Barbados

The Name Barbados comes from Portuguese name 'Os Barbados' which means bearded one, because of the bearded fig trees that used to cover the island.

Historical Background of Barbados

In 1627, a small group of Englishmen arrived from England, bringing a handful of African captures during the sea voyage, where they formed England’s second colony in the Caribbean Islands.

From 1651 to 1807, the last year of British slave trade, according to book estimate that 352,884 slaves arrived at the island; on the other land, Curtin estimates 368,200 for the same period.

The main crop in Barbados was sugar cane which became a huge commodity on the island.

Maroon Histories

Around the mid-1636, Barbados was inhabited with about 6,000 English and established slave trade bringing Africans to Barbadian shores.

1643-45 estimate 5,680 to 6,400 slaves and 18,300 to 18,600 European males.

Barbados has a mixture of African, British and other influences. According to Totally Barbados, Barbados has 90% African descent, 6% Indian, Asian and mixed races and 4% European descent.

Slave Revolt

The end of Napoleonic Wars in 1815 led to a drop in the sugar market .

Barbadians had debated and pleaded with the imperial government about registration of colonial slaves.

As a result a rebellion broke out on Easter Sunday night April 14, 1816 at a time when the slaves were free from work.

Up to seventy estates were affected and the residents’ whites fled to Oistin fort or Bridgetown in panic.

Two whites were killed. About 100 slaves were killed, 144 executed, 170 deported and roaming slaves were shot on the spot.

Negro houses were burned and captives were tortured . Convicted rebels were executed publicly in different parts of the island .

The slave revolt became known as the Bussa Rebellion by ordinary Barbadians after a slave from bailey’s estate, St. Philip.

Foodways of Barbados

Flying Fish Coo CooRotiPlantain Sugar CaneOkra

Music

Calypso http://youtu.be/nuwx1fobpJI

Tuk bands

Spouge http://youtu.be/4adRtLgI1c4

Dance

Barbadian folk dances are performed at Landship and Barbados festival which is known as crop over.

The origins of Crop Over can be traced back to 1780s when Barbados was the largest producer of sugar. Since the revival of Crop Over, the festival has become a form cultural expression on the island.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9e9qyHTgJs&list=WLCAB67BCD404FC2EA

Crop Over Festival

Religious

Religion and folk music are intertwined in the daily lives of most Barbadians. The basis for religious folk music is the Anglican hymn, which is a kind of praise song normally sung on Sundays. A day when Christian Barbadians come together with family members to sing and praise God.

Present Day Issues

According to UN data, in 2010 unemployment went to 10.8% compared to 9.1 in 2005. Currently, there is no statics on employment in the industrial sector for 2010 however, in 2005 the employment rate was 17.3%.

According to the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS), the total value of imports fell by 10.8 per cent or $289.2 million to $2,393.6 million in 2010.

Due to the global recession, the fiscal deficit 2010/2011 was estimated at 8.8 per cent of GDP compared with 8.5 per cent for the period 2009/2010.

Barbadian communities living in the US

In the 2010 U.S. Census estimation reported over 100,000 to 150,000 Barbadian Americans live in the U.S. The majority of Bajans reside in the New York City area extending from Rhode Island to Delaware. In years gone some also moved to the area of Chicago, Illinois.