The Bahamas: Islands Of Shallow H2o Alongside Beautiful Westward African, Akan-Fante Junkanoo Cultural Together With Heritage Festival
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas or the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is an archipelagic nation comprising
roughly 700 islands, rocks (islets), as well as cays, roofing nigh 100,000 foursquare miles inwards the western Atlantic Ocean, northward of Republic of Cuba as well as the Dominican Republic as well as Republic of Haiti (Hispaniola); northwest of the Turks as well as Caicos Islands; southeast of the U.S. province of Florida as well as E of the Florida Keys.
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE, is a Bahamian-American actor, cinema director, author as well as diplomat. In 1964, Poitier became the offset dark mortal to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, for his operate inwards Lilies of the Field.
After the American War of Independence, thousands of American Loyalists, taking their enslaved Africans, moved to the Bahamas, where the Americans prepare a plantation economy. After Britain abolished the international slave merchandise inwards 1807, the Royal Navy resettled many costless Africans liberated from illegal slave ships inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas during the 19th century. Hundreds of American slaves as well as Black Seminoles escaped to the islands from Florida, as well as nearly 500 were freed from American merchant ships inwards the domestic merchandise yesteryear the Royal Navy. Slavery inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was abolished inwards 1834. Today the descendants of slaves as well as costless Africans cast the bulk of the population; issues related to the slavery years are component of society. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas became an independent Commonwealth realm inwards 1973, retaining Queen Elizabeth II every bit its monarch.
As at 2014, the Bahamas has an estimated population of 382,825, an increment from 2013`s approximate of 380,000. Out of this total population, about 85% are dark Africans of West African ancestry with the Europeans constituting 12%, whilst Asians as well as Latin Americans brand upwards the remaining 3%. Black-Bahamians are non a racially exclusive group, at that topographic point are Black Bahamians who have got European ancestry but seat only every bit black.
.Costumed dancers celebrate the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival-like celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas. Courtesy www.demotix.com
When it comes to the history of pop pirate genre inwards the world, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was known to live the rubber Haven for renowned pirates. The waters surrounding Grand Bahama Island were treacherous as well as especially therefore inwards the days of the sailing ship. Because it was hard to navigate the waters inwards the area, it was a favorite haven for pirates. Pirates were especially plentiful inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards the 17th century. After 1718 the pirates were subdued yesteryear Royal Governor Woodes Rodgers—himself a old pirate. Among the to a greater extent than notable pirates who frequented the waters as well as islands of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas were Steve Bonner, Anne Bonney, Joseph Burgess, Thomas Carter, William Catt, Arthur Davis, Benjamin Horngold, Captain William Kidd, Henry Morgan, Captain Jack Rackham (aka Calico Jack), Woodes Rodgers, Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard), Roger (Charles) Vane, as well as George Watling (Defoe as well as Johnson 1724; Stark 1891; Woodbury as well as Rogers 1951; Storr 2004; Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism 2007). Archaeological report of pirates as well as their settlements is a pop dependent area (Skrowronek as well as Ewen 2006).
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has the 3rd highest per capita income(richest country) inwards the western hemisphere (after the USA as well as Canada). Tourism is the primary economical activity, accounting for c.65% of the gross domestic production (GDP). The government’s electrical current economical thrust is to pose an anchor resort on each of the major Family Islands which volition have got huge implications for the biodiversity of these otherwise relatively untouched islands. Offshore finance is the nation’s instant largest industry, accounting for c.15% of GDP.
New Years Junkanoo Festival inwards Nassau Bahamas. Courtesy www.demotix.com
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got a heady combination – paradise islands, shimmering warm seas, perfect conditions as well as every bit many fun types of fishing. When it comes to Commonwealth of the Bahamas fishing, stand upwards yesteryear for some of the best sport angling on Earth. In fact celebrities such every bit Michael Keaton, Laurence Fishburne as well as author John Grisham are fans of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas angling as well as have got frequented Commonwealth of the Bahamas fabulous angling areas since fourth dimension immemorial. Author Ernest Hemingway lived on Bimini for several seasons inwards the 1930s, drawn yesteryear the incredible angling available inwards the Gulf Stream - that legendary “river” of warm H2O that rushes northward yesteryear The Bahamas. Fishing is ever-popular around the islands, with authors, celebrities, as well as everyone inwards between!
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas beach
In terms of diving, Bahamas "is your Heaven on Earth." Its diving playgrounds comprises warm seas of mesmerizing indigo, soft flour-white sand as well as ludicrously colourful coral reefs.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas also have got wonderful beaches that are beyond perfection. The beaches actually are those mirages of powdery white sand contrasting fantastically with the indigo sea, as well as leaning palms rustling inwards the cooling ‘trade’ breeze. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are blessed with non one, but ii types of sandy paradise. Most are the secluded, untouched sort of Commonwealth of the Bahamas beach, 'where your footprints experience similar the only ones to have got ever graced it; but nosotros also have got the type of beach that’s stunningly beautiful yet also has activities galore at your sun-kissed arm’s reach."
The famous Cable Beach on Nassau, inwards the northward of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is known for an effortlessly buzzing beach life of chilled beach bars as well as oodles of H2O sports. In fact, inwards precisely 1 of many picture-perfect Commonwealth of the Bahamas beaches inwards the part you lot tin live endlessly entertained yesteryear windsurfing, parasailing, fishing, wake-boarding, fine dining…"
In terms of gross domestic production per capita, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the richest countries inwards the Americas (following the US of America as well as Canada)
Bahamas Junkanoo Festival
Bahamian civilization is a hybrid of African, European, as well as other cultures. While English linguistic communication is the official linguistic communication of the Bahamas, a vast bulk of the population speaks Bahamian Dialect. In Bahamian dialect, some African (Akan, Kongo, Yoruba, Fulani etc) words as well as expressions have got been retained. Various West African peoples contributed musical instruments as well as styles, forms of dance, religious concepts, folktales, theatre unit of measurement patterns, as well as linguistic influences. In terms of folktales, West African Akan Anansi or Anancy (spider) story is ever-popular with the Bahamians precisely similar all the other Caribbean Area nations.
Musicians warm upwards earlier taking component celebrating the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas.Courtesy www.demotix.com
The Akan presence, especially that of the coastal Akan Fante people is really visible as well as is popularized inwards a cast of Junkanoo festival. Junkanoo is the corruption of the call of a Fante adult man called John Kweenu (John Quainoo) whom the whose call became John Connu with the Bahamians. John Connu (Quainoo), a headman or Fante leader, brought that Fante traditional zombie-like costume wears they pose upwards inwards every Fante festival to the New World. "Junkanoo" is a Mardi Gras-like celebration that is held on several secular holidays. The celebrations combine music, costume, dance, revelry, pride inwards the African cultural heritage, recognition of slave resistance to authority, as well as the unity of the people. Junkanoo "gangs" compete for prestige as well as cash prizes. Tourism officials have got transformed these ceremonies into events that pull thousands of visitors. Organizers, scholars, as well as participants refer to Junkanoo every bit a social establishment that binds the people to each other as well as to their past.
Jonkanoo celebration inwards Island of Abaco, The Bahamas
Geography as well as Climate
The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an archipelago of c.700 islands as well as c.2000 cays as well as rocks extending over 1100 km inwards length. The archipelago, which lies northward as well as E of Cuba, runs from E of the southern halt of Florida (USA), southeast until it terminates at the Turks as well as Caicos Islands (to the UK) which are geologically a continuation of the islands.
The closest isle to the US of America is Bimini, which is also known every bit the gateway to the Bahamas. The province lies betwixt latitudes 20° as well as 28°N, as well as longitudes 72° as well as 80°W as well as is non geographically located inwards the Caribbean, despite the mutual belief that it is.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are exposed parts of a limestone platform that is divided into several shallow banks. Little Bahama Bank is located along the northern coasts of Grand Bahama as well as encompasses all of Abaco as well as its North Atlantic offshore rocks as well as cays. The Great Bahama Bank (which is rich inwards marine life) stretches from northward of the Biminis as well as Berry Islands, southward to hug the southern shoreline of New Providence as well as the western shores of Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island as well as the Ragged Islands. The Cay Sal Bank (which is biologically impoverished) is located at the extreme western bounding main border of The Bahamas, really unopen to Cuba.
The islands of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are depression as well as apartment with ridges that usually ascent to no to a greater extent than than 15–20 m. However, at that topographic point are needlelike slopes nether water, betwixt as well as within the convoluted banks. The Tongue of the Ocean is a 30-km broad trench betwixt New Providence as well as Andros which drops to depths of 2000 m. The islands have got no rivers or streams as well as the soil is fertile but thin, as well as often lodged inwards shallows as well as “banana holes” within the harsh limestone rock. H5N1 freshwater lens exists unopen to the surface, resting on the underlying salt-water.
bahamas beaches. Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort as well as Offshore Island Nassau.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are often divided, ecologically, into 3 regions: Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Grand Bahama, Biminis, Berry Islands, Abacos, North Andros, as well as New Providence) where all the larger islands are covered primarily yesteryear Caribbean Area pino (Pinus caribaea) woodland (with a broadleaf shrub as well as palm understorey), although much of this woodland was logged inwards the mid-twentieth century; Central Commonwealth of the Bahamas (South Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, the Exumas, Ragged Islands, Long Island, Rum Cay, Conception Island as well as San Salvador), inwards which the islands are covered primarily inwards broadleaf “coppice”- a dense, depression semi-evergreen forest; as well as Southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Crooked Island, Acklins Island, Samana Cay, Mayaguana, Little as well as Great Inagua), where the islands are drier as well as back upwards dry out shrubland. New Providence, inwards spite of beingness 1 of the smaller islands, is domicile to c.69% of the Bahamian population as well as the nation’s capital. Grand Bahama is instant only to New Providence inwards terms of development, as well as it supports 16% of the population. It is also domicile to the longest underwater cave organisation inwards the world.
Relaxing on the beach - Great Exuma, Bahamas: Beach chairs overlook the turquoise waters off the coast of Great Exuma isle inwards the Bahamas.
The remainder of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas islands are called the “Family Islands” which are sparsely populated as well as retain their natural beauty. Of these Family Islands, Great as well as Little Abaco (and its cays) are considered “the sailing working capital missive of the alphabet of the world”, as well as the islands have got a booming tourist trade.
Andros is the largest isle inwards the Bahamas, with extensive creeks, interlacing channels, bays, bights as well as inlets. It is also domicile to many bluish holes as well as every bit a final result is renowned for its cave-diving.
Inagua is the southernmost isle inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with the nation’s only Ramsar site—Inagua National Park—which is domicile to over 40,000 Caribbean Area Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) as well as many other waterbirds. The companionship Morton Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ltd. produces common salt from the salinas at 1 halt of Lake Rosa (which occupies c.30% of the island). Morton is 1 of the largest common salt producers inwards North America.
The small town history of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is convoluted as well as often dissimilar on each island. Plantations were established on some of the islands during the slowly 18th century, as well as largescale agriculture was trialed inwards the mid-20th century when much of remaining virgin pino forests inwards the Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas were logged. Subsequent evolution (especially on New Providence as well as Grand Bahama, but also locally on the other inhabited islands) has had a profound negative impact on the surrounding habitats. The climate of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, as well as is moderated significantly yesteryear the waters of the Gulf Stream which keeps the islands warmer than Florida inwards the wintertime as well as cooler inwards the summer. Summer is the rainy flavour with June as well as Oct the wettest months.
However, the Southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas only acquire one-half the rainfall that the northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas receive. The islands are oft striking yesteryear hurricanes; for example, Hurricane Andrew inwards 1992, Floyd inwards 1999, Frances as well as Jeanne inwards 2004, as well as Wilma inwards 2005. Low-pressure systems associated with tropical waves as well as resulting inwards rigid winds as well as drenching pelting are a regular characteristic inwards the Bahamas.
Awesome fish inwards the waters of Commonwealth of the Bahamas every bit captured yesteryear a diver
Language
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas utilization English linguistic communication every bit their primary as well as official language. Regional as well as class-related Bahamian dialects which vary from "Standard English" with the urban elite to "Bahamian English" with the poorer people. There are finely nuanced differences inwards vocabulary as well as pronunciation from isle to island. "French Creole" is spoken yesteryear immigrants from Haiti. Those immigrants often are able to converse inwards heavily accented English, but few have got been formally educated inwards the language.
Parade of Bahamian Queens: Miss International Bahamas- Carlrita Robinson, Miss Progress Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Lakindes Brown, Miss Teen Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Myah Walker, Miss Teen Universal Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Alexcia Sargeant as well as Miss Teen international Commonwealth of the Bahamas - Tazhamoye Cummings.
Although English linguistic communication vocabulary serves every bit the main reason for Bahamian communication, African grammer rules as well as structural tendencies are often applied during usage. This synthesis of linguistic forms has led many Bahamians to see Bahamian dialect every bit an impure cast of Standard English, although English linguistic communication itself is non a pure homogenous linguistic communication but, instead, a conglomeration of dialects. Regardless, Bahamian dialect is widely considered to live “bad English” or “broken English.”
This is demonstrated inwards the dissimilar pronunciations of words every bit Glinton-Meicholas (2000) illustrates:
"Consider the instance of the pronunciation of the vowel cluster inwards the give-and-take ‘rain’ in
the Bahamas. Many Bahamians phonation it every bit a long ‘a’. For others, the people of
Andros inwards particular, ‘rain’ rhymes with ‘seen’, as well as for Cat Islanders, it echoes
‘men’, except the vowel audio is of slightly longer duration (p. 2)."
Such differences inwards spoken language patterns inevitably are reflected inwards spelling patterns ofBahamian dialect. The words “give me,” for example, may live represented inwards text every bit “gimme” or “gimma” the give-and-take “the” every bit “de” or “der,” as well as “Lord” every bit “lud” (Munroe,2000). Variations inwards the written spelling of dialect are possible due to the fact that no in conclusion say-so exists to stipulate how dialect words are to live spelt. This province of affairs is the instance for most of the Caribbean Area islands, such every bit Jamaica, where no touchstone spelling organisation for the native Creole linguistic communication exists.
Let remove seem at how Bahamian dialect seem similar inwards the skit written yesteryear Ena Campbell (as cited in
Jack et al., 2003, p. 28-29) is included inwards the text:
True, truthful Bahamian
Characters Andy, Deon
Setting Lunchtime inwards the classroom
Andy Deon, les go exterior to eat nosotros tiffin over dere on da bench.
Deon No, I am staying within therefore I tin eat at my desk.
Andy You tink you lot domicile eh? Ain nuttin incorrect wit eatin outside.
Deon I am non used to eating outside.
Andy Boy you lot ain born on the isle eh? Note: (Island hither way theatre unit of measurement of islands inwards Bahamas)
Deon No, as well as I don’t speak the way they do either.
Andy So you lot don know bout eatin cassava, banana, spud as well as dilly and
bread. See my lunch.
(Opens brownish newspaper bag.)
You wan some?
Deon What’s that, banana as well as breadstuff for lunch?
Andy Yes, boy, you lot say you lot born hither but you lot ain no Bahamian if you
never eat dis.
