Greetings! We recently returned from a trip to The Bahamas. This is a country that I have already visited, but because those visits were before I established my blog, I’m creating a post to share information that I learned on this trip to Nassau.
The Bahamas is an archipelago that stretches about 500 miles (800km) in the West Indies, between the southeastern tip of Florida (60 miles/100km) and the eastern tip of Cuba (50miles/80km). It is made up of 700 islands, 30 of which are inhabited, and most of the inhabitants (270,000) live in Nassau (the capital of The Bahamas) on New Providence Island, which is 80sqmi/207sqkm.
The Bahamas was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus, but was actually originally inhabited by the Arawak natives and Indians from Cuba. When Columbus arrived, the entire population was made enslaved and sent to Hispaniola (the land that is now made up of Haiti and The Dominican Republic). The inhabitants that were left were exposed to the diseases that Columbus brought to the island, wiping out the entire population after about 20 years. The islands were repopulated from the 1700s onwards, as people came from all over the world to live there. To date, every continent (except Antarctica) is represented on the islands of the Bahamas.
The Bahamian Flag colors represent: black for the strength of the people; gold for the sun and sand; aquamarine for the Caribbean Sea that surrounds the islands.
Interesting Fact: All buildings in The Bahamas are made with steel and cement, and are reinforced to protect against hurricanes. The islands have been mostly spared from significant damage from hurricanes over the past few decades, but while the buildings may not sustain much damage, the roofs undoubtedly will, as they are not made from the same materials.
In 1692, the British took interest in The Bahamas, and Nassau was called Charles Towne, named after King Charles II. Nassau was overrun by pirates until King George ran them out in 1729 using a privateer (basically a private pirate, referred to as an “undercover snitch”). The percentage of what he made from pirating went to The Crown, and they subsequently eradicated piracy within one year.
In 1776, Nassau was captured by the United States Navy during their attempt to find supplies for the American Revolution. The islands were subsequently ruled by Spain and then Britain. During the time of the American Revolution, “Loyalists” fled from Florida and Georgia to The Bahamas to avoid being kicked out of the U.S. They brought their slaves with them, which is how slavery came to Nassau, lasting 60 years (abolished in August of 1864 by Queen Victoria). Unlike in the United States, slave families were able to stay together, allowing the parents to raise their children. In addition, the slaves were reportedly treated more like indentured servants; however, there were several slave revolts leading up to the abolition of slavery.
While attempts were made to establish economic stability in The Bahamas after the American Civil War and after the end of Prohibition, the foundation for stability came after World War II (WWII), when a strong infrastructure was put in place for tourism.
The Bahamas had been mostly self-governed for several years before they attained total independence on July 10, 1973. They are still part of the Commonwealth of Nations, meaning that their Overall Head of State is King George. The Bahamas also has a Governor General, who is a more functional Head of State, and is not elected for their five-year term. They also have a Prime Minister, who is elected to a five-year term, and functions like the president of the United States, but can be elected multiple times. The Bahamas is considered a Democratic country (“everyone is a Democrat”), within which there are two parties.
The Bahamas is known for their Junkanoo (junk-uh-new) Parade, which is a national festival that takes place yearly on December 26 (Boxing Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day). While its origin is unknown, the roots are traced back to a West African tribal chief named John Canoe, who demanded to be able to celebrate his culture with his compatriots after being brought as slaves to the West Indies. The parade is a colorful experience, featuring multiple costumes and an accompaniment of cowbells and other musical beats. It was described as being “like Mardi Gras and Carnival with more clothing.” The parade is actually a competition that offers monetary prizes, but the primary “prize” is bragging rights, as the parade represents what it means to be Bahamian.
The Bahamas is known for its conch, and you can find many iterations of dishes made with conch. They are also known for their Jerk Chicken, and popular side dishes include peas and rice, macaroni and cheese casserole, and plantains.
The Bahamas is a beautiful set of islands with amazing weather, friendly people, and delicious food! While we only experienced the island of New Providence, we look forward to returning and checking out some of the surrounding outlying islands. Until next time, take care and be well…