The Bahamas, an archipelago of almost 700 islands and cays to the north of Cuba, stretches for more than 800 km between Grand Bahama Island and Great Inagua Island. The thriving Creole community has grown as a result of the islands’ unique position at the gateway to the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Central American region.
The Bahamas has a unique history, where a vibrant mixed culture has incorporated aspects of African, American and European heritage. Only around 30 of the islands, on the northwestern edge of the West Indies, are inhabited. English, French and Creole are the main languages spoken, with English being the official language.
Formerly a British colony, The Bahamas has been an independent country within the Commonwealth since 1973. With a population of around 393,000 people, it has an intriguing history of piracy, colonialism and cotton. Sadly, slavery is also part of the Bahamas’ story.
History of The Bahamas
The first known inhabitants of the Bahamas date back to around 300 AD when early indigenous people travelled there from Cuba to create settlements. They built peaceful fishing communities and relied on the ocean for food.
The original natives of most of the Caribbean islands were of Lucayan descent, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, the northern Lesser Antilles, Haiti and Puerto Rico. They spoke an Arawakan dialect known as Taino.
The Lucayan community was highly advanced, with viable political, religious and social systems. The Bahamas’ population grew significantly between around 500 AD and 800 AD, as immigrants arrived from other Caribbean islands. They enjoyed a peaceful life and lived in harmony until the 15th century when the first Europeans arrived.
The Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, arrived with several ships on a Spanish voyage of discovery on 12th October 1492. They landed on the island of Guanahani, which Columbus later renamed San Salvador. He described the nation as the islands of the “baja mar”, meaning shallow sea. This is where the name, the Bahamas, originated.
There were around 40,000 Lucayans inhabiting the Bahamas at this time. Columbus made contact with the people on Guanahani, exchanging goods with them. He claimed the islands for the Crown of Castile and continued his voyage, exploring the larger islands of the Greater Antilles.
In 1494, European leaders drew up the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing Columbus’s newly-discovered territories between the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Portugal. The Bahamas was placed in the Spanish sphere. The Lucayans’ peaceful nature made them an easy target for the European powers.
Hardships of slavery
The Lucayan people had lived peacefully in the Bahamas for centuries, but within 25 years of the Spanish claiming the kingdom, they had been forced into slavery. Disease, poverty and hardships ensued as the indigenous people were exploited.
Many were sent to Hispaniola and used as forced labour, with hundreds transported to San Domingo to work down the mines. The enslaved population lived and worked in harsh conditions and many died of diseases from which they had no immunity.
Around 50% of the enslaved people died from smallpox alone. The population of the Bahamas was significantly diminished as a result throughout the 16th century and beyond.
The culture of the Bahamas began to diversify as a result of the native population mixing with people of many different heritages. In the mid-1600s, inhabitants from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera. English Puritans arrived in the Bahamas searching for religious freedom. They were followed by other British colonists.
Instead of the freedom they sought, they arrived in a nation of food shortages, with the local people living in poverty and facing daily challenges just to survive.
Captain William Sayle, a prominent British land owner, who became Governor of Bermuda in 1643, was shocked by what he found. He sailed to the American colonies of the Caribbean for help. He received supplies from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and returned with food for the impoverished people.
Era of pirates
Due to the Bahamas’ location, it became a region where piracy was rife. The Pirates Museum of Nassau tells the story of the notorious Blackbeard, Calico Jack and female pirates such as Mary Read and Anne Bonny, who disguised themselves as men to become pirates.
The Bahamas’ shallow waters around 700 islands became hiding places for stolen treasure. The pirates would also lie in wait to raid merchant ships, due to the islands’ close proximity to shipping lanes.
Rumours of hidden treasure persist today. British pirate William Catt was said to have buried his loot on Cat Island, while the wealthy privateer, Sir Henry Morgan, reportedly buried treasure all over the islands.
The mixed culture of the Bahamas during this period in history led to the widespread Creolisation of the islands, with two major languages evolving.
English or Bahamian Creole is a hybrid Creole created by mixing the local dialect with standard English. It is spoken by around 75% of the population today. The remaining 25% speak Haitian Creole, based on the French language. Creole was a way of finding a common ground that enabled the people of many different heritages to communicate.
The main commodity of the Bahamas was cotton, so for the poorer communities, the hardships of life persisted as they worked in the fields for little pay. Pirates continued to loot the heavily-laden cargo ships and it was a time of lawlessness and conflict.
In 1718, Britain finally colonised the Bahamas, arriving in a 460-ton warship with a convoy of six other vessels, including Royal Navy ships. The Royal Governor, Woodes Rogers, succeeded in restoring order, offering amnesty to pirates who surrendered. Around 300 pirates gave themselves up. Those who didn’t were hanged if caught.