Deon Yes I am Bahamian.
Andy You don fifty-fifty speak similar us.
Deon Because I speak properly.
Andy I could speak properly also you lot know, inwards ii language.
Deon Two languages?
Andy Yes, Bahamianese as well as English.
Deon What’s Bahamianese?
Andy The same way me as well as da res a der chirren does talk. Das we
language.
Deon I don’t understand.
Andy Yeh, you lot understand. Any true, truthful Bahamian does speak it all
the time. We only speak English linguistic communication when necessary.
Deon I telephone phone that bad speaking.
Andy Well, das how us Bahamian does speak as well as it ain no bad.
Deon Why? You don’t know how to speak English
Andy Errybody does speak English, but only dey does also speak dere
native linguistic communication or dialect.
Deon Oh! So ‘le nosotros go’ is actually ‘let’s go’ as well as ‘gimme’ is actually ‘give
me’!
Andy See, I know you lot could speak similar we, is component a ya culture. Das how
other people over da worl know us. The way nosotros talk, da way we
trip the lite fantastic quadrille, nosotros Junkanoo as well as enough more.
Deon I tink I ga start talking Bahamianese today as well as speak English linguistic communication only
when necessary.
Andy Das right, at nowadays come upwards les go play outside.
(Both boys go out singing ‘If ya born dere, ya born dere’.)
True Bahamian adult woman of Nassau
History
Historically, the Lucayan, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taino people were the offset inhabitants of The Bahamas. These Lucayan-Tainos moved into the uninhabited southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas from Hispaniola as well as Republic of Cuba around the 11th century AD, having migrated at that topographic point from South America, Venezuela. Archaeological investigation Lucayan sites on Grand Bahama Island including cave burials as well as opened upwards air habitation sites have got shown their early on existence. In his 2007 published piece of work entitled "Archaeological Testing of Freetown Cemetery as well as Reconnaissance of Freetown, Grand Bahama Island," Daniel T. Elliott has this to say: "Regarding the Lucayan as well as other aboriginal settlements on Grand Bahama Island, the next summary data is provided:
"Skulls, bones, as well as artifacts have got been found inwards the caves at the Lucayan National Park. In western Grand Bahama Island, Deadman’s Reef, a pop snorkeling reef, is domicile to 1 of the most of import local archaeological sites discovered to date. The Lucayan Indians were thought to live some of the early on dwellers of Grand Bahama Island—and a recent dig along the eroding beachfront of Deadman’s Reef helped to answer many questions."
Unearthed from the dig were many artifacts belonging to the Lucayan Indians, including hearths, creature bones, pottery pieces, as well as shell beads. This uncovering was dated dorsum to around 1200 to 1300 A.D.
Along with this site, the bones of pre-Columbian Lucayans were found inwards an underwater cave system, indicating an ancient burial site. Both of these discoveries helped to confirm that the Lucayans were with the offset settlers of Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas.com 2007)."
The offset Europeans to acquire inwards in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was Castilian explorer Christopher Columbus as well as his crew of sailors. It is said that an estimated 30,000 Lucayan inhabited the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the fourth dimension of Christopher Columbus' arrival inwards 1492. Columbus' offset landfall inwards the New World was on an isle named San Salvador (known to the Lucayan every bit Guanahani), which some researchers believe to live present-day San Salvador Island (also known every bit Watling's Island), situated inwards the southeastern Bahamas.
An alternative theory holds that Columbus landed to the southeast on Samana Cay, according to calculations made inwards 1986 yesteryear National Geographic author as well as editor Joseph Judge, based on Columbus' log. Evidence inwards back upwards of this remains inconclusive. On the landfall island, Columbus made offset contact with the Lucayans as well as exchanged goods with them.
Whatever live the case, the novel Castilian arrivals raid the isle as well as forced much of the Lucayan population to Hispaniola for utilization every bit forced labour; together with suffering from exposure to diseases to which they had no immunity, they suffered high fatalities. The population of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was severely diminished. Half of the Tainos were killed yesteryear smallpox after Columbus's arrival inwards the Bahamas.
Apart from the Spanish, recent inquiry suggests that at that topographic point may have got been attempts to settle the islands yesteryear groups from France, as well as Britain, every bit good every bit yesteryear other Amerindians.
As noted yesteryear Cash, Maples, & Packer (1978) as well as Saunders (1982), inwards 1648, nigh seventy Puritans as well as 28 freed slaves (blacks) arrived on the isle of Eleuthera as well as became known through history every bit the Eleutherian Adventurers. These 28 freed slaves were the offset blacks (Africans) to acquire inwards in Commonwealth of the Bahamas The Eleutherian Adventurers were a grouping of Englishmen who had migrated to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas from Bermuda seeking religious freedom. Oral tradition also attributes the earliest African settlers on the isle every bit beingness marooned enslaved people who escaped their bondage when shipwrecked. This is sure enough a probable scenario as well as 1 which the population of Freetown may have got been hidden from slave owners (and others who may have got had the wishing to homecoming these marooned Africans to the slavery system) for decades.
It must live noted that inwards 1670 King Charles II granted the islands to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas, who rented the islands from the Rex with rights of trading, tax, appointing governors, as well as administering the country. In 1684 Castilian corsair Juan de Alcon raided the capital, Charles Town (later renamed Nassau). In 1703 a articulation Franco-Spanish expedition briefly occupied the Bahamian working capital missive of the alphabet during the War of the Castilian Succession. During proprietary rule, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became a haven for pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. To restore orderly government, Britain made the Commonwealth of the Bahamas a crown colony inwards 1718 nether the violet governorship of Woodes Rogers. After a hard struggle, he succeeded inwards suppressing piracy. In 1720, Rogers led local militia to drive off a Castilian attack.
During the American War of Independence, the islands were a target for American naval forces nether the command of Commodore Ezekial Hopkins. US Marines occupied the working capital missive of the alphabet of Nassau for a fortnight. In 1782, next the British defeat at Yorktown, a Castilian fleet appeared off the coast of Nassau, as well as the urban center surrendered without a fight. Kingdom of Spain returned possession of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to Britain the next year, nether the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Before the intelligence was received yet the islands were recaptured yesteryear a pocket-sized British forcefulness led yesteryear Andrew Deveaux.
More blacks came with Loyalists—Americans who resisted the American War of Independence as well as wanted to remain nether British rule. Most of these supporters of British dominion resided inwards the southern colonies of the Carolinas as well as Georgia which had unopen ties to Britain because of the tobacco as well as cotton fiber merchandise Condemned for their political desires, the Loyalists oft received harsh handling from the American rebels who often ridiculed, tarred as well as feathered them, or
prevented them from purchasing goods, or fifty-fifty confiscated their land. While some Loyalists sold their belongings as well as relocated to Canada, others left to laid about lives inwards West Indian countries. Also, Eastern Florida, beingness British inwards 1773, became the domicile of many Loyalists who took their slaves as well as plantation lifestyle there. However, East Florida became Castilian territory over again after the
signing of the treaty of Versailles inwards 1783. Following this, the British regime gave Earth inwards the colonies to the Loyalists who had lost their possessions inwards America; from this stemmed the migration of Loyalists to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards 1783. Some Loyalists came from New York as well as migrated to the islands of Abaco as well as Cat Island with many inundating the isle of New Providence betwixt 1784 as well as 1785. Within those ii years, betwixt half dozen as well as vii one 1000 Loyalists arrived inwards the Bahamas, causing the Bahamian population to increment from 4,000 inwards 1783 to 11,300 inwards 1789 as well as the ratio of negroes to whites, which was equal before, to live 3 to one.
After the population of slaves grew with the oncoming of Loyalists to the Bahamas, the carbohydrate revolution increased the number of slaves inwards the West Indian part significantly. The Spaniards introduced carbohydrate to the West Indies inwards 1493 but it was Aguilon who inwards 1505 crushed canes into carbohydrate as well as began the carbohydrate manufacture inwards the region(Greenwood & Hamber, 1979). As the carbohydrate demand inwards Europe increased, the Spaniards needed laborers to supersede the Carib as well as Arawak Indians whose population was chop-chop declining. They found a solution to this job inwards West Africans who were seen every bit defenseless, inferior to Europeans, pagans who needed to live enslaved
as well as larn nigh Christianity, as well as an inexpensive, profitable source of labor. Antislavery groups, however, challenged the morality as well as legality of slavery until slavery was declared illegal inwards England inwards 1772 yesteryear the British Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield (Meditz & Hanratty, 1987a). Despite this declaration, the actual slave merchandise continued on legally until its abolition inwards 1807. Meanwhile inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas some slave owners created manumission contracts for their slaves who could thereby piece of work to purchase their freedom. Other slave owners inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas remained opposed to the abolition of slavery based non only on religious convictions but also on economical need. Opponents argued that slaves were needed to maintain the plantation economic scheme inwards the production of cotton, tobacco, as well as carbohydrate as well as that inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas slaves were non beingness abused or overworked. Nonetheless, an human activity passed inwards 1833 inwards the British Parliament went into lawsuit on August 1, 1834 as well as forced the halt of slavery inwards the British Caribbean.
Following this legal change, the apprenticeship organisation was created inwards monastic say to facilitate the onset of freedom. So that plantations would non live instantly devoid of laborers, old slaves were forced to remain on the plantations for half dozen years patch their old owners were recompensed for “property” loss. However, the apprenticeship inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as well as other colonies came to an early on halt inwards 1838 (Meditz & Hanratty, 1987b).
Even after the British slave merchandise had ended as well as slavery as well as apprenticeship inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas had ceased, blacks (Africans) continued to live relocated to the Bahama Islands. In the 1820s, hundreds of American slaves as well as Black Seminoles escaped from Cape Florida to the Bahamas, settling mostly on northwest Andros Island, where they developed the hamlet of Red Bays. From eyewitness accounts, 300 escaped inwards a volume flying inwards 1823, aided yesteryear Bahamians inwards 27 sloops, with others using canoes for the journey. This was commemorated inwards 2004 yesteryear a large sign at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Some of their descendants proceed Black Seminole traditions inwards basketmaking as well as grave marking.
Africans, mostly slaves were seized from ships that had been captured or shipwrecked patch en route to America or Republic of Cuba where slaves were soundless beingness traded. Regarded every bit “liberated Africans,” they became indentured laborers for masters or mistresses who helped them go accustomed to their novel surroundings yesteryear teaching them a merchandise or handicrafts. In 1818, the Home Office inwards London had ruled that "any slave brought to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas from exterior the British West Indies would live manumitted." This led to a total of nearly 300 slaves owned yesteryear U.S. nationals beingness freed from 1830 to 1835. The American slave ships Comet as well as Encomium, used inwards its domestic coastwise slave trade, had wrecked off Abaco Island inwards Dec 1830 as well as Feb 1834, respectively. When wreckers took the masters, passengers as well as slaves into Nassau, customs officers seized the slaves as well as British colonial officials freed them, over the protests of the Americans. There were 165 slaves on the Comet as well as 48 on the Encomium. Britain paid an indemnity to the US inwards those ii cases, but only after lengthy delay.
British colonial officials also freed 78 American slaves from the Enterprise, which went into Bermuda inwards 1835; as well as 38 from the Hermosa, which wrecked off Abaco isle inwards 1840, after abolition was effective inwards August 1834. The most notable instance was that of the Creole inwards 1841, the final result of a slave revolt whose leaders ordered the American brig to Nassau. It was carrying 135 slaves from Virginia destined for sale inwards New Orleans. The Bahamian officials freed the 128 slaves who chose to rest inwards the islands. The Creole instance has been described every bit the "most successful slave revolt inwards US history".
These incidents, inwards which a total of 447 slaves belonging to American nationals were freed yesteryear 1842, increased tension betwixt the US of America as well as Great Britain, although they had been cooperating inwards patrols to suppress the international slave trade. Worried nigh the stability of its domestic slave merchandise as well as its value, the US argued that Britain should non care for its domestic ships that came to its colonial ports nether duress, every bit component of the international trade. The US worried that the success of the Creole's slaves inwards gaining liberty would encourage to a greater extent than slave revolts on merchant ships.
Modern political evolution began after the Second World War. The offset political parties were formed inwards the 1950s. The British Parliament authorized the islands every bit internally self-governing inwards 1964, with Sir Roland Symonette, of the United Bahamian Party, every bit the offset Premier.
In 1967, Lynden Pindling (Sir Lynden from 1983), of the Progressive Liberal Party, became the offset dark Premier of the colony; inwards 1968 the championship of the seat was changed to Prime Minister. In 1973, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became fully independent every bit a Commonwealth realm, retaining membership inwards the Commonwealth of Nations. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the offset Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (the official representative of Queen Elizabeth II) shortly after independence.
In May 2012, old Prime Minister Perry Christie led the Progressive Liberal Party dorsum to might yesteryear defeating Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s Free National Movement. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations.
Bahamian international supermodel as well as actress, Shakara Ledard in a corking pose for her Country
Bahamian Cultural Identity
As the pop maxim goes “to consummate your identity, you lot must select your ethnic affiliation,” The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has non experienced racial disharmony to the grade that has been witnessed inwards parts of American history as well as social development.
Like inwards America, however, race as well as ethnicity inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got as well as proceed to live used every bit a way of distinguishing peoples residing inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas (although Bahamians seat themselves yesteryear several factors such every bit sex, historic flow religious denomination or political affiliation).
No 1 black-and-white dichotomy exists with Bahamians. Rather, Glinton-Meicholas (1994), inwards her satirical description of Bahamian life, describes that:
"[h]ere, only 3 racial groups are accepted every bit true-true Bahamians: black,
conchy-joe, Long Island or Eleuthera red. We recognize ii groups of
‘Bahamians’: greeks as well as chinese as well as ii groups of ‘permanent residents’-
‘hyshuns’ as well as expatriates.
If you lot wishing to live a true-true Bahamian, beingness called ‘white’ is the osculation of death.
If nosotros telephone phone you lot ‘white’, it way that nosotros consider you lot a foreigner or a tourist (pp.
109-110)."
True truthful Bahamian, "King" Eric Gibson – entrepreneur as well as musician; semi-official Ambassador of Bahamian Goodwill.
According to Glinton-Meicholas (1994), Blacks, regardless of colour, may live anyone whose surname is a pop dark name, who works every bit a civil servant, or lives “over-the-hill.” Conchy-Joes, on the other hand, have got Caucasian physical features, comport pop surnames as well as heritage descending from the islands of Abaco or Northern Eleuthera, as well as ain successful businesses on Bay Street (a pop business organisation expanse historically known every bit dominated yesteryear non-blacks). In betwixt the hues associated with blacks as well as conchy-joes are those Bahamians whom Glinton-Meicholas (1994) has termed every bit Long Island or Eleuthera Red (or only “red” every bit by as well as large described yesteryear most Bahamians). These Bahamians “are of the [C]aucasian persuasion, but have got unopen relatives who appear to have got to a greater extent than java than cream inwards their genetic brew,” have got surnames as well as heritage descending from Long Island or Eleuthera, as well as are known for having a rigid piece of work ethic.
