Barbadian British

Last updated

Bajan British people
Total population
21,601 Bajan born (2001 Census)
18,672 (2011 Census) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Throughout the United Kingdom
In particular East Anglia, Greater London, Manchester-Liverpool Urban Area and the Midlands
Languages
English (British English, Bajan)
Religion
Primarily Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
British African-Caribbean people, British Indo-Caribbean people, Barbadian Brazilians, Barbadian Canadians, Black British, Black African, Multiracial, Indo-Caribbeans, Indo-Guyanese, Barbadian Americans

Barbadian British people, Bajan Brits or British Barbadians, [2] are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the Caribbean island of Barbados. The UK is home to the second largest Barbadian-born migrant population out of all the OECD countries, with the 2001 Census recording 21,601 UK residents born on the Caribbean island, compared to the 53,785 Barbadian-born residents of the United States. [1]

Contents

History

Historically migration from Barbados to the UK was fairly simple, since many Barbadians once held overseas British citizenship (see: Barbados and British nationality), but the number of Barbadians migrating to the UK increased after the 1952 McCarran Act put "severe curbs" on Caribbean immigration to the nearby United States. [3] In 1955, the Barbados government established a Sponsored Workers Scheme and appointed an officer in London to help find work for Barbadians in the UK, due to the perception that population pressure was too great in Barbados. Between 1955 and 1966, more than 27,000 Barbadians migrated to the UK. This represented the largest mass migration from the Caribbean island since 45,000 people emigrated to Panama in the 1900s and 1910s, [4] and was part of a wider migration of people from the Caribbean to the UK which saw 550,000 people migrate between 1948 and 1973, with the majority doing so before the passing of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962. [5] They were recruited to fill labour shortages in the UK in sectors such as transport and healthcare. [5] Migration from Barbados to the UK between 1951 and 1971 represented 12 per cent of the population of Barbados. [5]

Demographics

Population

According to the 2001 UK Census, 21,601 people born in Barbados were living in the United Kingdom, representing around 8 per cent of all Caribbean-born people living in the country. In 2001, Barbados was the second most common birthplace in the Caribbean for UK residents and 47th most common out of all birth countries. [1] By comparison, the 1971 Census recorded 27,055 people born in Barbados. [5]

Citizenship

The number of Barbadian citizenships successfully applying for British citizenship since 1997 is shown in the table below. The number of Barbadians being granted British citizenship per annum has recently begun to decrease, unlike those from Jamaica (from where an increasing number of people are being granted citizenship).

Number of Barbadians
granted British
citizenship [6]
199764 [7]
1998116 [8]
1999131 [9]
2000178 [10]
2001155 [11]
2002140 [12]
2003155 [13]
2004175 [14]
2005175 [15]
2006145 [16]
2007105 [17]
200885 [18]
2009 ? [19]

Distribution

Reading in Berkshire is reported to have the largest Barbadian community outside of the Caribbean, [20] [21] whilst Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk is also home to a large Bajan population, with 2.7 per cent of the population originating in the Caribbean nation. [22] The National Council of Barbadian Associations (UK) has branches in Huddersfield, Leeds, Liverpool and Merseyside, Manchester, Oldham, Preston, Coventry, Leicester, Birmingham, London, Bath and Bristol, and Reading. [23]

Culture

Barbadian culture is celebrated as part of the Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival 2007 004.jpg
Barbadian culture is celebrated as part of the Notting Hill Carnival

Barbados along with many other Caribbean nations was once part of the British Empire, between 1627 and 1966 the Island was under British rule, and it retained more of a 'British' identity compared to the other surrounding nations. [24] Barbados was often referred to as Little England by its inhabitants as well as neighbours. [22] [25] The result of this close bond between the two nations is that the UK proves the most popular destination for Barbadian emigrants who then find it much easier to settle into society than many other English and non-English speaking immigrant groups. [22] [25] Leading on from British colonial rule in Barbados, one of the island nation's most popular pastimes is playing cricket (a sport introduced and still played by the British). [26] The culture of the Barbadian community in the UK is also heavily influenced by West African cultures, due to traditions dating back to the slave trade generation. [27]

Music

The music of Barbados is much more Afro-Caribbean than English based, calypso and the indigenous Spouge genres are both unique within the Caribbean as are Reggae, soca, and tuk which have now found their way into mainstream Western culture. Notable British musicians of Barbadian origin who have helped popularise the music of Barbados in the UK include Dennis Bovell who is largely a producer of reggae music, [28] Jimmy Senya Haynes of roots reggae band Steel Pulse who was the only person of Barbadian origin to win a Grammy Award (only recently did singer Rihanna join the title). [29] female Barbadian soca artist Alison Hinds was based in London, she now resides in Barbados. 90's singer Des'ree is also famed for her singles "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Kissing You", and "Life" which are mostly soul based. [30] Shaznay Lewis and Ms. Dynamite are more contemporary artists that have helped bridge the gap closer between genres such as R&B, soul, hip-hop and reggae.

