Our culture
Culture is an all-encompassing term to describe what distinguishes one group of people from another and is a mixture of elements including religious beliefs, ethnic background, race, traditions and customs.
Based on this definition, the culture you find in Antigua and Barbuda seems to be a result of what was born from African people who were enslaved by European masters, leaving a dual (ie African and European) legacy, with Christianity being the pre-dominantly religious belief, English the main language being spoken, but also including a Caribbean born Creole English. Many Antiguans and Barbudans, with approximately 96% of the population from African descent, share similar family names and many of the men are quite tall, with clean cut features and a tall, strong stature; they love to play cricket more so than any other sport and listen to music and eat spicy food that reflect a strong African influence.
Then there is also the American influence, which one sees in a variety of ways like many American cars and trucks on the roads, the unmistakable American accent, the well established American University of Antigua and it's an open question what effect a fair amount of off-island shopping that happens in American territories like San Juan and Puerto Rico may have....
Based on this definition, the culture you find in Antigua and Barbuda seems to be a result of what was born from African people who were enslaved by European masters, leaving a dual (ie African and European) legacy, with Christianity being the pre-dominantly religious belief, English the main language being spoken, but also including a Caribbean born Creole English. Many Antiguans and Barbudans, with approximately 96% of the population from African descent, share similar family names and many of the men are quite tall, with clean cut features and a tall, strong stature; they love to play cricket more so than any other sport and listen to music and eat spicy food that reflect a strong African influence.
Then there is also the American influence, which one sees in a variety of ways like many American cars and trucks on the roads, the unmistakable American accent, the well established American University of Antigua and it's an open question what effect a fair amount of off-island shopping that happens in American territories like San Juan and Puerto Rico may have....
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From a historical point of view Spain and France also played a role in the Caribbean and play their respective roles in things like unique Creole cuisine and one now and again even hears either French or Spanish being spoken.
The annual Antiguan Carnival celebrates the end of slavery and in many ways shows off the island's culture of freedom from oppression, compressed in a few days of mas, music, dancing and celebration... something to experience! |
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Some interesting aspects of culture are surely the different roles played by women on the one hand and that of men and you find many women in Antigua are single mothers, a phenomenon also found in many African-American families and very common in Africa. It creates sets of social issues that offer enough material to have spawned many a professorship (see one here) and we don't want to start a big discussion about it, but will soon be adding comments we're awaiting from contributors living in Antigua. Keep us on your favorites list and stay informed!
Men have mostly always been the providers and being the strong, tall and well built specimens many are, one should be forgiven to understand why their forefathers were exploited the way they were... However, today's Antiguan men are keen to show off their strength in ways that build the country, develop the youth and ensure a stable society. One often sees elders advising their younger counterparts, whether it's outside in the garden, sitting at a pub counter or simply being grand dad at the beach picnic on Sundays; they play a powerful role in what the future of this wonderful land will be.
A sight you soon see here are the variety of Rastafari, some covering their dreads and other not and when you read on the subject, the overwhelming feeling is that Rastafari have been and still play a big role in Antiguan society. The various aspects of the subject have been recorded here and here. We trust that will suffice for the purposes of acknowledgement, if nothing else.
Finally, some visitors may have questions about the way Antiguans date each other, plan a wedding, practice religion, raise their children and how our island ladies play their roles as professional doctors, lawyers etc - see this post.... send us your questions and contributions; we'd love to hear them and help you.
Jump to the next page or go back to the previous one.
Men have mostly always been the providers and being the strong, tall and well built specimens many are, one should be forgiven to understand why their forefathers were exploited the way they were... However, today's Antiguan men are keen to show off their strength in ways that build the country, develop the youth and ensure a stable society. One often sees elders advising their younger counterparts, whether it's outside in the garden, sitting at a pub counter or simply being grand dad at the beach picnic on Sundays; they play a powerful role in what the future of this wonderful land will be.
A sight you soon see here are the variety of Rastafari, some covering their dreads and other not and when you read on the subject, the overwhelming feeling is that Rastafari have been and still play a big role in Antiguan society. The various aspects of the subject have been recorded here and here. We trust that will suffice for the purposes of acknowledgement, if nothing else.
Finally, some visitors may have questions about the way Antiguans date each other, plan a wedding, practice religion, raise their children and how our island ladies play their roles as professional doctors, lawyers etc - see this post.... send us your questions and contributions; we'd love to hear them and help you.
Jump to the next page or go back to the previous one.