Apart from those sub-groups of “true-true Bahamians” described above, are “Bahamians” whose origins tin live to a greater extent than clearly traced to farther, unusual regions, especially Asia as well as Greece, rather than instantly traced to 1 of the Bahamian islands. Because of this divergence inwards roots, persons of Asian or Greek descent are non by as well as large considered every bit “true-true Bahamians.”
Lenny Kravitz, actor, multi-instrumentalist, music arranger, tape producer as well as stone singer-songwriter; boy of Bahamian woman Roxie Roker
Besides “true-true Bahamians” as well as “Bahamians” are those who are by as well as large non considered to belong to The Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards whatsoever way, regardless of their economical or social contributions or the amount of years spent living inwards this country. These persons are usually categorized every bit “hyshuns” (Haitians, pronounced inwards a cast of Bahamian dialect) as well as expatriates (persons from other countries, especially North America as well as Europe) who descend from none of the Bahamian islands.
Nassau-Born Bahamian, Dr. Myles Munroe the president as well as founder of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI)and Myles Munroe International (MMI), a Christian growth as well as resources centre that includes leadership preparation institutes, a missions agency, a publishing company, a television set network, radio as well as Web communications, as well as a church building community.( He is principal executive officeholder as well as chairman of the board of the International Third World Leaders Association as well as president of the International Leadership Training Institute. He is the author of 23 books as well as is a motivational speaker)
Expatriates are often viewed yesteryear “true truthful Bahamians” every bit beingness detached from the remainder of the society yesteryear their refusal to associate themselves with ordinary Bahamian citizens. Negative stereotypes as well as a full general dislike of “hyshuns” with many Bahamians have got lent to the exclusion of Haitians inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas every bit belonging to the collective ideal of beingness Bahamian. These
stereotypes are based on the see that the influx of piteous Haitian immigrants has strained the occupation marketplace seat as well as social services offered yesteryear the government.
Etta Cameron, Bahamian as well as a jazz singer; based inwards Denmark; front-runner of the Danish 1970s as well as 1980s music scene
As a cultural insider, Glinton-Meicholas (1994) has captured the see of how average Bahamians by as well as large seat themselves as well as others residing inwards The Bahamas.
In her addition of ethnic identification with Bahamians, she describes that:
"Like most Bahamian attitudes, race relations inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got ii faces. On
the 1 hand, 1 of the virtues of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a grade of racial harmony,
unheard of elsewhere inwards this world. We tin socialize together inwards public places,
as well as piece of work together with noticeable goodwill. On the other hand, patch nosotros cook
peas as well as rice together inwards the same pot, the ii remain quite separate, but together
create a dish that does non appall the tum (Glinton-Meicholas, 1994, p. 124)."
The interaction with Bahamians of dissimilar racial/ethnic backgrounds has undoubtedly affected the formation of Bahamian cultural identity as well as how this topic is by as well as large approached; so, too, has the distribution of the world around the archipelago. In the instance of The Bahamas, the islands non only render a request of reference for determining one’s “Bahamianness” as well as roots, but also influence how Bahamian civilization is expressed on each isle due to variations inwards geographical province of affairs as well as access to resources.
Moreover, non only do Bahamians’ perceptions of themselves influence the way they
culturally seat themselves, but also their internalization of foreigners’ perceptions of
them, namely tourists.
Economy
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations. Tourism generates nigh one-half of all jobs as well as accounts for to a greater extent than than lx per centum of GDP. Financial as well as business organisation services business organisation human relationship for to a greater extent than than one-third of GDP. Due to its geographic location, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas often serves every bit a major transshipment request for drug smugglers as well as illegal aliens seeking to acquire inwards the United States.
The Bahamas’ economical liberty score is 69.8, making its economic scheme the 36th freest inwards the 2014 Index. Its overall score has decreased yesteryear 0.3 point, with a notable turn down inwards liberty from corruption outweighing a gain inwards merchandise freedom. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is the fourth freest out of 29 countries inwards the South as well as Central America/Caribbean region, as well as its overall score remains higher than the regional as well as world averages.
Successful Bahamian Tourist economy: 5-Day Commonwealth of the Bahamas & Key West Cruise from Jacksonville Carnival Cruise Line
Over the 20-year history of the Index, The Bahamas’ economical liberty has deteriorated yesteryear 2 points. Although the score for merchandise liberty has improved yesteryear over thirty points, declines have got occurred inwards half dozen of the 10 economical freedoms, notably belongings rights as well as business organisation freedom, which plummeted xx points or more. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas had been a “mostly free” economic scheme during the offset fifteen years but has been on a declining path of economical liberty since 2009 as well as has dropped into the ranks of the “moderately free” inwards the 2014 Index.
The isle economic scheme is equipped with a dynamic fiscal sector as well as has a competitive revenue enhancement regime. There are no personal income or corporate taxes. However, a piteous investment framework, characterized yesteryear regime interference as well as lingering corruption, continues to undermine the Bahamas’ overall economical liberty as well as long-term prospects for broader-based economical expansion.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has some of the world’s lowest revenue enhancement rates, with no private or corporate income taxes or value-added taxes (VATs). Instead, the regime imposes national insurance taxes, belongings taxes, tariffs, as well as a postage stamp tax. The overall revenue enhancement burden is 16.4 per centum of gross domestic output. Government spending is 23 per centum of the total economy, as well as public debt amounts to nigh 50 per centum of GDP.
An efficient regulatory framework by as well as large facilitates business organisation formation as well as productivity growth, but the absence of major regulatory reforms inwards recent years has undermined the Bahamas’ international competitiveness. Hiring as well as dismissal regulations are non burdensome, as well as the influence of unions is limited. The regime influences domestic prices for such “breadbasket” items every bit medicines, gasoline, as well as crude oil gas.
Disney Cruise Line’s Nassau Commonwealth of the Bahamas Excursions
Commercial Activities. Most consumer goods are imported. Farming is unimportant except for a pocket-sized amount of subsistence gardening inwards out-island settlements.
Commercial farming of cotton, pineapples, as well as sisal has had fiddling success. Commercial angling is moderately important, with most of the remove take hold of frozen as well as exported. Sponge angling is nearly defunct. Cottage industries that make straw, shells, as well as wooden items cater to local residents as well as tourists. Hotels, casinos, restaurants, as well as sport angling businesses are common.
Major Industries. Manufacturing is unimportant except for a few oil refineries as well as pocket-sized factories. Offshore banking as well as finance are of import because favorable revenue enhancement as well as corporate laws have got been established as well as widely promoted.
Trade. Most consumer goods are imported. Goods such every bit pharmaceuticals, rum, crawfish as well as cement are exported. The major trading partners are the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Canada.
Tourists inwards The Bahamas. Courtesy bahamasphotographer.net
Division of Labor
The regime is the largest employer. Out-island children piece of work with their parents or grandparents when they are non inwards schoolhouse or at play. In towns as well as cities, children from poorer families may piece of work every bit street vendors or do strange jobs. Some occupations are unionized, as well as unions are an of import force. Skilled trades such every bit fishing, carpentry, as well as masonry piece of work tend to live theatre unit of measurement specializations. Small businesses transcend from generation to generation within families.
Social Stratification
Classes as well as Castes. The upper cast consists of wealthy business organisation owners, corporate managers, professionals, high-ranking regime officials, as well as some unusual citizens. Historically, this cast was composed of Britons, white Bahamians, light-skinned Bahamians of mixed race, as well as a few Americans as well as Canadians. Most were self-consciously British inwards spoken language as well as behavior. The upper cast today includes many to a greater extent than residents of African ancestry. Emulation of the old colonial elite is less common.
The middle cast consists of pocket-sized business organisation owners, some professionals, civil servants, as well as lower-level corporate managers. Most members of this cast are of African ancestry, but some are of European as well as Asian ancestry. Degrees from Bahamian as well as American colleges are increasingly common. The lower cast is the nation's largest as well as includes roughly equal numbers of urban as well as out isle residents. Almost all the members of this cast are of African ancestry. Lower-class Bahamians include fishermen, farmers, laborers, skilled tradespeople, as well as others who do low-status physical work. Some have got high schoolhouse diplomas, but many have got lower levels of educational attainment as well as are perceived every bit piteous but respectable. The lowest stratum is an underclass that consists of the chronically unemployed as well as Haitian refugees. Most members of the underclass live inwards the to the lowest degree desirable as well as "respectable" sections of the Nassau metropolitan area. They are found inwards smaller numbers inwards some out-island communities. Few have got a high schoolhouse diploma.
Symbols of Social Stratification. The distinction betwixt old coin as well as novel coin is non critically important. University degrees, especially from private institutions inwards Britain as well as the United States, are common. Most upper-class residents are inwards the exclusive neighborhoods of Nassau, although some have got additional homes inwards the out islands or abroad. Middle-class people live inwards "respectable" Nassau neighborhoods or out-island settlements. Many regularly wing to Florida for shopping as well as entertainment.
Political Life
Government. The Commonwealth is a constitutional, parliamentary republic with universal suffrage for citizens historic flow 18 as well as older. The British monarch is recognized every bit the caput of province as well as is represented yesteryear the governor-general, but executive might is vested inwards the prime number minister. Primary legislative say-so resides with an elected House of Assembly as well as an appointed Senate. The judicial organisation includes magistrates' courts, the Supreme Court, as well as the Court of Appeals. Local regime is an extension of the federal regime with direction inwards the hands of appointed district commissioners.
Leadership as well as Political Officials. There are ii major political parties: the Free National Movement (FNM) as well as the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Ideologically, both parties are centrist, with the PLP somewhat to the left of the FNM on most social issues. The personalities of politicians as well as their relationships with constituents are to a greater extent than of import than political philosophy. Most people elected to the House of Assembly since independence have got been middle-aged men of African ancestry with academy degrees as well as successful careers inwards constabulary and/or business. House members demand non reside inwards their districts but unremarkably see frequently. Political officials are expected to live accessible to their constituents through component visits as well as the mail.
Angelique Sabrina, Bahamian as well as a teenage actor, dancer as well as singer-songwriter
The archipelago is the in conclusion staging expanse for thousands of annual shipments of illegal drugs from South America as well as the Caribbean Area to North America. Although illegal as well as viewed every bit a social job yesteryear many people, the drug merchandise is tolerated because it provides income. Money laundering as well as related international crimes are widely viewed every bit beneficial as well as are non criminalized. Crimes such every bit assault, robbery, as well as homicide are dealt with routinely. Vigilante groups be but are non an of import aspect of social control.
Gender Roles as well as Statuses
Division of Labor yesteryear Gender. Legally, women have got equal condition nether the law, but men tend to dominate the higher-income as well as higher condition positions inwards the public as well as private sectors. Men dominate angling as well as other maritime endeavors, the edifice trades, as well as the shipping industry.
Bahamian people
The Relative Status of Women as well as Men. Urban women have got many career opportunities as well as are non discriminated against inwards obvious ways. Women dominate fields such every bit nursing, simple schoolhouse teaching, as well as component work. Out-island women tend to live farmers, shopkeepers, arts and crafts specialists, as well as domestics when they are employed. Many self-identify every bit "housekeepers."
Afro-Bahamian Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress, vocaliser as well as model. She is the only kid of instrumentalist Lenny Kravitz as well as actress Lisa Bonet
Marriage, Family, as well as Kinship
Marriage. Marriages are monogamous. In many out-island settlements, the options are union as well as extra-residential unions. In larger towns as well as cities, consensual unions exist. People are costless to select their spouses. Church weddings follow brief engagements. In principle, 1 should non get married a blood relative, but inwards pocket-sized communities marriages betwixt kin to a greater extent than distantly related than offset cousins are common.
A Nassau Commonwealth of the Bahamas wedding ceremony Bahamian trend is the Day 5 characteristic of Commonwealth of the Bahamas Destination's Commonwealth of the Bahamas wedding
In white-dominated out-island settlements, interracial marriages are stigmatized. Both partners are expected to contribute financially to a marriage. Divorces are available, although many couples only drift apart as well as never legally terminate the union. There is no stigma attached to remarriage. H5N1 sexual double touchstone exists inwards which women are supposed to live chaste until union as well as faithful during union whereas men are expected to have got premarital as well as extramarital affairs. Men are widely seen every bit inherently promiscuous.
Domestic Unit. The ideal is the nuclear theatre unit of measurement household. In cases of extramarital unions, consensual unions, divorce, death, as well as abandonment, matrifocal households are common. In poorer out-island settlements, parents may motion to urban areas to work, leaving their children inwards the attention of grandparents. In nuclear theatre unit of measurement households, say-so tends to live evenly divided betwixt the married adult man as well as the wife.
Inheritance. Sons as well as daughters inherit from both parents. Inherited belongings includes land, houses, boats, as well as household goods. Wills may favor 1 heir over another, but this is uncommon, especially inwards the out islands.
Kin Groups. No formal kin groups larger than the theatre unit of measurement exist. Adult siblings tend to seem after each other's interests as well as oft operate shops or angling vessels together.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Atlantis Palm Point Beach Wedding. Courtesy www.markdacunha.com
Socialization
Infant Care. Infants are cared for yesteryear their mothers. Both bottle feeding as well as breast-feeding are accepted. Infants slumber inwards the parents' chamber except with the to a greater extent than affluent, where a separate room is available. Infants are carried inwards the arms, as well as babe carriages are used. Caregivers attempt to calm crying or otherwise agitated infants.
Child Rearing as well as Education. shopping as well as household chores. Boys may piece of work with their fathers but are often costless to play. Boys are taught to live fun-loving as well as independent, patch girls are expected to live responsible as well as to remain nether unopen theatre unit of measurement scrutiny. Corporal penalty as well as threats are common. The literacy charge per unit of measurement is nigh ninety percent, as well as public teaching is available through local simple schools as well as regional secondary schools. Private schools inwards Nassau are available to wealthier families. In public schools, rote learning is common.
Higher Education. Since independence, higher teaching has been stressed. The College of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards Nassau as well as numerous technical schools render higher education, although unusual universities are pop with the to a greater extent than affluent.
Nassau, Commonwealth of the Bahamas - Junkanooers as well as revellers relish the Independence People's Junkanoo Rush on Bay Street Sabbatum morning, July 11, next the Fri dark celebrations on Clifford Park to score The Bahamas' 37th
Religion
Religious Beliefs. Most residents are churchgoing Christians. About 80 per centum are Protestant, as well as xx per centum are Roman Catholic. The largest Protestant denominations are Baptist as well as Anglican. In line with their West African belief organisation some Bahamians staunch devotees of Obeah. Obeah is an West African belief system brought to the Caribbeans yesteryear African slaves mostly of Akan ethnicity. The Obeah belief is what is known every bit Akom to the Akans. It has chemical element of bush (herbal) medicine exercise as well as it has been practiced since the times of slavery inwards the Bahamas. It is soundless used today to cure many diseases, using local plants.
Religious Practitioners. Large congregations are led yesteryear ordained ministers as well as priests, patch pocket-sized congregations are led yesteryear unordained preachers. Obeah men are part-time specialists whose activities include placing as well as removing curses, communicating with spirits, as well as giving spiritual advice.