Sport

Several Barbadian-born cricketers have pursued cricket careers in the country where the sport originated, including, for example, Sussex CCC's Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer. [31]

A number of Barbadian-born and British-born people of Barbadian descent play in professional league football teams, and some British-born players of Barbadian origin have chosen to play for the Barbados national football team. Emmerson Boyce is a native of Aylesbury who plays for Wigan Athletic and the Barbados national team, [32] Ashley Cole of Stepney, London played left back for Chelsea and the England national team, [33] and fellow Londoner Michael Gilkes has played for Barbados alongside Reading. [34] Likewise, Paul Ifill and Mark McCammon have played for Barbados alongside the English sides Crystal Palace and Gillingham respectively. [35] [36] Walter Tull, whose father was from Barbados, was the first black officer in the British Army and only the second black player in the top division of the Football League. [37] Former WBC super middleweight world champion boxer Nigel Benn is Barbadian British. [38]

Notable individuals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados</span> Island nation in the Caribbean

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region next to North America and north of South America, and is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. It lies on the boundary of the South American and Caribbean plates. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Barbados</span>

This is a demography of Barbados including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Bajan, or Bajan Creole, is an English-based creole language with West/Central African and British influences spoken on the Caribbean island of Barbados. Bajan is primarily a spoken language, meaning that in general, standard English is used in print, in the media, in the judicial system, in government, and in day-to-day business, while Bajan is reserved for less formal situations, in music, or in social commentary. Ethnologue reports that, as of 2018, 30,000 Barbadians were native English speakers, while 260,000 natively spoke Bajan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbadian nationality law</span>

Barbadian nationality law is regulated by 1966 Constitution of Barbados, as amended; the Barbados Citizenship Act, as amended; and various British Nationality laws. These laws determine who is, or is eligible to be, a national of Barbados. Barbadian nationality is typically obtained under the rules of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth to a father or in some cases, a mother, with Barbadian nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country, or to a permanent resident who has lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation. There is currently no program in Barbados for citizenship by investment, though they do have a special work visa program. Nationality establishes one's international identity as a member of a sovereign nation. Though it is not synonymous with citizenship, rights granted under domestic law for domestic purposes, the United Kingdom, and thus the Commonwealth, has traditionally used the words interchangeably.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbadians</span> People who are identified with the country of Barbados

Barbadians, more commonly known as Bajans are people who are identified with the country of Barbados, by being citizens or their descendants in the Bajan diaspora. The connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Bajans, several of those connections exist and are collectively the source of their identity. Bajans are a multi-ethnic and multicultural society of various ethnic, religious and national origins; therefore Bajans do not necessarily equate their ethnicity with their Bajan nationality.

British Nigerians have formed long-established communities in London, Liverpool and other industrial cities. Many Nigerians and their British-born descendants in Britain live in South London, and they are one of the larger immigrant groups in the country.

Latin American migration to the United Kingdom dates back to the early 19th century. However, before the 1970s, when political and civil unrest became rife in many Latin American countries, the United Kingdom's Latin American community was not particularly large. Economic migration to the United Kingdom has since increased. Brazilian and Colombian-born residents are the two largest groups standing at a estimated 95,000 and 36,000 respectively as of 2019. A number of refugees and asylum seekers moved to the UK during the late 20th century, however, since the turn of the century, Latin Americans have been migrating to the UK for a wide range of reasons and at present the community consists of people from all walks of life. The UK is also home to British-born people of Latin American ancestry. During the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis, Britain also became one of the favourite European destinations for some of the roughly 1.4 million Latin Americans who had acquired Spanish citizenship.

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On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned from a parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the hereditary monarch of Barbados to a parliamentary republic with a ceremonial indirectly elected president as head of state. The prime minister remained head of government while the last governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, was elected as the country's first president on 20 October 2021, and took office on 30 November 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Barbados</span> Head of state of Barbados from 1966 to 2021

The monarchy of Barbados was a system of government in which a hereditary monarch was the sovereign and head of state of Barbados from 1966 to 2021. Barbados shared the sovereign with the other Commonwealth realms, with the country's monarchy being separate and legally distinct. The monarch's operational and ceremonial duties were mostly delegated to her representative, the governor-general of Barbados.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados passport</span> Passport issued to citizens of Barbados

