident on the national flag symbolises the break with the British colonial past and the country’s independence.
This, and many other distinctive features, has led to the island, with more than 280,000 citizens, being known as the “Little England of the Caribbean”.
Nevertheless, African influences are also present in Barbadian traits, culture and cuisine, the latter primarily based on fish and seafood.
The most famous dish is ‘flying fish’, served with okra and cornmeal; this culinary delight is called cou-cou.
Another display of African legacy can be enjoyed in the two main cultural and touristic festivals in the overseas state; Congaline carnival and the Crop Over Festival, which celebrates the end of the sugarcane harvest. The latter event is the most popular and it stretches from the beginning of July to the first week of August.
It has a carnival feeling, with music competitions and traditional activities, culminating in the Grand Kadooment, a parade with colourful costumes.
Barbados is the easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles, covering an area of 431 , divided into 11 “parishes” – the name given to their administrative areas – whose place names are associated with the Anglican tradition inherited from the British colonial period.
It ranks among the top Caribbean countries on the Human Development Index, according to reports carried out by the United Nations.
It achieved independence on 30th November 1966, when the country raised its current flag for the first time and sung the notes of the national anthem. This date also marked their entrance into the Commonwealth, an organisation connecting independent countries united by historical links and cooperation. Although Barbados became a republic on 30th November 2021, it continues being a member of the Commonwealth. PL
Barbadians celebrate these anniversaries with a wide programme of community events, competitions, fairs and sport challenges taking place from the beginning of November.
During Independence Day, there is traditionally a military parade and a ceremony in the Garrison Savannah outside Bridgetown, the capital, where the majority of the population lives.
On this day, the Festival of Creative Arts closes, which brings together Barbadians of all ages to display their talents in music, fiction, rhetoric and handicrafts, among other exhibitions, with prizes for the winners and the final presentation of their works.
This small country has diversified its economy in recent years, mostly based on sugar production and tourism.
Currently, the island is home to important international companies thanks to its development as a financial services centre and with a tax process favourable to investment. At a global level, Barbados has relationships with numerous states and it is a full member of the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of American States, amongst others.
Alongside Guyana, it was the first county in the region to replace the British Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest judicial body. PL
(Translated by Donna Davison – Email: donna_davison@hotmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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