Rituals as well as Holy Places. Most rituals are Christian services as well as are held inwards churches. Immersion baptisms as well as revival meetings are held outdoors. Some Christian services include glossolalia, spirit possession, as well as religious belief healing. Obeah rituals tend to live pocket-sized as well as private.
Death as well as the Afterlife
The dead are placed inwards simple pino coffins, as well as wakes are held at home. The wealthy purchase to a greater extent than expensive coffins as well as utilization funeral parlors. Funerals are held inwards churches, as well as burials are inwards churchyards or public cemeteries. It is believed that souls go to sky or hell, but some believe that ghosts wander earlier reaching their ultimate destination.
The Bahamians
Medicine as well as Health Care
There is 1 large infirmary inwards Nassau, as well as over a hundred regime clinics are scattered elsewhere. An air ambulance service transports out islanders to the infirmary inwards emergencies. There are nigh twelve-hundred people per physician, but nurses as well as paramedics often serve every bit primary attention professionals, especially inwards remote settlements. "Bush medicine" (herbal treatments) is soundless found, but its popularity is declining.
Food
Food inwards Daily Life. Typical meals for urban residents consist of fruits as well as vegetables, meat or fish, bread, as well as rice. Out islanders tend to eat to a greater extent than fresh fruit, vegetables, as well as fish. The ii national dishes are conch, an easily collected bounding main snail, rice, as well as peas. Poor people eat these foods because they are inexpensive as well as readily available; the to a greater extent than affluent relish them every bit "heritage foods."
A waitress from Joe's Bar as well as Grill served the establishment's specialty, Nellie's Bahamian Conch Fritters at a media reception for Jeffrey Poitier on Apr 24th, 2009. Photo: Lyndah Wells.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Holiday meals tend to centre on local fish or conch, rice as well as peas, baked goods, as well as fresh fruit. Bahamian rum, local as well as imported beer, soft drinks, tea, as well as java are regularly consumed.
Music of the Bahamas
The music of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is associated primarily with junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day as well as over again on New Year's Day. Parades as well as other celebrations score the ceremony. Groups similar The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler as well as Kirkland Bodie have got gained massive popularity inwards Japan, the US of America as well as other places.
Calypso
Calypso is a trend of Afro-Caribbean music which originated inwards Trinidad as well as Tobago. This cast of music has spread through many parts of the Caribbean, including the The Bahamas.
Soca
Soca is a cast of trip the lite fantastic music which originated from many calypso music. It originally combined the melodic lilting audio of calypso with insistent percussion (which is often electronic inwards recent music) as well as local chutney music. Soca music has evolved inwards the in conclusion xx years primarily yesteryear musicians from diverse Anglophone Caribbean Area countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Saint Vincent as well as the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua as well as Barbuda, US of America Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Kitts as well as Nevis, Jamaica as well as Belize.
The 'Baha Men' are an English linguistic communication band playing a modernized trend of Bahamian Music called Junkanoo. Winners of the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, as well as a Grammy every twelvemonth since for “Most Random Song Inexplicably Still Played At Sporting Events Free Of Irony” (a co-award shared with “Cotton-Eye Joe”).
Junkanoo
The give-and-take junkanoo is said to live derived from a Ghanaian leader, John Connu, or from the Qujo supreme deity (Canno) as well as ancestral spirits (jannanin). The junkanoo was formerly practiced inwards North Carolina as well as remnants soundless be inwards Belize. It is most good known, though, from Nassau as well as Freeport. Since the 1950s the influence of American civilization has increased, mainly through TV as well as radio broadcasts from Florida stations, as well as other Caribbean Area styles have got made inroads: calypso, reggae as well as soca, from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, as well as other islands. Tourism has also had an impact, bringing inwards Japanese, European as well as North Americans with their attendant forms of cultural expression. In this milieu to a greater extent than traditional Commonwealth of the Bahamas performers such every bit Joseph Spence, have got soundless enjoyed successful careers playing junkanoo, Christian hymns as well as the ant'ems of the local sponge fisherman, which include "Sloop John B", afterward made famous yesteryear The Beach Boys.
Junkanoo celebration inwards Nassau
Junkanoo's origins are obscure as well as much-debated. Researchers similar E. Clement Bethel have got studied the number extensively, as well as probable conclusions include that African slaves were allowed celebrations only around Christmas-time, as well as chose to celebrate John Connu, a headman from 18th century Africa. Another theory is that the term derives from scrap metallic or other objects (junk) used to create the distinctive goombay drum. Similar celebrations 1 time existed cross the Caribbean Area as well as inwards North Carolina, but are at nowadays virtually extinct except inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as well as Belize.
Junkanoo costume, Boxing Day Parade, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
In 1973, the twelvemonth the Commonwealth of the Bahamas achieved independence from the United Kingdom, dark professionals of the middle as well as upper classes began to dominate junkanoo celebrations. Costuming as well as competitions became to a greater extent than complex as well as commonplace, as well as presently became a tourist draw.
Aside from beingness a type of drum, goombay is also a percussion music made famous yesteryear Alphonso 'Blind Blake' Higgs, who played to tourists arriving at Nassau International Airport for several years. Rake-and-scrape music is a unique type of instrumental music made yesteryear bending a saw as well as scraping with a pocket-sized object, most typically a screwdriver; it is used to accompany dances derived from European forms similar polka as well as waltz. Rake-and-scrape's popularity has been declining inwards recent years, but performers similar Lassie Do as well as the Boys proceed to hold the tradition alive. Christian rhyming spirituals as well as the ant'ems of sponge fisherman are at nowadays mostly dead traditions, decimated yesteryear the arrival of pop music, a 1930s sponge blight as well as other causes.
E. Clement Bethel's master's thesis on traditional Bahamian music was adapted for the phase yesteryear his daughter, Nicolette Bethel as well as Philip A. Burrows. Music of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was offset performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe inwards 1991, as well as was revived inwards 2002 for fresh Bahamian audiences. H5N1 recording of that demo is available for sale from Ringplay Productions.
Bahamas
Rake as well as scrape
Main article: Rake as well as scrape music
Rake as well as scrape music comes from the musical traditions of the Turks as well as Caicos Islands, as well as is characterized yesteryear the utilization of a saw every bit the primary instrument. It was brought yesteryear immigrants from those islands from the 1920s to nigh the 1940s, who settled on Cat Island, as well as elsewhere. Rake as well as Scrape is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian Quadrille as well as the heel-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa as well as Europe. Many of these Turks as well as Caicos Islanders became some of the most famous musicians inwards the Bahamas. Many eventually moved dorsum to their homelands, bringing with them junkanoo. Turks as well as Caicos are at nowadays the instant domicile for junkanoo.
Junkanoo, Boxing Day Parade, Nassau, Bahamas
Organology of Instruments
Membranophones: The Goombay drum is main rhythmic element inwards rake-n-scrape. It is also referred to a goatskin drum, every bit the peel of a caprine animal was stretched over a wooden barrel. It is decorated yesteryear simple or complex geometric designs inwards brilliant colors. The drum is ever heated over give notice to retain its tone. In 1971, when manufacturers started shipping products inwards metallic barrels, Bahamians switched the drum to metal, slightly changing the tone of the drum.
"King" Eric Gibson – entrepreneur as well as musician; semi-official Ambassador of Bahamian Goodwill.
Idiophones: The main element that makes Rake-N-Scrape unique is the utilization of the Carpenter's Saw. This musical instrument is scraped with a blast or butter knife. Bent against the trunk of the participant as well as flexed, diverse timbral effects are obtained. In to a greater extent than modern music, the saw is replaced with maracas or a guiro.
Aerophones: The squeeze box is the element that adds the circular cast which enables dancers to trip the lite fantastic the band dance. This is of European descent. In to a greater extent than modern bands, it is replaced yesteryear an electrical guitar or electronic keyboard.
Arts
Straw weaving Traditional crafts include straw piece of work on islands (each 1 having a unique plaiting or braiding style) creating beautiful hats as well as baskets.
This science was useful when Bahamians led subsistence lifestyles, with baskets beingness used for carrying fruit as well as angling traps. Today, straw piece of work as well as wood carvings are produced as well as sold to tourists inwards Nassau's Straw Market.
Quilting: Quilting has been practiced on the isle of Castilian Wells for many generations.
Canvas art: Beautiful landscapes as well as the vibrant houses as well as peoples of the Bahamian archipelago have got inspired many artists, both native as well as foreign. Some notable Bahamian artists include Amos Ferguson (deceased), Eddie Minnis, Brent Malone (deceased), Jackson Burnside (deceased), John Beadle as well as John Cox.
Coral as well as stone art: Hand carvings from coral fine art as well as natural stone are cultivated from naturally occurring reef break-offs, beach erosions, outcrops, as well as shine rocks.
Bahamian creative mortal Khia Poitier is only xx years old, she's already made her score on the Bahamian fine art scene—and she's headed for large things
Secular Celebrations
Ten public holidays are recognized: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter, Whit Mon (seven weeks after Easter), Labor Day (first Fri inwards June), Independence Day (10 July), Emancipation Day (first Mon inwards August), Discovery Day (12 October), Christmas Day, as well as Boxing Day (26 December). Secular holidays tend to live celebrated with parades, speeches, as well as concerts.
Sport
Sport inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a pregnant component of Bahamian culture. The national sport is sloop sailing where Durward Knowles as well as Sloan Farrington picked upwards the offset Olympic medal (bronze) for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Durward Knowles also captured the country's offset Olympic Gold medal along with Cecil Cooke during the 1964 Summer Olympics inwards Sailing.
However the most pop spectator sports are those imported from US of America such every bit basketball, American Football as well as baseball game rather than Britain due to the country's unopen proximity to the United States. Unlike their other Caribbean Area counterparts where cricket has proven to live to a greater extent than popular. Cricket has been played inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas from 1846. It is the oldest sport beingness played inwards the province today. The only other sporting lawsuit that began earlier cricket was Equus caballus racing, which started inwards 1796. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Cricket Association was formed inwards 1936 every bit an organised body. From the 1940s – 1970s, cricket was played with many Bahamians. Commonwealth of the Bahamas is non apart of the West Indies Board, therefore players are non eligible to play for the West Indies cricket team.The slowly 1970s saw the game laid about to turn down inwards the province every bit teachers, who had previously come upwards from the UK with a passion for cricket were replaced yesteryear teachers who had been trained inwards the United States. The Bahamian Physical teaching teachers had no knowledge of the game as well as instead taught rail & field, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball as well as soccer where primary as well as high schools compete against each other. Today cricket is soundless enjoyed yesteryear a few locals as well as immigrants inwards the province usually from Jamaica, Guyana, Republic of Haiti as well as Barbados. Cricket is played on Saturdays as well as Sundays at Windsor Park as well as Haynes Oval.
Dexter Cambridge, Rick Fox as well as Ian Lockhart are a few Bahamians who joined Bahamian Mychal Thompson of the Los Angeles Lakers inwards the NBA ranks. Over the years American football game has go much to a greater extent than pop than association football, though non implemented inwards the high schoolhouse organisation yet. Leagues for teens as well as adults have got been developed yesteryear the Commonwealth of the Bahamas American Football Federation. However association football, commonly known every bit soccer inwards the country, is soundless a really pop sport with high schoolhouse students. Leagues are governed yesteryear the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Football Association. Recently the Bahamian regime has been working closely with the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. to promote the sport inwards the province every bit good every bit promoting the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards the European market. In 2013 the Spurs became the offset Premier League gild to play an exhibition tally inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to human face upwards the Jamaica national football game team. Joe Lewis the possessor of the Tottenham Hotspur gild is based inwards the Bahamas.
Other pop sports are swimming, lawn tennis as well as boxing where Bahamians have got enjoyed some flat of success at the international level. Other sports such every bit golf, rugby league, rugby union as well as beach soccer are considered growing sports. Athletics commonly known every bit rail as well as champaign inwards the province is the most successful sport yesteryear far with Bahamians. Bahamians have got a rigid tradition inwards the sprints as well as jumps. Track as well as champaign is in all probability the most pop spectator sport inwards the province side yesteryear side to basketball game due to their success over the years. Bahamians have got gone on to win numerous rail as well as champaign medals at The Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships inwards Athletics, Commonwealth Games as well as Pan American Games. Frank Rutherford is the offset athletics olympic medalist for the country. He won a bronze medal for triple saltation during the 1992 Summer Olympics. Pauline Davis-Thompson, Debbie Ferguson, Chandra Sturrup, Savatheda Fynes as well as Eldece Clarke-Lewis teamed upwards for the offset athletics Olympic Gold medal for the province when they won the 4x100m relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics. They are affectionately know every bit the "Golden Girls. Tonique Williams-Darling became the offset athletics private Olympic gilded medalist when she won the 400m sprint inwards 2004 Summer Olympics
Source:https://beardocs.baylor.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2104/5539/jennette_walkine_edd.pdf?sequence=1
http://danelliott.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/publication125_freetown.pdf
http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bahama-Islands.html
Costumed drummers celebrate the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration in
Nassau, Bahamas.
Lenny Kravitz is of Bahamian ancestry
Lenny Kravitz is of Bahamian ancestry
Simone Cameron. Woman of Bahamian ancestry
Bahamians: Etta Camerons as well as søn, Steve Cameron
Bahamian supermodel, Shakara Ledard
Retired NBA star Rick Fox has Bahamian ancestry
roughly 700 islands, rocks (islets), as well as cays, roofing nigh 100,000 foursquare miles inwards the western Atlantic Ocean, northward of Republic of Cuba as well as the Dominican Republic as well as Republic of Haiti (Hispaniola); northwest of the Turks as well as Caicos Islands; southeast of the U.S. province of Florida as well as E of the Florida Keys.
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE, is a Bahamian-American actor, cinema director, author as well as diplomat. In 1964, Poitier became the offset dark mortal to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, for his operate inwards Lilies of the Field.
After the American War of Independence, thousands of American Loyalists, taking their enslaved Africans, moved to the Bahamas, where the Americans prepare a plantation economy. After Britain abolished the international slave merchandise inwards 1807, the Royal Navy resettled many costless Africans liberated from illegal slave ships inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas during the 19th century. Hundreds of American slaves as well as Black Seminoles escaped to the islands from Florida, as well as nearly 500 were freed from American merchant ships inwards the domestic merchandise yesteryear the Royal Navy. Slavery inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was abolished inwards 1834. Today the descendants of slaves as well as costless Africans cast the bulk of the population; issues related to the slavery years are component of society. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas became an independent Commonwealth realm inwards 1973, retaining Queen Elizabeth II every bit its monarch.
Bahamian inwards his Junkanoo Parade as well as Festival costume at Nassau inwards The Bahamas
As at 2014, the Bahamas has an estimated population of 382,825, an increment from 2013`s approximate of 380,000. Out of this total population, about 85% are dark Africans of West African ancestry with the Europeans constituting 12%, whilst Asians as well as Latin Americans brand upwards the remaining 3%. Black-Bahamians are non a racially exclusive group, at that topographic point are Black Bahamians who have got European ancestry but seat only every bit black.
