| Culture of Antigua and Barbuda |
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The traditions of West Africa and the United Kingdom have the biggest impact on the culture of Antigua and Barbuda. As a crucial component of its culture, Antigua and Barbuda also has its own creole language.
| Culture of Antigua and Barbuda |
|---|
The traditions of West Africa and the United Kingdom have the biggest impact on the culture of Antigua and Barbuda. As a crucial component of its culture, Antigua and Barbuda also has its own creole language.
The Arawak people, who lived in Antigua and Barbuda prior to the arrival of Europeans, were the first artists there. The earliest artwork in the nation, including petroglyphs and pictographs, was created by the Arawak people. It is thought that these artworks, which include geometric designs, animals, and plants, were used for religious or ceremonial purposes. [1]
Due to the fact that the majority of the population of Antigua and Barbuda descends from West Africans who were taken as slaves by Europeans, their music has predominantly an African character and has only had a small amount of influence from European forms. [2] Christopher Columbus' 1493 sighting of Antigua, which was then inhabited by Arawak and Carib people, marked the first of recorded music in Antigua and Barbuda. Early music from the islands has, however, received scant research. There is historical evidence of African laborers dancing outdoors in the 1780s to the toombah (later tum tum), a drum embellished with shell and tin jingles, and the banjar (later bangoe, maybe linked to the banjo). [3]
The majority of contemporary Antiguan and Barbudan musical genres were brought to the islands from France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Highland fling and quadrille are two classic colonial dance forms that have been adapted for African audiences. The lack of a French colonial past (French islands of the Lesser Antilles retain much music and dance that is derived from Africa), the influence of the wealthy Codrington family, a relatively homogenous African ethnic identity, the absence of African immigration following the peak of slavery importation, the British military presence at Shirley Heights, and a recent history of unstable economy and government are all factors that contributed to the loss of Antiguan traditions. [2]
An upbeat folk genre from Antigua called Benna (or Bennah) was created after slavery was outlawed. Call-and-response songs featuring a leader and an audience typically focused on racy and lewd rumors and gossip. Because of Benna's appeal and similarities to calypso, the island was more open to the introduction of that genre. King Short Shirt, a contemporary singer, has made an effort to revitalize the benna. His groundbreaking 1977 album Harambee started updating the benna with social and political awareness. [2] It had developed into a popular means of communication by the turn of the 20th century, spreading information from all over the island. [4]
The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of the emancipation of slavery in the country held annually from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. The most important day is that of the j'ouvert (or juvé), in which brass and steel bands perform for much of the island's population. Barbuda's Carnival, held in June, is known as Caribana. The Antiguan and Barbudan Carnivals replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957, with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. Some elements of the Christmas Festival remain in the modern Carnival celebrations.
It is a ten-day festival of colorful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and especially good music. The festivities, which celebrate emancipation, range from the Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch competitions of Calypsonians, the Panorama steel band competition, and the spectacular Parade of Bands to the Miss Antigua Pageant and the Caribbean Queen's Competition. In addition to these major events, the nonstop revelry of this eleven-day carnival includes innumerable smaller festivities, including local concerts, food fairs, parades, and cultural shows.A week-long boat race called Antigua Sailing Week takes place in the waters near English Harbour in the parish of St. Paul's, Antigua. One of Antigua's most notable occasions is it. [5] It was established in 1967 [6] and is regarded as one of the top regattas in the world, averaging 100 yachts, 1500 competitors, and 5000 spectators each year. In its height, the occasion regularly drew 150–200 yachts. [7] The event concludes with an official prize-giving ceremony presided over by the Governor-General at the end of the week. [8] [9] There are five main races held, including the English Harbour race. [10]
Large sailing vessels compete in the Superyacht Cup, an annual sailing competition, in Nelson's Dockyard on the Caribbean island of Antigua. By the Superyacht Cup team from Palma, Majorca, it was first held in 2006. [11] [12] [13]
The cuisine is unique to Antigua and Barbuda and certain other Caribbean nations. The local food has evolved to include regional delicacies from other Caribbean nations, such as jerk meats from Jamaica or roti from Trinidad. The national meals of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all include cou-cou, also known as coo-coo (in the Windward Islands), or fungie (in the Leeward Islands and Dominica). Okra (ochroes) and cornmeal (corn flour) make up the majority of it. [14] The Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and many more produce ducana, a sweet potato dumpling or pudding. They contain raisins, ginger, grated nutmeg, sweet potato and coconut that have been grated, sugar, flour, coconut milk and/or water, and essence or vanilla extract. The mixture is stirred in a bowl until a spoon can be dipped into it with ease. The cooking process is very straightforward, but the wrapping is frequently in dispute. The combination can be cooked wrapped in foil, although some people like to cook it wrapped in banana, [15] seashore grape, or coccoloba [16] leaves. The wrapped ingredients must be cooked in salted water for approximately 25 minutes, or until the mixture inside the wrapping is firm, whichever comes first.
Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign island country in the West Indies. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.
The history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the period from the arrival of the Archaic peoples thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The island was claimed by England, who settled the islands in 1632. Under English/British control, the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves migrate to the island. In 1981, the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.
Barbuda is an island located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda as an autonomous entity. Barbuda is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. The sole settlements on the island are Codrington and its surrounding localities. Barbuda is a flat island with the western portion being dominated by Codrington Lagoon, and the eastern portion being dominated by the Barbuda Highlands, with salty ponds and scrubland spread throughout the island. The climate is classified as tropical marine.
The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
The music of Antigua and Barbuda is largely African in character, and has only felt a limited influence from European styles due to the population of Antigua and Barbuda descending mostly from West Africans who were made slaves by Europeans.
The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, a member of the CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Antigua, also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the most populous island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 November 1981.
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of the emancipation of slavery in the country held annually from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. The most important day is that of the j'ouvert, in which brass and steel bands perform for much of the island's population. Barbuda's Carnival, held in June, is known as Caribana. The Antiguan and Barbudan Carnivals replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957, with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. Some elements of the Christmas Festival remain in the modern Carnival celebrations.
Benna is a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Antigua and Barbuda:
Antiguans and Barbudans in the United Kingdom are residents or citizens of the United Kingdom who can trace their roots to Antigua and Barbuda.
Duckunoo or duckanoo, also referred to as tie-a-leaf, blue drawers (draws), dokonon, and dukunou is a dessert in Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, French Guiana and some other Lesser Antilles. It is a variation on the dish ducana which originated in Africa. The Caribbean cuisine dish is made from batata, sweet potato, coconut, spices and brown sugar, all tied up in a banana leaf. It is then cooked in boiling water.
Antigua Sailing Week is a week long yacht regatta held in the waters off English Harbour, St Pauls Antigua. It is one of Antigua's most notable events. Founded in 1967, it is cited as one of the top regattas in the world with 100 yachts, 1500 participants and 5000 spectators on average annually. At its heyday, the event attracted an average 150-200 yachts In 2019 the regatta was held between 27 April and 3 May and the 2020 saw the first ever cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, 24 countries were represented at the regatta. There are five main races held, including the English Harbour race, and at the end of the week the event finishes with an official prize-giving ceremony presided by the Governor-General.
Afro-Antiguans and Afro-Barbudans are Antiguans and Barbudans of entirely or predominantly African ancestry.
Antiguan and Barbudan nationality law is regulated by the 1981 Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, the various Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Acts, the Millennium Naturalisation Act of 2004, and various British Nationality laws. These laws determine who is, or is eligible to be, a national of Antigua and Barbuda. Antiguan and Barbudan nationality is typically obtained either on the principle of jus soli, i.e. by birth in Antigua and Barbuda; or under the rules of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth abroad to a parent with Antiguan or Barbudan nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country, by investment in the country's development, or to a permanent resident who has lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation. 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.
Squatting in the island country of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Historically, native Barbudans were seen as squatters and after Hurricane Irma in 2017, Prime Minister Gaston Browne offered people he termed squatters the chance to buy their land.
Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) are related through a long common history spanning from 1632 for Antigua, and 1678 for the smaller sister-isle of Barbuda through until 1981 for the joint-state. Antigua was one of the oldest English settlements in the West Indies, and served as a British hub of regional administration for the surrounding Leeward Islands.
Royal tours of Antigua and Barbuda by its royal family have been taking place since the 20th century. Elizabeth II, Queen of Antigua and Barbuda, visited the country thrice: 1966, 1977, and 1985.
Art in Antigua and Barbuda began with the Arawak people, who inhabited the country before the arrival of Europeans. The Arawaks produced the oldest works of art in the country, including petroglyphs and pictographs. These artworks, which feature geometric shapes, animals, and vegetation, are believed to have been employed for religious or ceremonial purposes.