Culture of The Bahamas

     In the Bahamas, 90% of the Bahamian population is of African Ancestry. Just about 5% of people in the Bahamas Identify as white and some might even be mixed with black and white. The original people who first colonized the Bahamas, known as the Lucayans, were completely driven off the island by European colonizers. They were either enslaved or murdered. As 5% of the population are white, It is also a larger group.

    

Chart of Race in the Bahamas
 Today in the Bahamas, More than 385 thousand people speak English, or as some people in the Bahamas would call it, Bahamian English. Another language used in the Bahamas is Haitian Creole which is spoken by 25% of the people living in the Bahamas. The official language used in the Bahamas is English because British settlers back in the 1700s arrived and introduced the language. British English that has come from the UK is taught in school or it could also be used officially. But the main language in the Bahamas is Bahamian English.


  In the Bahamas today, 91% of the population have a religion they believe in. Some known religions that are in the Bahamas contain, Pentecostal and Methodist.  The Bahamas also contains Catholic Churches. If we want to talk math, 14% of the Bahamas contains Roman Catholic churches. Additionally, The Bahamas contains Jewish and Muslim as well but it is a small amount. In 1973, The Bahamas gained religious freedom which allowed the free practice. In the Bahamas, Religion is taught as an academic subject and use later on in tests in order to get your certificate.

Bahamas Religion Chart

One of the finest things in the Bahamas is the Cuisine! As The Bahamas is an Island, they serve seafood such as fish or crab or even plants like tropical fruits, potatoes, coconuts, etc. They also serve other seafood such as baked crabs and bonefish.  Most of the food is transferred from outside the country internationally. Scattered around the islands, lizards such as Iguanas are eaten. Juices drained from fruits are commonly used as beverages including coconut water. There is a popular Bahamian lemonade made from locally grown limes.
A cuisine beverage called Switcha

    

    Some national activities in the Bahamas would include fun activities like Cricket, a sport commonly known in The Bahamas. It became a popular activity in the 18th century and was later involved in tournaments in the early 1900s. Most Bahamians in modern-day excel in track and field earning medals in competitions all around the world. This includes the Olympic Games. There are other sports involved in the Olympics that Bahamians also participate in. This includes rugby, swimming, and Netball.

Junkanoo Festival

    During Christmas, there is a holiday called the Junkanoo festival. It is to celebrate the day after Christmas or as some people call it, Boxing day. Junkanoo festival takes place in downtown Nassau which is located on Bay Street. But Bahamians also cross all over the islands in the Bahamas for this Festival. This festival is not only held in the winter but throughout most Saturdays during summer. People wear colorful costumes and play shows and music to celebrate this wonderful Festival.


The Bahamas is such a beautiful place to explore with many things to do. The sports are fascinating to watch, the food is very good to eat, and the Festivals are exciting to attend.  It's wonderful to see how much The Bahamas has grown since the 1700s and hopefully will continue to grow throughout the years as it is such an extraordinary country to explore.










Sources


Chepkemoi, Joyce. “What Languages Are Spoken in the Bahamas?” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 1 Aug. 2017, www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-the-bahamas.html.

Atitwa, Sundra Chelsea. “Religious Beliefs In The Bahamas.” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 18 Mar. 2019, www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-the-bahamas.html.

Nag, Oishimaya Sen. “The Culture Of The Bahamas.” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 11 Dec. 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-culture-of-the-bahamas.html.

“Junkanoo - Annual Events in The Bahamas.” The Islands of The Bahamas, www.bahamas.com/events/junkanoo.

Comments

  1. Gian RendonApril 6, 2021 at 8:11 PM

    This cultural post of the Bahamas was done very well I learned many things like the ethnic make up of the islands, how many people live there, as well as the main languages that are spoken! I did not know that religion was taught as an academic subject, I found that very intriguing! Overall, you delved into the culture very effectively and the images you used helped strengthen your blog very well!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nalleli NizApril 7, 2021 at 3:47 PM

    Hello Jordy! After reading your blog post, I learned so much more about the Bahamian culture. If I were to ever visit the Bahamas, I would surely enjoy their cuisine because I love seafood. Overall, you did a good job. The format of your page was good. Your pictures were well formatted throughout your page. Next time, make sure your page has the same font and color because the third paragraph seems to be different then the rest. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete

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