.Costumed dancers celebrate the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival-like celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas. Courtesy www.demotix.com
When it comes to the history of pop pirate genre inwards the world, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was known to live the rubber Haven for renowned pirates. The waters surrounding Grand Bahama Island were treacherous as well as especially therefore inwards the days of the sailing ship. Because it was hard to navigate the waters inwards the area, it was a favorite haven for pirates. Pirates were especially plentiful inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards the 17th century. After 1718 the pirates were subdued yesteryear Royal Governor Woodes Rodgers—himself a old pirate. Among the to a greater extent than notable pirates who frequented the waters as well as islands of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas were Steve Bonner, Anne Bonney, Joseph Burgess, Thomas Carter, William Catt, Arthur Davis, Benjamin Horngold, Captain William Kidd, Henry Morgan, Captain Jack Rackham (aka Calico Jack), Woodes Rodgers, Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard), Roger (Charles) Vane, as well as George Watling (Defoe as well as Johnson 1724; Stark 1891; Woodbury as well as Rogers 1951; Storr 2004; Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism 2007). Archaeological report of pirates as well as their settlements is a pop dependent area (Skrowronek as well as Ewen 2006).
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has the 3rd highest per capita income(richest country) inwards the western hemisphere (after the USA as well as Canada). Tourism is the primary economical activity, accounting for c.65% of the gross domestic production (GDP). The government’s electrical current economical thrust is to pose an anchor resort on each of the major Family Islands which volition have got huge implications for the biodiversity of these otherwise relatively untouched islands. Offshore finance is the nation’s instant largest industry, accounting for c.15% of GDP.
New Years Junkanoo Festival inwards Nassau Bahamas. Courtesy www.demotix.com
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got a heady combination – paradise islands, shimmering warm seas, perfect conditions as well as every bit many fun types of fishing. When it comes to Commonwealth of the Bahamas fishing, stand upwards yesteryear for some of the best sport angling on Earth. In fact celebrities such every bit Michael Keaton, Laurence Fishburne as well as author John Grisham are fans of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas angling as well as have got frequented Commonwealth of the Bahamas fabulous angling areas since fourth dimension immemorial. Author Ernest Hemingway lived on Bimini for several seasons inwards the 1930s, drawn yesteryear the incredible angling available inwards the Gulf Stream - that legendary “river” of warm H2O that rushes northward yesteryear The Bahamas. Fishing is ever-popular around the islands, with authors, celebrities, as well as everyone inwards between!
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas beach
In terms of diving, Bahamas "is your Heaven on Earth." Its diving playgrounds comprises warm seas of mesmerizing indigo, soft flour-white sand as well as ludicrously colourful coral reefs.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas also have got wonderful beaches that are beyond perfection. The beaches actually are those mirages of powdery white sand contrasting fantastically with the indigo sea, as well as leaning palms rustling inwards the cooling ‘trade’ breeze. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are blessed with non one, but ii types of sandy paradise. Most are the secluded, untouched sort of Commonwealth of the Bahamas beach, 'where your footprints experience similar the only ones to have got ever graced it; but nosotros also have got the type of beach that’s stunningly beautiful yet also has activities galore at your sun-kissed arm’s reach."
The famous Cable Beach on Nassau, inwards the northward of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is known for an effortlessly buzzing beach life of chilled beach bars as well as oodles of H2O sports. In fact, inwards precisely 1 of many picture-perfect Commonwealth of the Bahamas beaches inwards the part you lot tin live endlessly entertained yesteryear windsurfing, parasailing, fishing, wake-boarding, fine dining…"
In terms of gross domestic production per capita, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the richest countries inwards the Americas (following the US of America as well as Canada)
Bahamas Junkanoo Festival
Bahamian civilization is a hybrid of African, European, as well as other cultures. While English linguistic communication is the official linguistic communication of the Bahamas, a vast bulk of the population speaks Bahamian Dialect. In Bahamian dialect, some African (Akan, Kongo, Yoruba, Fulani etc) words as well as expressions have got been retained. Various West African peoples contributed musical instruments as well as styles, forms of dance, religious concepts, folktales, theatre unit of measurement patterns, as well as linguistic influences. In terms of folktales, West African Akan Anansi or Anancy (spider) story is ever-popular with the Bahamians precisely similar all the other Caribbean Area nations.
Musicians warm upwards earlier taking component celebrating the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas.Courtesy www.demotix.com
The Akan presence, especially that of the coastal Akan Fante people is really visible as well as is popularized inwards a cast of Junkanoo festival. Junkanoo is the corruption of the call of a Fante adult man called John Kweenu (John Quainoo) whom the whose call became John Connu with the Bahamians. John Connu (Quainoo), a headman or Fante leader, brought that Fante traditional zombie-like costume wears they pose upwards inwards every Fante festival to the New World. "Junkanoo" is a Mardi Gras-like celebration that is held on several secular holidays. The celebrations combine music, costume, dance, revelry, pride inwards the African cultural heritage, recognition of slave resistance to authority, as well as the unity of the people. Junkanoo "gangs" compete for prestige as well as cash prizes. Tourism officials have got transformed these ceremonies into events that pull thousands of visitors. Organizers, scholars, as well as participants refer to Junkanoo every bit a social establishment that binds the people to each other as well as to their past.
Jonkanoo celebration inwards Island of Abaco, The Bahamas
Geography as well as Climate
The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an archipelago of c.700 islands as well as c.2000 cays as well as rocks extending over 1100 km inwards length. The archipelago, which lies northward as well as E of Cuba, runs from E of the southern halt of Florida (USA), southeast until it terminates at the Turks as well as Caicos Islands (to the UK) which are geologically a continuation of the islands.
The closest isle to the US of America is Bimini, which is also known every bit the gateway to the Bahamas. The province lies betwixt latitudes 20° as well as 28°N, as well as longitudes 72° as well as 80°W as well as is non geographically located inwards the Caribbean, despite the mutual belief that it is.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are exposed parts of a limestone platform that is divided into several shallow banks. Little Bahama Bank is located along the northern coasts of Grand Bahama as well as encompasses all of Abaco as well as its North Atlantic offshore rocks as well as cays. The Great Bahama Bank (which is rich inwards marine life) stretches from northward of the Biminis as well as Berry Islands, southward to hug the southern shoreline of New Providence as well as the western shores of Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island as well as the Ragged Islands. The Cay Sal Bank (which is biologically impoverished) is located at the extreme western bounding main border of The Bahamas, really unopen to Cuba.
The islands of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are depression as well as apartment with ridges that usually ascent to no to a greater extent than than 15–20 m. However, at that topographic point are needlelike slopes nether water, betwixt as well as within the convoluted banks. The Tongue of the Ocean is a 30-km broad trench betwixt New Providence as well as Andros which drops to depths of 2000 m. The islands have got no rivers or streams as well as the soil is fertile but thin, as well as often lodged inwards shallows as well as “banana holes” within the harsh limestone rock. H5N1 freshwater lens exists unopen to the surface, resting on the underlying salt-water.
bahamas beaches. Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort as well as Offshore Island Nassau.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas are often divided, ecologically, into 3 regions: Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Grand Bahama, Biminis, Berry Islands, Abacos, North Andros, as well as New Providence) where all the larger islands are covered primarily yesteryear Caribbean Area pino (Pinus caribaea) woodland (with a broadleaf shrub as well as palm understorey), although much of this woodland was logged inwards the mid-twentieth century; Central Commonwealth of the Bahamas (South Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, the Exumas, Ragged Islands, Long Island, Rum Cay, Conception Island as well as San Salvador), inwards which the islands are covered primarily inwards broadleaf “coppice”- a dense, depression semi-evergreen forest; as well as Southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas (Crooked Island, Acklins Island, Samana Cay, Mayaguana, Little as well as Great Inagua), where the islands are drier as well as back upwards dry out shrubland. New Providence, inwards spite of beingness 1 of the smaller islands, is domicile to c.69% of the Bahamian population as well as the nation’s capital. Grand Bahama is instant only to New Providence inwards terms of development, as well as it supports 16% of the population. It is also domicile to the longest underwater cave organisation inwards the world.
Relaxing on the beach - Great Exuma, Bahamas: Beach chairs overlook the turquoise waters off the coast of Great Exuma isle inwards the Bahamas.
The remainder of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas islands are called the “Family Islands” which are sparsely populated as well as retain their natural beauty. Of these Family Islands, Great as well as Little Abaco (and its cays) are considered “the sailing working capital missive of the alphabet of the world”, as well as the islands have got a booming tourist trade.
Andros is the largest isle inwards the Bahamas, with extensive creeks, interlacing channels, bays, bights as well as inlets. It is also domicile to many bluish holes as well as every bit a final result is renowned for its cave-diving.
Inagua is the southernmost isle inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas with the nation’s only Ramsar site—Inagua National Park—which is domicile to over 40,000 Caribbean Area Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) as well as many other waterbirds. The companionship Morton Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ltd. produces common salt from the salinas at 1 halt of Lake Rosa (which occupies c.30% of the island). Morton is 1 of the largest common salt producers inwards North America.
The small town history of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is convoluted as well as often dissimilar on each island. Plantations were established on some of the islands during the slowly 18th century, as well as largescale agriculture was trialed inwards the mid-20th century when much of remaining virgin pino forests inwards the Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas were logged. Subsequent evolution (especially on New Providence as well as Grand Bahama, but also locally on the other inhabited islands) has had a profound negative impact on the surrounding habitats. The climate of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, as well as is moderated significantly yesteryear the waters of the Gulf Stream which keeps the islands warmer than Florida inwards the wintertime as well as cooler inwards the summer. Summer is the rainy flavour with June as well as Oct the wettest months.
However, the Southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas only acquire one-half the rainfall that the northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas receive. The islands are oft striking yesteryear hurricanes; for example, Hurricane Andrew inwards 1992, Floyd inwards 1999, Frances as well as Jeanne inwards 2004, as well as Wilma inwards 2005. Low-pressure systems associated with tropical waves as well as resulting inwards rigid winds as well as drenching pelting are a regular characteristic inwards the Bahamas.
Awesome fish inwards the waters of Commonwealth of the Bahamas every bit captured yesteryear a diver
Language
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas utilization English linguistic communication every bit their primary as well as official language. Regional as well as class-related Bahamian dialects which vary from "Standard English" with the urban elite to "Bahamian English" with the poorer people. There are finely nuanced differences inwards vocabulary as well as pronunciation from isle to island. "French Creole" is spoken yesteryear immigrants from Haiti. Those immigrants often are able to converse inwards heavily accented English, but few have got been formally educated inwards the language.
Parade of Bahamian Queens: Miss International Bahamas- Carlrita Robinson, Miss Progress Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Lakindes Brown, Miss Teen Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Myah Walker, Miss Teen Universal Commonwealth of the Bahamas – Alexcia Sargeant as well as Miss Teen international Commonwealth of the Bahamas - Tazhamoye Cummings.
Although English linguistic communication vocabulary serves every bit the main reason for Bahamian communication, African grammer rules as well as structural tendencies are often applied during usage. This synthesis of linguistic forms has led many Bahamians to see Bahamian dialect every bit an impure cast of Standard English, although English linguistic communication itself is non a pure homogenous linguistic communication but, instead, a conglomeration of dialects. Regardless, Bahamian dialect is widely considered to live “bad English” or “broken English.”
This is demonstrated inwards the dissimilar pronunciations of words every bit Glinton-Meicholas (2000) illustrates:
"Consider the instance of the pronunciation of the vowel cluster inwards the give-and-take ‘rain’ in
the Bahamas. Many Bahamians phonation it every bit a long ‘a’. For others, the people of
Andros inwards particular, ‘rain’ rhymes with ‘seen’, as well as for Cat Islanders, it echoes
‘men’, except the vowel audio is of slightly longer duration (p. 2)."
Such differences inwards spoken language patterns inevitably are reflected inwards spelling patterns ofBahamian dialect. The words “give me,” for example, may live represented inwards text every bit “gimme” or “gimma” the give-and-take “the” every bit “de” or “der,” as well as “Lord” every bit “lud” (Munroe,2000). Variations inwards the written spelling of dialect are possible due to the fact that no in conclusion say-so exists to stipulate how dialect words are to live spelt. This province of affairs is the instance for most of the Caribbean Area islands, such every bit Jamaica, where no touchstone spelling organisation for the native Creole linguistic communication exists.
Let remove seem at how Bahamian dialect seem similar inwards the skit written yesteryear Ena Campbell (as cited in
Jack et al., 2003, p. 28-29) is included inwards the text:
True, truthful Bahamian
Characters Andy, Deon
Setting Lunchtime inwards the classroom
Andy Deon, les go exterior to eat nosotros tiffin over dere on da bench.
Deon No, I am staying within therefore I tin eat at my desk.
Andy You tink you lot domicile eh? Ain nuttin incorrect wit eatin outside.
Deon I am non used to eating outside.
Andy Boy you lot ain born on the isle eh? Note: (Island hither way theatre unit of measurement of islands inwards Bahamas)
Deon No, as well as I don’t speak the way they do either.
Andy So you lot don know bout eatin cassava, banana, spud as well as dilly and
bread. See my lunch.
(Opens brownish newspaper bag.)
You wan some?
Deon What’s that, banana as well as breadstuff for lunch?
Andy Yes, boy, you lot say you lot born hither but you lot ain no Bahamian if you
never eat dis.
Deon Yes I am Bahamian.
Andy You don fifty-fifty speak similar us.
Deon Because I speak properly.
Andy I could speak properly also you lot know, inwards ii language.
Deon Two languages?
Andy Yes, Bahamianese as well as English.
Deon What’s Bahamianese?
Andy The same way me as well as da res a der chirren does talk. Das we
language.
Deon I don’t understand.
Andy Yeh, you lot understand. Any true, truthful Bahamian does speak it all
the time. We only speak English linguistic communication when necessary.
Deon I telephone phone that bad speaking.
Andy Well, das how us Bahamian does speak as well as it ain no bad.
Deon Why? You don’t know how to speak English
Andy Errybody does speak English, but only dey does also speak dere
native linguistic communication or dialect.
Deon Oh! So ‘le nosotros go’ is actually ‘let’s go’ as well as ‘gimme’ is actually ‘give
me’!
Andy See, I know you lot could speak similar we, is component a ya culture. Das how
other people over da worl know us. The way nosotros talk, da way we
trip the lite fantastic quadrille, nosotros Junkanoo as well as enough more.
Deon I tink I ga start talking Bahamianese today as well as speak English linguistic communication only
when necessary.
Andy Das right, at nowadays come upwards les go play outside.
(Both boys go out singing ‘If ya born dere, ya born dere’.)
