Culture of the Virgin Islands
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Virgin Islander culture represents the various peoples that have inhabited the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands throughout history. Although both countries are politically separate, they maintain close cultural ties.
Like most of the English speaking Caribbean, Virgin Islander culture derives chiefly from West African, European, and American influences.
Virgin Islander culture is syncretic, based primarily on African and European cultures. Though the Danish controlled the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands for many years, the dominant language has been an English-based Creole since the 19th century, and the islands remain much more receptive to English language popular culture than any other. The Dutch, the French and the Danish also contributed elements to the island's culture, as have immigrants from the Arab world, India and other Caribbean islands. The single largest influence on modern Virgin Islander culture, however, comes from the Africans enslaved to work in canefields from the 17th to the mid-19th century. These African slaves brought with them traditions from across a wide swathe of Africa, including what is now Nigeria, Senegal, both Congos, Gambia and Ghana.[1]
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[edit] Cuisine
Funji pronounced (fun-gee) cornmeal cooked boiled and cooked to a thick consistency, okra included.Mostly eaten with saltfish. Callaloo- soup made from callaloo bush/leaf. Meat and okra added boiled to a thick stew consistnecy. Lindee or Lindy- juice frozen in a cup flavors vary Pate- patty with various meats including beef and saltfish. Fruits Sour apple Mango Papaya Soursap Jojo Sea Grapes Tamarind's( can be made in a sweet stew or rolled in sweet balls) goose berries (small green sour fruit, smaller than a grape. Mainly stewed together with sugar for a sweet snack.
[edit] Music
[edit] Language
The official language of both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands is English. However, Virgin Islands Creole is spoken in informal situations.
[edit] Sports
Americanization in the U.S. Virgin Islands has led to the preponderance of American sports such as baseball, American football and basketball, while more traditionally West Indian sports such as cricket and soccer are also played. Americanization in sports can be seen in the British Virgin Islands, as well. For example, basketball is much more widely played than cricket, one of the most popular sports in the Anglophone Caribbean.
Although cricket is not as popular in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as it is in the British West Indies, it is possible the sport will take off in due time in the territory, as Sir Allen Stanford, owner of the 20/20 cricket tournament in Antigua, has made plans to relocate his operations to St. Croix.
[edit] Literature
[edit] Dance
In contemporary Virgin Islands society, there are various dance traditions, given its history of migration. The dance most commonly associated with indigenous Virgin Islander culture is the quadrille, which is also performed in many other Caribbean islands. Other dances include bachata, meringue and salsa, which were brought to the islands by immigrants from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
[edit] Theatre
[edit] Religion
Christianity is the leading religion with a large Roman Catholic contingent along with various Protestant denominations. Like many other Caribbean islands, there is a significant Rastafari presence. A very small number of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern religions people live on the islands.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sheehy, pp 968-974