A Barbados passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Barbados, in accordance with Citizenship Act from 1978, the Immigration Act from 1997, and the Barbados Constitution, for the purpose of facilitating international travel. It allows the bearer to travel to foreign countries in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from Barbados consular officials abroad, if necessary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados–Canada relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between Canada and Barbados date back to 1907, when the Government of Canada opened a Trade Commissioner Service to the Caribbean region located in Bridgetown, Barbados. Following Barbadian independence from the United Kingdom in November 1966, the Canadian High Commission was established in Bridgetown, Barbados on 27 September 1973. There is a High Commission of Barbados in Ottawa and a Barbadian Consulate in Toronto. The relationship between both nations today partly falls under the larger gambit of Canada–Caribbean relations. As of 2014 it is estimated that as much as 8% of Canadian foreign investments in Barbados.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados–Trinidad and Tobago relations</span> Bilateral relations

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago formally established diplomatic relations on Barbados' national date of independence, 30 November 1966. Barbados maintains non-resident representation to Port of Spain, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago maintains non-resident representation to Bridgetown. Both countries are members of many shared organisations, including the Association of Caribbean States, the Commonwealth of Nations, CARICOM, CARIFORUM, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados–Germany relations</span> Bilateral relations

Barbadian–German relations are foreign relations between Barbados and Germany. Barbados is represented in Germany through its embassy in Brussels, (Belgium) and Germany is represented in Barbados from its regional embassy for the Eastern Caribbean in Port of Spain, and an Honorary Consul in Christ Church. Barbados and Germany formally established diplomatic relations on 14 March 1967.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Country-of-birth database". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  2. ↑ Potter, Robert B.; Phillips, Joan (2008). "'The past is still right here in the present': Second-generation Bajan-Brit transnational migrants' views on issues relating to race and colour class". Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 26 (1): 123–145. doi:10.1068/d80j. S2CID   143225777.
  3. ↑ Holm, John A. (1989). Pidgins and Creoles, Volume II: Reference Survey. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 485–486. ISBN   978-0-521-35940-5.
  4. ↑ Chamberlain, Mary (2005). "Family and identity: Barbadian migrants to Britain". In Benmayor, Rina; Skotnes, Andor (eds.). Migration & Identity (New ed.). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. pp. 119–135. ISBN   978-1-4128-0464-6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Family narratives and migration dynamics: Barbadians to Britain". New West Indian Guide 69 (3/4): 253–275. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  6. ↑ From 2001 onwards, figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
  7. ↑ Chilton, Tony; Kilsby, Peter (9 April 1998). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1997" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2000. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  8. ↑ Chilton, Tony; Kilsby, Peter (20 April 1999). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1998" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2000. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  9. ↑ Kilsby, Peter; McGregor, Rod (8 June 2000). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1999" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2000. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  10. ↑ Dudley, Jill; Harvey, Paul (31 May 2001). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2000" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  11. ↑ Dudley, Jill; Hesketh, Krystina (27 June 2002). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2001" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  12. ↑ Dudley, Jill; Woollacott, Simon (28 August 2003). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2002" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  13. ↑ Dudley, Jill; Woollacott, Simon (24 May 2004). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2003" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  14. ↑ Wolllacot, Simon (17 May 2005). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2004" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Freelove Mensah, John (23 May 2006). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2005" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  16. ↑ Freelove Mensah, John (22 May 2007). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2006" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  17. ↑ Freelove Mensah, John (20 May 2008). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2007" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  18. ↑ Danzelman, Philip (20 May 2009). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2008" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  19. ↑ Danzelman, Philip (27 May 2010). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2009" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  20. ↑ "Community carnival in 32nd year". BBC News. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  21. ↑ Midgley, Emma (6 October 2009). "Reading's Caribbean connections". BBC Berkshire. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  22. 1 2 3 Straw, Michelle; Patrick, Peter L. (2007). "Dialect acquisition of glottal variation in /t/: Barbadians in Ipswich". Language Sciences. 29 (2–3): 385–407. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.63.2596 . doi:10.1016/j.langsci.2006.12.025.
  23. ↑ Padmore, Hilly (August 2008). "The dawn of a new age" (PDF). National Council of Barbadian Associations (UK). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  24. ↑ English influence and language in Barbados
  25. 1 2 "Barbados, Caribbean's Little England, debates dumping the queen". Associated Press. 1 October 2000. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  26. ↑ Cricket in Barbados, a sport and pastime
  27. ↑ Influence of the African slave trade on Barbadian culture
  28. ↑ Dennis Bovell Bio
  29. ↑ Jimmy Senya Haynes of Steel Pulse
  30. ↑ Des'ree bio
  31. ↑ "Chris Jordan". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  32. ↑ Emerson Boyce at Soccerbase
  33. ↑ Ashley Cole – Chelsea FC – Player profiles
  34. ↑ Michael Gilkes at Soccerbase
  35. ↑ "Paul Ifill". Crystal Palace F.C. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  36. ↑ Paul Ifill at Soccerbase
  37. ↑ "Walter Tull: Footballer and soldier". 100 Great Black Britons. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  38. ↑ The best rum houses in Barbados
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