True Bahamian adult woman of Nassau
History
Historically, the Lucayan, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taino people were the offset inhabitants of The Bahamas. These Lucayan-Tainos moved into the uninhabited southern Commonwealth of the Bahamas from Hispaniola as well as Republic of Cuba around the 11th century AD, having migrated at that topographic point from South America, Venezuela. Archaeological investigation Lucayan sites on Grand Bahama Island including cave burials as well as opened upwards air habitation sites have got shown their early on existence. In his 2007 published piece of work entitled "Archaeological Testing of Freetown Cemetery as well as Reconnaissance of Freetown, Grand Bahama Island," Daniel T. Elliott has this to say: "Regarding the Lucayan as well as other aboriginal settlements on Grand Bahama Island, the next summary data is provided:
"Skulls, bones, as well as artifacts have got been found inwards the caves at the Lucayan National Park. In western Grand Bahama Island, Deadman’s Reef, a pop snorkeling reef, is domicile to 1 of the most of import local archaeological sites discovered to date. The Lucayan Indians were thought to live some of the early on dwellers of Grand Bahama Island—and a recent dig along the eroding beachfront of Deadman’s Reef helped to answer many questions."
Unearthed from the dig were many artifacts belonging to the Lucayan Indians, including hearths, creature bones, pottery pieces, as well as shell beads. This uncovering was dated dorsum to around 1200 to 1300 A.D.
Bahamians inwards Florida
Along with this site, the bones of pre-Columbian Lucayans were found inwards an underwater cave system, indicating an ancient burial site. Both of these discoveries helped to confirm that the Lucayans were with the offset settlers of Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas.com 2007)."
The offset Europeans to acquire inwards in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was Castilian explorer Christopher Columbus as well as his crew of sailors. It is said that an estimated 30,000 Lucayan inhabited the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the fourth dimension of Christopher Columbus' arrival inwards 1492. Columbus' offset landfall inwards the New World was on an isle named San Salvador (known to the Lucayan every bit Guanahani), which some researchers believe to live present-day San Salvador Island (also known every bit Watling's Island), situated inwards the southeastern Bahamas.
An alternative theory holds that Columbus landed to the southeast on Samana Cay, according to calculations made inwards 1986 yesteryear National Geographic author as well as editor Joseph Judge, based on Columbus' log. Evidence inwards back upwards of this remains inconclusive. On the landfall island, Columbus made offset contact with the Lucayans as well as exchanged goods with them.
Whatever live the case, the novel Castilian arrivals raid the isle as well as forced much of the Lucayan population to Hispaniola for utilization every bit forced labour; together with suffering from exposure to diseases to which they had no immunity, they suffered high fatalities. The population of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was severely diminished. Half of the Tainos were killed yesteryear smallpox after Columbus's arrival inwards the Bahamas.
Apart from the Spanish, recent inquiry suggests that at that topographic point may have got been attempts to settle the islands yesteryear groups from France, as well as Britain, every bit good every bit yesteryear other Amerindians.
As noted yesteryear Cash, Maples, & Packer (1978) as well as Saunders (1982), inwards 1648, nigh seventy Puritans as well as 28 freed slaves (blacks) arrived on the isle of Eleuthera as well as became known through history every bit the Eleutherian Adventurers. These 28 freed slaves were the offset blacks (Africans) to acquire inwards in Commonwealth of the Bahamas The Eleutherian Adventurers were a grouping of Englishmen who had migrated to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas from Bermuda seeking religious freedom. Oral tradition also attributes the earliest African settlers on the isle every bit beingness marooned enslaved people who escaped their bondage when shipwrecked. This is sure enough a probable scenario as well as 1 which the population of Freetown may have got been hidden from slave owners (and others who may have got had the wishing to homecoming these marooned Africans to the slavery system) for decades.
It must live noted that inwards 1670 King Charles II granted the islands to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas, who rented the islands from the Rex with rights of trading, tax, appointing governors, as well as administering the country. In 1684 Castilian corsair Juan de Alcon raided the capital, Charles Town (later renamed Nassau). In 1703 a articulation Franco-Spanish expedition briefly occupied the Bahamian working capital missive of the alphabet during the War of the Castilian Succession. During proprietary rule, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became a haven for pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. To restore orderly government, Britain made the Commonwealth of the Bahamas a crown colony inwards 1718 nether the violet governorship of Woodes Rogers. After a hard struggle, he succeeded inwards suppressing piracy. In 1720, Rogers led local militia to drive off a Castilian attack.
During the American War of Independence, the islands were a target for American naval forces nether the command of Commodore Ezekial Hopkins. US Marines occupied the working capital missive of the alphabet of Nassau for a fortnight. In 1782, next the British defeat at Yorktown, a Castilian fleet appeared off the coast of Nassau, as well as the urban center surrendered without a fight. Kingdom of Spain returned possession of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to Britain the next year, nether the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Before the intelligence was received yet the islands were recaptured yesteryear a pocket-sized British forcefulness led yesteryear Andrew Deveaux.
More blacks came with Loyalists—Americans who resisted the American War of Independence as well as wanted to remain nether British rule. Most of these supporters of British dominion resided inwards the southern colonies of the Carolinas as well as Georgia which had unopen ties to Britain because of the tobacco as well as cotton fiber merchandise Condemned for their political desires, the Loyalists oft received harsh handling from the American rebels who often ridiculed, tarred as well as feathered them, or
prevented them from purchasing goods, or fifty-fifty confiscated their land. While some Loyalists sold their belongings as well as relocated to Canada, others left to laid about lives inwards West Indian countries. Also, Eastern Florida, beingness British inwards 1773, became the domicile of many Loyalists who took their slaves as well as plantation lifestyle there. However, East Florida became Castilian territory over again after the
signing of the treaty of Versailles inwards 1783. Following this, the British regime gave Earth inwards the colonies to the Loyalists who had lost their possessions inwards America; from this stemmed the migration of Loyalists to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards 1783. Some Loyalists came from New York as well as migrated to the islands of Abaco as well as Cat Island with many inundating the isle of New Providence betwixt 1784 as well as 1785. Within those ii years, betwixt half dozen as well as vii one 1000 Loyalists arrived inwards the Bahamas, causing the Bahamian population to increment from 4,000 inwards 1783 to 11,300 inwards 1789 as well as the ratio of negroes to whites, which was equal before, to live 3 to one.
After the population of slaves grew with the oncoming of Loyalists to the Bahamas, the carbohydrate revolution increased the number of slaves inwards the West Indian part significantly. The Spaniards introduced carbohydrate to the West Indies inwards 1493 but it was Aguilon who inwards 1505 crushed canes into carbohydrate as well as began the carbohydrate manufacture inwards the region(Greenwood & Hamber, 1979). As the carbohydrate demand inwards Europe increased, the Spaniards needed laborers to supersede the Carib as well as Arawak Indians whose population was chop-chop declining. They found a solution to this job inwards West Africans who were seen every bit defenseless, inferior to Europeans, pagans who needed to live enslaved
as well as larn nigh Christianity, as well as an inexpensive, profitable source of labor. Antislavery groups, however, challenged the morality as well as legality of slavery until slavery was declared illegal inwards England inwards 1772 yesteryear the British Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield (Meditz & Hanratty, 1987a). Despite this declaration, the actual slave merchandise continued on legally until its abolition inwards 1807. Meanwhile inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas some slave owners created manumission contracts for their slaves who could thereby piece of work to purchase their freedom. Other slave owners inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas remained opposed to the abolition of slavery based non only on religious convictions but also on economical need. Opponents argued that slaves were needed to maintain the plantation economic scheme inwards the production of cotton, tobacco, as well as carbohydrate as well as that inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas slaves were non beingness abused or overworked. Nonetheless, an human activity passed inwards 1833 inwards the British Parliament went into lawsuit on August 1, 1834 as well as forced the halt of slavery inwards the British Caribbean.
Following this legal change, the apprenticeship organisation was created inwards monastic say to facilitate the onset of freedom. So that plantations would non live instantly devoid of laborers, old slaves were forced to remain on the plantations for half dozen years patch their old owners were recompensed for “property” loss. However, the apprenticeship inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as well as other colonies came to an early on halt inwards 1838 (Meditz & Hanratty, 1987b).
Even after the British slave merchandise had ended as well as slavery as well as apprenticeship inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas had ceased, blacks (Africans) continued to live relocated to the Bahama Islands. In the 1820s, hundreds of American slaves as well as Black Seminoles escaped from Cape Florida to the Bahamas, settling mostly on northwest Andros Island, where they developed the hamlet of Red Bays. From eyewitness accounts, 300 escaped inwards a volume flying inwards 1823, aided yesteryear Bahamians inwards 27 sloops, with others using canoes for the journey. This was commemorated inwards 2004 yesteryear a large sign at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Some of their descendants proceed Black Seminole traditions inwards basketmaking as well as grave marking.
British colonial officials also freed 78 American slaves from the Enterprise, which went into Bermuda inwards 1835; as well as 38 from the Hermosa, which wrecked off Abaco isle inwards 1840, after abolition was effective inwards August 1834. The most notable instance was that of the Creole inwards 1841, the final result of a slave revolt whose leaders ordered the American brig to Nassau. It was carrying 135 slaves from Virginia destined for sale inwards New Orleans. The Bahamian officials freed the 128 slaves who chose to rest inwards the islands. The Creole instance has been described every bit the "most successful slave revolt inwards US history".
These incidents, inwards which a total of 447 slaves belonging to American nationals were freed yesteryear 1842, increased tension betwixt the US of America as well as Great Britain, although they had been cooperating inwards patrols to suppress the international slave trade. Worried nigh the stability of its domestic slave merchandise as well as its value, the US argued that Britain should non care for its domestic ships that came to its colonial ports nether duress, every bit component of the international trade. The US worried that the success of the Creole's slaves inwards gaining liberty would encourage to a greater extent than slave revolts on merchant ships.
Modern political evolution began after the Second World War. The offset political parties were formed inwards the 1950s. The British Parliament authorized the islands every bit internally self-governing inwards 1964, with Sir Roland Symonette, of the United Bahamian Party, every bit the offset Premier.
In 1967, Lynden Pindling (Sir Lynden from 1983), of the Progressive Liberal Party, became the offset dark Premier of the colony; inwards 1968 the championship of the seat was changed to Prime Minister. In 1973, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became fully independent every bit a Commonwealth realm, retaining membership inwards the Commonwealth of Nations. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the offset Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (the official representative of Queen Elizabeth II) shortly after independence.
In May 2012, old Prime Minister Perry Christie led the Progressive Liberal Party dorsum to might yesteryear defeating Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s Free National Movement. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations.
Bahamian international supermodel as well as actress, Shakara Ledard in a corking pose for her Country
Bahamian Cultural Identity
As the pop maxim goes “to consummate your identity, you lot must select your ethnic affiliation,” The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has non experienced racial disharmony to the grade that has been witnessed inwards parts of American history as well as social development.
Sidney Poitier, Bahamian
Like inwards America, however, race as well as ethnicity inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got as well as proceed to live used every bit a way of distinguishing peoples residing inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas (although Bahamians seat themselves yesteryear several factors such every bit sex, historic flow religious denomination or political affiliation).
No 1 black-and-white dichotomy exists with Bahamians. Rather, Glinton-Meicholas (1994), inwards her satirical description of Bahamian life, describes that:
"[h]ere, only 3 racial groups are accepted every bit true-true Bahamians: black,
conchy-joe, Long Island or Eleuthera red. We recognize ii groups of
‘Bahamians’: greeks as well as chinese as well as ii groups of ‘permanent residents’-
‘hyshuns’ as well as expatriates.
If you lot wishing to live a true-true Bahamian, beingness called ‘white’ is the osculation of death.
If nosotros telephone phone you lot ‘white’, it way that nosotros consider you lot a foreigner or a tourist (pp.
109-110)."
True truthful Bahamian, "King" Eric Gibson – entrepreneur as well as musician; semi-official Ambassador of Bahamian Goodwill.
According to Glinton-Meicholas (1994), Blacks, regardless of colour, may live anyone whose surname is a pop dark name, who works every bit a civil servant, or lives “over-the-hill.” Conchy-Joes, on the other hand, have got Caucasian physical features, comport pop surnames as well as heritage descending from the islands of Abaco or Northern Eleuthera, as well as ain successful businesses on Bay Street (a pop business organisation expanse historically known every bit dominated yesteryear non-blacks). In betwixt the hues associated with blacks as well as conchy-joes are those Bahamians whom Glinton-Meicholas (1994) has termed every bit Long Island or Eleuthera Red (or only “red” every bit by as well as large described yesteryear most Bahamians). These Bahamians “are of the [C]aucasian persuasion, but have got unopen relatives who appear to have got to a greater extent than java than cream inwards their genetic brew,” have got surnames as well as heritage descending from Long Island or Eleuthera, as well as are known for having a rigid piece of work ethic.
Apart from those sub-groups of “true-true Bahamians” described above, are “Bahamians” whose origins tin live to a greater extent than clearly traced to farther, unusual regions, especially Asia as well as Greece, rather than instantly traced to 1 of the Bahamian islands. Because of this divergence inwards roots, persons of Asian or Greek descent are non by as well as large considered every bit “true-true Bahamians.”
Lenny Kravitz, actor, multi-instrumentalist, music arranger, tape producer as well as stone singer-songwriter; boy of Bahamian woman Roxie Roker
Besides “true-true Bahamians” as well as “Bahamians” are those who are by as well as large non considered to belong to The Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards whatsoever way, regardless of their economical or social contributions or the amount of years spent living inwards this country. These persons are usually categorized every bit “hyshuns” (Haitians, pronounced inwards a cast of Bahamian dialect) as well as expatriates (persons from other countries, especially North America as well as Europe) who descend from none of the Bahamian islands.
Nassau-Born Bahamian, Dr. Myles Munroe the president as well as founder of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI)and Myles Munroe International (MMI), a Christian growth as well as resources centre that includes leadership preparation institutes, a missions agency, a publishing company, a television set network, radio as well as Web communications, as well as a church building community.( He is principal executive officeholder as well as chairman of the board of the International Third World Leaders Association as well as president of the International Leadership Training Institute. He is the author of 23 books as well as is a motivational speaker)
Expatriates are often viewed yesteryear “true truthful Bahamians” every bit beingness detached from the remainder of the society yesteryear their refusal to associate themselves with ordinary Bahamian citizens. Negative stereotypes as well as a full general dislike of “hyshuns” with many Bahamians have got lent to the exclusion of Haitians inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas every bit belonging to the collective ideal of beingness Bahamian. These
stereotypes are based on the see that the influx of piteous Haitian immigrants has strained the occupation marketplace seat as well as social services offered yesteryear the government.
Etta Cameron, Bahamian as well as a jazz singer; based inwards Denmark; front-runner of the Danish 1970s as well as 1980s music scene
As a cultural insider, Glinton-Meicholas (1994) has captured the see of how average Bahamians by as well as large seat themselves as well as others residing inwards The Bahamas.
In her addition of ethnic identification with Bahamians, she describes that:
"Like most Bahamian attitudes, race relations inwards The Commonwealth of the Bahamas have got ii faces. On
the 1 hand, 1 of the virtues of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a grade of racial harmony,
unheard of elsewhere inwards this world. We tin socialize together inwards public places,
as well as piece of work together with noticeable goodwill. On the other hand, patch nosotros cook
peas as well as rice together inwards the same pot, the ii remain quite separate, but together
create a dish that does non appall the tum (Glinton-Meicholas, 1994, p. 124)."
