The Bahamas is home to a rich and diverse culture. The west African culture is a major influence to the Bahamians. This diverse and rich culture is a result of it’s history and heritage. From West Africans who immigrated to the Bahamas after being forced into slavery working on cotton plantations in America to English puritans who settled in the Bermuda in search of religious freedom.

Bahamian Culture Music & People

Music

Bahamian music is inspired by Caribbean Reggae, Calypso, Rake n’ Scrape and it’s own Junkanoo. The music of the Bahamas is that of celebration and history, and you cannot leave the Bahamas without feeling and enjoying the beats of its music.

Junkanoo

Junkanoo is a Bahamian Festival similar to Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival and New Orleans Mardi Gras, however, very Bahamian in its own nature. The term Junkanoo is derived from “John Canoe” an African tribal chief who demanded he be allowed the right to celebrate with his people. Junkanoo is believed to have started in the 16th or 17th century. This celebration allowed slaves days off during the Christmas holidays to leave the plantations to be with their families.

Bahamian Food

To truly experience the Bahamian culture, the Junkanoo Festival is a must. It’s celebrated every December 26 on Boxing Day, and January 1st , New Year’s Day from 2:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. Bimini is one of the Islands of the Bahamas that hosts this colorful and fun celebration.

Bahamian restaurant

Cuisine at Bahamas

Although you can find any international food in the Bahamas, you must experience the tasty delight of the Bahamian cuisine, that’s specially if you are a seafood lover. The Bahamian cuisine consists mostly of succulent fresh seafood. Conchs pronounced “konk” is a predominant shellfish in Bahamian cuisine. There are many ways to serve this local favorite, you can prepare a rich conch chowder, conch stew, conch salad, conch fritters or conch ceviche, which is prepared by pouring lime juice, minced onions and spicy condiments onto raw conchs and let the juices cook the meat. Don’t miss out on the delicious Bahamian Cuisine and you cannot forget the refreshing “Bahama Mama”.

The people of the Bahamas will make sure that you learn and enjoy of this beautiful melting pot of cultures.

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