Caribbean Calypso
Nov 29, 2004, 17:07
'Little England' may be a misnomer, since the Bajans are as West Indian as any of their neighbours and do not subscribe to English customs, rather they appropriate them. This is evident in local cricket matches, old stone Anglican churches, horse races on Saturdays and portraits of Bessie on every wall.
Visitors who come to the island are looking for the reassuring melange of the familiar, with just enough local flavour to feel exotic. Travellers wanting to explore undeveloped should go elsewhere, since good watersports and nightlife are two aspects of the island that betray its dependence upon tourism.
Very little Latin influence remains on Barbados, save its Portuguese name, since the island has not been invaded for 400 years, meaning that British culture has dominated for centuries.
Barbados is synonymous with leather and willow: Bajans boast more world-class cricket players than any other nation, including Garfield Sobers, who was knighted in 1975. Sir Frank Worrell also appears on the face of Barbados' five-dollar bill.
West Indian culture is strong in areas such as family life, food and music. Mighty Gabby, a calypso artist whose political songs speak of injustice and burgeoning negritude is a famous son of the island. Its history of racial segregation and discrimination by the white minority against the black majority makes for a fascinating backdrop to the jet-skis and palm trees.
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