The interaction with Bahamians of dissimilar racial/ethnic backgrounds has undoubtedly affected the formation of Bahamian cultural identity as well as how this topic is by as well as large approached; so, too, has the distribution of the world around the archipelago. In the instance of The Bahamas, the islands non only render a request of reference for determining one’s “Bahamianness” as well as roots, but also influence how Bahamian civilization is expressed on each isle due to variations inwards geographical province of affairs as well as access to resources.
Moreover, non only do Bahamians’ perceptions of themselves influence the way they
culturally seat themselves, but also their internalization of foreigners’ perceptions of
them, namely tourists.
Bahamians performing traditional folkloric dance
Economy
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is 1 of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations. Tourism generates nigh one-half of all jobs as well as accounts for to a greater extent than than lx per centum of GDP. Financial as well as business organisation services business organisation human relationship for to a greater extent than than one-third of GDP. Due to its geographic location, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas often serves every bit a major transshipment request for drug smugglers as well as illegal aliens seeking to acquire inwards the United States.
The Bahamas’ economical liberty score is 69.8, making its economic scheme the 36th freest inwards the 2014 Index. Its overall score has decreased yesteryear 0.3 point, with a notable turn down inwards liberty from corruption outweighing a gain inwards merchandise freedom. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is the fourth freest out of 29 countries inwards the South as well as Central America/Caribbean region, as well as its overall score remains higher than the regional as well as world averages.
Successful Bahamian Tourist economy: 5-Day Commonwealth of the Bahamas & Key West Cruise from Jacksonville Carnival Cruise Line
Over the 20-year history of the Index, The Bahamas’ economical liberty has deteriorated yesteryear 2 points. Although the score for merchandise liberty has improved yesteryear over thirty points, declines have got occurred inwards half dozen of the 10 economical freedoms, notably belongings rights as well as business organisation freedom, which plummeted xx points or more. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas had been a “mostly free” economic scheme during the offset fifteen years but has been on a declining path of economical liberty since 2009 as well as has dropped into the ranks of the “moderately free” inwards the 2014 Index.
The isle economic scheme is equipped with a dynamic fiscal sector as well as has a competitive revenue enhancement regime. There are no personal income or corporate taxes. However, a piteous investment framework, characterized yesteryear regime interference as well as lingering corruption, continues to undermine the Bahamas’ overall economical liberty as well as long-term prospects for broader-based economical expansion.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has some of the world’s lowest revenue enhancement rates, with no private or corporate income taxes or value-added taxes (VATs). Instead, the regime imposes national insurance taxes, belongings taxes, tariffs, as well as a postage stamp tax. The overall revenue enhancement burden is 16.4 per centum of gross domestic output. Government spending is 23 per centum of the total economy, as well as public debt amounts to nigh 50 per centum of GDP.
An efficient regulatory framework by as well as large facilitates business organisation formation as well as productivity growth, but the absence of major regulatory reforms inwards recent years has undermined the Bahamas’ international competitiveness. Hiring as well as dismissal regulations are non burdensome, as well as the influence of unions is limited. The regime influences domestic prices for such “breadbasket” items every bit medicines, gasoline, as well as crude oil gas.
Disney Cruise Line’s Nassau Commonwealth of the Bahamas Excursions
Commercial Activities. Most consumer goods are imported. Farming is unimportant except for a pocket-sized amount of subsistence gardening inwards out-island settlements.
Commercial farming of cotton, pineapples, as well as sisal has had fiddling success. Commercial angling is moderately important, with most of the remove take hold of frozen as well as exported. Sponge angling is nearly defunct. Cottage industries that make straw, shells, as well as wooden items cater to local residents as well as tourists. Hotels, casinos, restaurants, as well as sport angling businesses are common.
Major Industries. Manufacturing is unimportant except for a few oil refineries as well as pocket-sized factories. Offshore banking as well as finance are of import because favorable revenue enhancement as well as corporate laws have got been established as well as widely promoted.
Trade. Most consumer goods are imported. Goods such every bit pharmaceuticals, rum, crawfish as well as cement are exported. The major trading partners are the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Canada.
Tourists inwards The Bahamas. Courtesy bahamasphotographer.net
Division of Labor
The regime is the largest employer. Out-island children piece of work with their parents or grandparents when they are non inwards schoolhouse or at play. In towns as well as cities, children from poorer families may piece of work every bit street vendors or do strange jobs. Some occupations are unionized, as well as unions are an of import force. Skilled trades such every bit fishing, carpentry, as well as masonry piece of work tend to live theatre unit of measurement specializations. Small businesses transcend from generation to generation within families.
Social Stratification
Classes as well as Castes. The upper cast consists of wealthy business organisation owners, corporate managers, professionals, high-ranking regime officials, as well as some unusual citizens. Historically, this cast was composed of Britons, white Bahamians, light-skinned Bahamians of mixed race, as well as a few Americans as well as Canadians. Most were self-consciously British inwards spoken language as well as behavior. The upper cast today includes many to a greater extent than residents of African ancestry. Emulation of the old colonial elite is less common.
The middle cast consists of pocket-sized business organisation owners, some professionals, civil servants, as well as lower-level corporate managers. Most members of this cast are of African ancestry, but some are of European as well as Asian ancestry. Degrees from Bahamian as well as American colleges are increasingly common. The lower cast is the nation's largest as well as includes roughly equal numbers of urban as well as out isle residents. Almost all the members of this cast are of African ancestry. Lower-class Bahamians include fishermen, farmers, laborers, skilled tradespeople, as well as others who do low-status physical work. Some have got high schoolhouse diplomas, but many have got lower levels of educational attainment as well as are perceived every bit piteous but respectable. The lowest stratum is an underclass that consists of the chronically unemployed as well as Haitian refugees. Most members of the underclass live inwards the to the lowest degree desirable as well as "respectable" sections of the Nassau metropolitan area. They are found inwards smaller numbers inwards some out-island communities. Few have got a high schoolhouse diploma.
Bahamian adult woman of Nassau wearing her Jonkanoo celebration costume
Symbols of Social Stratification. The distinction betwixt old coin as well as novel coin is non critically important. University degrees, especially from private institutions inwards Britain as well as the United States, are common. Most upper-class residents are inwards the exclusive neighborhoods of Nassau, although some have got additional homes inwards the out islands or abroad. Middle-class people live inwards "respectable" Nassau neighborhoods or out-island settlements. Many regularly wing to Florida for shopping as well as entertainment.
Political Life
Government. The Commonwealth is a constitutional, parliamentary republic with universal suffrage for citizens historic flow 18 as well as older. The British monarch is recognized every bit the caput of province as well as is represented yesteryear the governor-general, but executive might is vested inwards the prime number minister. Primary legislative say-so resides with an elected House of Assembly as well as an appointed Senate. The judicial organisation includes magistrates' courts, the Supreme Court, as well as the Court of Appeals. Local regime is an extension of the federal regime with direction inwards the hands of appointed district commissioners.
Leadership as well as Political Officials. There are ii major political parties: the Free National Movement (FNM) as well as the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). Ideologically, both parties are centrist, with the PLP somewhat to the left of the FNM on most social issues. The personalities of politicians as well as their relationships with constituents are to a greater extent than of import than political philosophy. Most people elected to the House of Assembly since independence have got been middle-aged men of African ancestry with academy degrees as well as successful careers inwards constabulary and/or business. House members demand non reside inwards their districts but unremarkably see frequently. Political officials are expected to live accessible to their constituents through component visits as well as the mail.
Administrative Divisions: The districts of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas render a organisation of local regime everywhere except New Providence (which holds 70% of the national population), whose affairs are handled straight yesteryear the cardinal government. In 1996, the Bahamian Parliament passed "The Local Government Act" to facilitate the establishment of Family Island Administrators, Local Government Districts, Local District Councillors, as well as Local Town Committees for the diverse isle communities. The overall goal of this human activity is to allow the diverse elected leaders to regulation as well as oversee the affairs of their respective districts without the interference of Central Government. In total, at that topographic point are 38 districts, with elections beingness held every 5 years. There are also 1 hundred as well as x Councillors as well as ii hundred as well as eighty-one Town Committee members to correspond with the diverse districts.
Each Councillor or Town Committee fellow member is responsible for the proper utilization of public funds for the maintenance as well as evolution of their constituency.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas uses left paw drive traffic rules throughout the Commonwealth.
The districts other than New Providence are:
Acklins Berry Islands Bimini
Black Point,Exuma Cat Island Central Abaco
Central Andros Central Eleuthera City of Freeport, Grand Bahama
Crooked Island East Grand Bahama Exuma
Grand Cay, Abaco Harbour Island, Eleuthera Hope Town, Abaco
Inagua Long Island Mangrove Cay, Andros
Mayaguana Moore's Island, Abaco North Abaco
North Andros North Eleuthera Ragged Island
Rum Cay San Salvador South Abaco
South Andros South Eleuthera Castilian Wells, Eleuthera
West Grand Bahama Green Turtle Cay
Military: The Commonwealth of the Bahamas does non have got an reason forces or an air force. Its armed services is composed of the Royal Commonwealth of the Bahamas Defence Force (the R.B.D.F.), the navy of The Bahamas. Under The Defence Act, the R.B.D.F. has been mandated, inwards the call of The Queen, to defend The Bahamas, protect its territorial integrity, patrol its waters, render assistance as well as relief inwards times of disaster, maintain monastic say inwards conjunction with the constabulary enforcement agencies of The Bahamas, as well as carry out whatsoever such duties every bit determined yesteryear the National Security Council. The Defence Force is also a fellow member of The Caribbean Area Community (CARICOM)'s Regional Security Task Force.
The R.B.D.F. officially came into existence on 31 March 1980. Their duties include defending The Bahamas, stopping drug smuggling, illegal immigration, poaching, as well as providing assistance to mariners whenever as well as wherever they can. The Defence Force has a fleet of 26 coastal as well as inshore patrol arts and crafts along with 6 aircraft as well as over 1500 personnel including 65 officers as well as 74 women.
Social Control as well as Problems. Bahamian constabulary is based on English linguistic communication mutual constabulary as well as statute law. The constabulary is enforced via the paramilitary Royal Commonwealth of the Bahamas Police Force as well as federally appointed constables. Legal prosecution is carried out yesteryear the attorney general's office. Informal social command occurs through peer pressure, gossip, as well as fearfulness of harmful magic known every bit obeah.Angelique Sabrina, Bahamian as well as a teenage actor, dancer as well as singer-songwriter
The archipelago is the in conclusion staging expanse for thousands of annual shipments of illegal drugs from South America as well as the Caribbean Area to North America. Although illegal as well as viewed every bit a social job yesteryear many people, the drug merchandise is tolerated because it provides income. Money laundering as well as related international crimes are widely viewed every bit beneficial as well as are non criminalized. Crimes such every bit assault, robbery, as well as homicide are dealt with routinely. Vigilante groups be but are non an of import aspect of social control.
Wendy Coakley-Thompson, Bahamian as well as writer; author of the novels Back to Life (2004) as well as What You Won't Do for Love (2005)
Gender Roles as well as Statuses
Division of Labor yesteryear Gender. Legally, women have got equal condition nether the law, but men tend to dominate the higher-income as well as higher condition positions inwards the public as well as private sectors. Men dominate angling as well as other maritime endeavors, the edifice trades, as well as the shipping industry.
Bahamian people
The Relative Status of Women as well as Men. Urban women have got many career opportunities as well as are non discriminated against inwards obvious ways. Women dominate fields such every bit nursing, simple schoolhouse teaching, as well as component work. Out-island women tend to live farmers, shopkeepers, arts and crafts specialists, as well as domestics when they are employed. Many self-identify every bit "housekeepers."
Afro-Bahamian Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress, vocaliser as well as model. She is the only kid of instrumentalist Lenny Kravitz as well as actress Lisa Bonet
Marriage, Family, as well as Kinship
Marriage. Marriages are monogamous. In many out-island settlements, the options are union as well as extra-residential unions. In larger towns as well as cities, consensual unions exist. People are costless to select their spouses. Church weddings follow brief engagements. In principle, 1 should non get married a blood relative, but inwards pocket-sized communities marriages betwixt kin to a greater extent than distantly related than offset cousins are common.
A Nassau Commonwealth of the Bahamas wedding ceremony Bahamian trend is the Day 5 characteristic of Commonwealth of the Bahamas Destination's Commonwealth of the Bahamas wedding
In white-dominated out-island settlements, interracial marriages are stigmatized. Both partners are expected to contribute financially to a marriage. Divorces are available, although many couples only drift apart as well as never legally terminate the union. There is no stigma attached to remarriage. H5N1 sexual double touchstone exists inwards which women are supposed to live chaste until union as well as faithful during union whereas men are expected to have got premarital as well as extramarital affairs. Men are widely seen every bit inherently promiscuous.
Domestic Unit. The ideal is the nuclear theatre unit of measurement household. In cases of extramarital unions, consensual unions, divorce, death, as well as abandonment, matrifocal households are common. In poorer out-island settlements, parents may motion to urban areas to work, leaving their children inwards the attention of grandparents. In nuclear theatre unit of measurement households, say-so tends to live evenly divided betwixt the married adult man as well as the wife.
Inheritance. Sons as well as daughters inherit from both parents. Inherited belongings includes land, houses, boats, as well as household goods. Wills may favor 1 heir over another, but this is uncommon, especially inwards the out islands.
Kin Groups. No formal kin groups larger than the theatre unit of measurement exist. Adult siblings tend to seem after each other's interests as well as oft operate shops or angling vessels together.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Atlantis Palm Point Beach Wedding. Courtesy www.markdacunha.com
Socialization
Infant Care. Infants are cared for yesteryear their mothers. Both bottle feeding as well as breast-feeding are accepted. Infants slumber inwards the parents' chamber except with the to a greater extent than affluent, where a separate room is available. Infants are carried inwards the arms, as well as babe carriages are used. Caregivers attempt to calm crying or otherwise agitated infants.
Bahamian kid inwards his Jonkanoo dress
Child Rearing as well as Education. shopping as well as household chores. Boys may piece of work with their fathers but are often costless to play. Boys are taught to live fun-loving as well as independent, patch girls are expected to live responsible as well as to remain nether unopen theatre unit of measurement scrutiny. Corporal penalty as well as threats are common. The literacy charge per unit of measurement is nigh ninety percent, as well as public teaching is available through local simple schools as well as regional secondary schools. Private schools inwards Nassau are available to wealthier families. In public schools, rote learning is common.
Higher Education. Since independence, higher teaching has been stressed. The College of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards Nassau as well as numerous technical schools render higher education, although unusual universities are pop with the to a greater extent than affluent.