At the end of the 18th century, American colonists loyal to Britain arrived in the Bahamas, many bringing slaves, adding to the diversity of the islands. They brought agriculture and building skills. Slavery was outlawed in 1834, so the freed slaves began to improve their lives.
The 1898 Hotel and Steam Ship Service Act opened the Bahamas up to the world as a tourist destination. With government support, luxury hotels were erected. Well-to-do Americans began frequenting the Bahamas and tourism became the main industry of the islands.
The Bahamas finally became a free and sovereign country on 10th July 1973, ending British rule. The nation remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Language of The Bahamas
While the official language of the Bahamas is English, Bahamian Creole and Haitian Creole are widely spoken. Many locals believe the Creole language is a vital aspect of the Bahamas’ heritage and national identity.
Out of a population of more than 393,200 people, an estimated 250,000 speak Bahamian Creole. The mass media officially endorses the use of standard English, but Bahamian Creole is making inroads. A lot of newspapers are still written in English, but Creole is employed in cartoons or columns, creating realism in informal speech.
Haitian Creole isn’t taught in elementary or high schools, but every year, more than 250 students enrol at the College of The Bahamas on introductory courses to fulfil their mandatory foreign language curriculum requirements.
The important role of Creole in the education system can be seen against a backdrop of the evolution of the Bahamas from a colonial-type society to an independent nation. Most of the population received only a rudimentary education in the colonial days.
Today, the Bahamas is an independent nation with diversifying economies based on service-related industries such as tourism. Following independence in 1973, there was a dramatic increase in educational spending and more schools opened.
The most significant change was replacing the mainly British expatriate teachers with trained local teachers. The policy was dubbed the “Bahamianisation” of the educational system. Educated Creole speakers who regard Creole as their “own” language are teaching students today.
Creole culture in The Bahamas
The many colonial settlements have become a part of the architectural heritage of the Bahamas. The island of Providence is increasingly a vast complex of hotels, but most of the archipelago remains unspoiled in architectural terms.
The early settlers applied the mastery of wooden shipbuilding to their homes. The majority of the older houses measure 9 metres by 12 metres, the average size of the logs used. Many have the traditional Creole styling of a veranda on between one and three sides of the house.
The veranda is covered with an overhanging roof, supported by thin columns. The carved wooden mantling, chiselled wooden terrace and scalloped walls complete the design. The small Creole homes in many of the villages are made of wooden slats painted in bright, pastel colours.
Many are two-coloured, such as white with a dominant second colour, including turquoise, pink, yellow, mauve, indigo, red or vibrant green. All of the shades are cheerful and contrast with the sky. The sumptuous gardens, filled with tropical flowers tumbling down the walls, enclose the brightly-coloured huts.
Creole cuisine in The Bahamas
Typical Creole food, such as fish and shellfish, is an important part of Bahamian cuisine. Accompaniments include rice, potatoes, tropical fruits and peas. Pork and goat are often eaten, with the most popular seasonings including garlic, onions, coconut, chilli peppers, cinnamon and lime.
The food is an interesting fusion of Creole dishes with ingredients from other cultures, such as split pea soup, souse – a soup of chicken, potatoes, lime and pepper – stewed fish and conch chowder. Conch, a mollusc with white flesh, can be served with vegetables and lime juice, deep-fried, stewed, or steamed.
Typical side dishes include potato salad, or baked macaroni and cheese, while desserts such as rum cake, sweet tarts, bread pudding and guava are widely eaten. Popular beverages include coconut water, fruit juice and lemonade made from local citrus fruits, including limes. The alcoholic drinks include rum, the Bahamian beer Sky Juice, Planter’s Punch and Goombay Smash.
Music and dance
Music and dance are important parts of Bahamian life. There are various traditional celebrations throughout the year that feature singing, dancing, parades and concerts. The most popular types of music are Afro-Caribbean and include Calypso, reggae and soca, a more soulful and rhythmic version of calypso.
The religious anthems of Bahamian sacred music have the same structure as the songs of the slave era. They were first sung by the mostly enslaved Creole people from North America, who were brought to the Bahamas by the British loyalists towards the end of the 18th century.
The Junkanoo street parade is a celebration on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Music is created with traditional instruments, such as goatskin drums and cowbells.
The Creole heritage and language are massively important in the Bahamas, as they are a big part of everyday life all over the islands. The Creole population was an estimated 40% of the total population in the mid-18th century when slavery was abolished. Today, around 85% of the population identifies as being of African Creole descent.
The growth of luxury mass tourism is providing an economic boost for the islands, where the rich Creole heritage and culture are an integral part of the visitor experience, as well as local life.