Nassau, Commonwealth of the Bahamas - Junkanooers as well as revellers relish the Independence People's Junkanoo Rush on Bay Street Sabbatum morning, July 11, next the Fri dark celebrations on Clifford Park to score The Bahamas' 37th
Religion
Religious Beliefs. Most residents are churchgoing Christians. About 80 per centum are Protestant, as well as xx per centum are Roman Catholic. The largest Protestant denominations are Baptist as well as Anglican. In line with their West African belief organisation some Bahamians staunch devotees of Obeah. Obeah is an West African belief system brought to the Caribbeans yesteryear African slaves mostly of Akan ethnicity. The Obeah belief is what is known every bit Akom to the Akans. It has chemical element of bush (herbal) medicine exercise as well as it has been practiced since the times of slavery inwards the Bahamas. It is soundless used today to cure many diseases, using local plants.
Religious Practitioners. Large congregations are led yesteryear ordained ministers as well as priests, patch pocket-sized congregations are led yesteryear unordained preachers. Obeah men are part-time specialists whose activities include placing as well as removing curses, communicating with spirits, as well as giving spiritual advice.
Rituals as well as Holy Places. Most rituals are Christian services as well as are held inwards churches. Immersion baptisms as well as revival meetings are held outdoors. Some Christian services include glossolalia, spirit possession, as well as religious belief healing. Obeah rituals tend to live pocket-sized as well as private.
Death as well as the Afterlife
The dead are placed inwards simple pino coffins, as well as wakes are held at home. The wealthy purchase to a greater extent than expensive coffins as well as utilization funeral parlors. Funerals are held inwards churches, as well as burials are inwards churchyards or public cemeteries. It is believed that souls go to sky or hell, but some believe that ghosts wander earlier reaching their ultimate destination.
The Bahamians
Medicine as well as Health Care
There is 1 large infirmary inwards Nassau, as well as over a hundred regime clinics are scattered elsewhere. An air ambulance service transports out islanders to the infirmary inwards emergencies. There are nigh twelve-hundred people per physician, but nurses as well as paramedics often serve every bit primary attention professionals, especially inwards remote settlements. "Bush medicine" (herbal treatments) is soundless found, but its popularity is declining.
Roxie Roker , Bahamian, actress; known for operate on the television set serial The Jeffersons and woman nurture of instrumentalist Lenny Kravitz
Food
Food inwards Daily Life. Typical meals for urban residents consist of fruits as well as vegetables, meat or fish, bread, as well as rice. Out islanders tend to eat to a greater extent than fresh fruit, vegetables, as well as fish. The ii national dishes are conch, an easily collected bounding main snail, rice, as well as peas. Poor people eat these foods because they are inexpensive as well as readily available; the to a greater extent than affluent relish them every bit "heritage foods."
A waitress from Joe's Bar as well as Grill served the establishment's specialty, Nellie's Bahamian Conch Fritters at a media reception for Jeffrey Poitier on Apr 24th, 2009. Photo: Lyndah Wells.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Holiday meals tend to centre on local fish or conch, rice as well as peas, baked goods, as well as fresh fruit. Bahamian rum, local as well as imported beer, soft drinks, tea, as well as java are regularly consumed.
Music of the Bahamas
The music of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is associated primarily with junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day as well as over again on New Year's Day. Parades as well as other celebrations score the ceremony. Groups similar The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler as well as Kirkland Bodie have got gained massive popularity inwards Japan, the US of America as well as other places.
Calypso
Calypso is a trend of Afro-Caribbean music which originated inwards Trinidad as well as Tobago. This cast of music has spread through many parts of the Caribbean, including the The Bahamas.
Soca
Soca is a cast of trip the lite fantastic music which originated from many calypso music. It originally combined the melodic lilting audio of calypso with insistent percussion (which is often electronic inwards recent music) as well as local chutney music. Soca music has evolved inwards the in conclusion xx years primarily yesteryear musicians from diverse Anglophone Caribbean Area countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Saint Vincent as well as the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua as well as Barbuda, US of America Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Kitts as well as Nevis, Jamaica as well as Belize.
The 'Baha Men' are an English linguistic communication band playing a modernized trend of Bahamian Music called Junkanoo. Winners of the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, as well as a Grammy every twelvemonth since for “Most Random Song Inexplicably Still Played At Sporting Events Free Of Irony” (a co-award shared with “Cotton-Eye Joe”).
Junkanoo
The give-and-take junkanoo is said to live derived from a Ghanaian leader, John Connu, or from the Qujo supreme deity (Canno) as well as ancestral spirits (jannanin). The junkanoo was formerly practiced inwards North Carolina as well as remnants soundless be inwards Belize. It is most good known, though, from Nassau as well as Freeport. Since the 1950s the influence of American civilization has increased, mainly through TV as well as radio broadcasts from Florida stations, as well as other Caribbean Area styles have got made inroads: calypso, reggae as well as soca, from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, as well as other islands. Tourism has also had an impact, bringing inwards Japanese, European as well as North Americans with their attendant forms of cultural expression. In this milieu to a greater extent than traditional Commonwealth of the Bahamas performers such every bit Joseph Spence, have got soundless enjoyed successful careers playing junkanoo, Christian hymns as well as the ant'ems of the local sponge fisherman, which include "Sloop John B", afterward made famous yesteryear The Beach Boys.
Junkanoo celebration inwards Nassau
Junkanoo's origins are obscure as well as much-debated. Researchers similar E. Clement Bethel have got studied the number extensively, as well as probable conclusions include that African slaves were allowed celebrations only around Christmas-time, as well as chose to celebrate John Connu, a headman from 18th century Africa. Another theory is that the term derives from scrap metallic or other objects (junk) used to create the distinctive goombay drum. Similar celebrations 1 time existed cross the Caribbean Area as well as inwards North Carolina, but are at nowadays virtually extinct except inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as well as Belize.
Junkanoo costume, Boxing Day Parade, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
In 1973, the twelvemonth the Commonwealth of the Bahamas achieved independence from the United Kingdom, dark professionals of the middle as well as upper classes began to dominate junkanoo celebrations. Costuming as well as competitions became to a greater extent than complex as well as commonplace, as well as presently became a tourist draw.
Aside from beingness a type of drum, goombay is also a percussion music made famous yesteryear Alphonso 'Blind Blake' Higgs, who played to tourists arriving at Nassau International Airport for several years. Rake-and-scrape music is a unique type of instrumental music made yesteryear bending a saw as well as scraping with a pocket-sized object, most typically a screwdriver; it is used to accompany dances derived from European forms similar polka as well as waltz. Rake-and-scrape's popularity has been declining inwards recent years, but performers similar Lassie Do as well as the Boys proceed to hold the tradition alive. Christian rhyming spirituals as well as the ant'ems of sponge fisherman are at nowadays mostly dead traditions, decimated yesteryear the arrival of pop music, a 1930s sponge blight as well as other causes.
E. Clement Bethel's master's thesis on traditional Bahamian music was adapted for the phase yesteryear his daughter, Nicolette Bethel as well as Philip A. Burrows. Music of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was offset performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe inwards 1991, as well as was revived inwards 2002 for fresh Bahamian audiences. H5N1 recording of that demo is available for sale from Ringplay Productions.
Bahamas
Rake as well as scrape
Main article: Rake as well as scrape music
Rake as well as scrape music comes from the musical traditions of the Turks as well as Caicos Islands, as well as is characterized yesteryear the utilization of a saw every bit the primary instrument. It was brought yesteryear immigrants from those islands from the 1920s to nigh the 1940s, who settled on Cat Island, as well as elsewhere. Rake as well as Scrape is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian Quadrille as well as the heel-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa as well as Europe. Many of these Turks as well as Caicos Islanders became some of the most famous musicians inwards the Bahamas. Many eventually moved dorsum to their homelands, bringing with them junkanoo. Turks as well as Caicos are at nowadays the instant domicile for junkanoo.
Junkanoo, Boxing Day Parade, Nassau, Bahamas
Organology of Instruments
Membranophones: The Goombay drum is main rhythmic element inwards rake-n-scrape. It is also referred to a goatskin drum, every bit the peel of a caprine animal was stretched over a wooden barrel. It is decorated yesteryear simple or complex geometric designs inwards brilliant colors. The drum is ever heated over give notice to retain its tone. In 1971, when manufacturers started shipping products inwards metallic barrels, Bahamians switched the drum to metal, slightly changing the tone of the drum.
"King" Eric Gibson – entrepreneur as well as musician; semi-official Ambassador of Bahamian Goodwill.
Idiophones: The main element that makes Rake-N-Scrape unique is the utilization of the Carpenter's Saw. This musical instrument is scraped with a blast or butter knife. Bent against the trunk of the participant as well as flexed, diverse timbral effects are obtained. In to a greater extent than modern music, the saw is replaced with maracas or a guiro.
Aerophones: The squeeze box is the element that adds the circular cast which enables dancers to trip the lite fantastic the band dance. This is of European descent. In to a greater extent than modern bands, it is replaced yesteryear an electrical guitar or electronic keyboard.
Arts
Straw weaving Traditional crafts include straw piece of work on islands (each 1 having a unique plaiting or braiding style) creating beautiful hats as well as baskets.
This science was useful when Bahamians led subsistence lifestyles, with baskets beingness used for carrying fruit as well as angling traps. Today, straw piece of work as well as wood carvings are produced as well as sold to tourists inwards Nassau's Straw Market.
Quilting: Quilting has been practiced on the isle of Castilian Wells for many generations.
Canvas art: Beautiful landscapes as well as the vibrant houses as well as peoples of the Bahamian archipelago have got inspired many artists, both native as well as foreign. Some notable Bahamian artists include Amos Ferguson (deceased), Eddie Minnis, Brent Malone (deceased), Jackson Burnside (deceased), John Beadle as well as John Cox.
Coral as well as stone art: Hand carvings from coral fine art as well as natural stone are cultivated from naturally occurring reef break-offs, beach erosions, outcrops, as well as shine rocks.
Bahamian creative mortal Khia Poitier is only xx years old, she's already made her score on the Bahamian fine art scene—and she's headed for large things
Secular Celebrations
Ten public holidays are recognized: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter, Whit Mon (seven weeks after Easter), Labor Day (first Fri inwards June), Independence Day (10 July), Emancipation Day (first Mon inwards August), Discovery Day (12 October), Christmas Day, as well as Boxing Day (26 December). Secular holidays tend to live celebrated with parades, speeches, as well as concerts.
Bahamas National Youth Choir Performing For Post-Independence inwards Nassau
Sport inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a pregnant component of Bahamian culture. The national sport is sloop sailing where Durward Knowles as well as Sloan Farrington picked upwards the offset Olympic medal (bronze) for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Durward Knowles also captured the country's offset Olympic Gold medal along with Cecil Cooke during the 1964 Summer Olympics inwards Sailing.
However the most pop spectator sports are those imported from US of America such every bit basketball, American Football as well as baseball game rather than Britain due to the country's unopen proximity to the United States. Unlike their other Caribbean Area counterparts where cricket has proven to live to a greater extent than popular. Cricket has been played inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas from 1846. It is the oldest sport beingness played inwards the province today. The only other sporting lawsuit that began earlier cricket was Equus caballus racing, which started inwards 1796. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas Cricket Association was formed inwards 1936 every bit an organised body. From the 1940s – 1970s, cricket was played with many Bahamians. Commonwealth of the Bahamas is non apart of the West Indies Board, therefore players are non eligible to play for the West Indies cricket team.The slowly 1970s saw the game laid about to turn down inwards the province every bit teachers, who had previously come upwards from the UK with a passion for cricket were replaced yesteryear teachers who had been trained inwards the United States. The Bahamian Physical teaching teachers had no knowledge of the game as well as instead taught rail & field, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball as well as soccer where primary as well as high schools compete against each other. Today cricket is soundless enjoyed yesteryear a few locals as well as immigrants inwards the province usually from Jamaica, Guyana, Republic of Haiti as well as Barbados. Cricket is played on Saturdays as well as Sundays at Windsor Park as well as Haynes Oval.
Anthonique Strachan Photo: Dean Greenaway
Dexter Cambridge, Rick Fox as well as Ian Lockhart are a few Bahamians who joined Bahamian Mychal Thompson of the Los Angeles Lakers inwards the NBA ranks. Over the years American football game has go much to a greater extent than pop than association football, though non implemented inwards the high schoolhouse organisation yet. Leagues for teens as well as adults have got been developed yesteryear the Commonwealth of the Bahamas American Football Federation. However association football, commonly known every bit soccer inwards the country, is soundless a really pop sport with high schoolhouse students. Leagues are governed yesteryear the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Football Association. Recently the Bahamian regime has been working closely with the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. to promote the sport inwards the province every bit good every bit promoting the Commonwealth of the Bahamas inwards the European market. In 2013 the Spurs became the offset Premier League gild to play an exhibition tally inwards the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to human face upwards the Jamaica national football game team. Joe Lewis the possessor of the Tottenham Hotspur gild is based inwards the Bahamas.
Other pop sports are swimming, lawn tennis as well as boxing where Bahamians have got enjoyed some flat of success at the international level. Other sports such every bit golf, rugby league, rugby union as well as beach soccer are considered growing sports. Athletics commonly known every bit rail as well as champaign inwards the province is the most successful sport yesteryear far with Bahamians. Bahamians have got a rigid tradition inwards the sprints as well as jumps. Track as well as champaign is in all probability the most pop spectator sport inwards the province side yesteryear side to basketball game due to their success over the years. Bahamians have got gone on to win numerous rail as well as champaign medals at The Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships inwards Athletics, Commonwealth Games as well as Pan American Games. Frank Rutherford is the offset athletics olympic medalist for the country. He won a bronze medal for triple saltation during the 1992 Summer Olympics. Pauline Davis-Thompson, Debbie Ferguson, Chandra Sturrup, Savatheda Fynes as well as Eldece Clarke-Lewis teamed upwards for the offset athletics Olympic Gold medal for the province when they won the 4x100m relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics. They are affectionately know every bit the "Golden Girls. Tonique Williams-Darling became the offset athletics private Olympic gilded medalist when she won the 400m sprint inwards 2004 Summer Olympics
Source:https://beardocs.baylor.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2104/5539/jennette_walkine_edd.pdf?sequence=1
http://danelliott.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/publication125_freetown.pdf
http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bahama-Islands.html
Costumed drummers celebrate the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration in
Nassau, Bahamas.
A adult woman costumed dancer celebrates the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas.
Costumed dancers celebrate the New Year's Day with the Junkanoo Parade a carnival similar celebration inwards Nassau, Bahamas.
Junkanoo is a street parade with music, is a national festival inwards The Bahamas, which occurs inwards many towns across The Commonwealth of the Bahamas as well as The Turks as well as Caicos Islands every Boxing Day (December
Land In Eleuthera
Shakara Ledard, Bahamian
Etta Cameron, Jazz sensation as well as a Bahamian
Lenny Kravitz is of Bahamian ancestry
Lenny Kravitz is of Bahamian ancestry
Simone Cameron. Woman of Bahamian ancestry
The Bahamians: lenny kravitz as well as his mother, roxie roker
Bahamian as well as actress Persia White
Bahamian Persia White, actress
Songbird Trina whose existent call is Katrina Taylor has Bahamian ancestry
Bahamians: Etta Camerons as well as søn, Steve Cameron
Bahamian supermodel, Shakara Ledard
Retired NBA star Rick Fox has Bahamian ancestry
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