Culture

 

Bahamian culture is a hybrid of African and European cultures. Though increasingly influenced by commercialisation (due to tourism) and American music and television, but dipiete this Bahamian culture retains much of its uniqueness.

Bahamian culture is related to other creole cultures throughout the Caribbean Basin, but also to the Gullah culture in coastal South Carolina and Georgia in the United States. Many Gullah people were taken to the Bahamas after the American Revolutionary War.

Religion:



St. Peter Church in Long Island, Bahamas.



 Most Bahamians are adherents to Christianity and attend Mass on a weekly basis. . It is believed that if one dies "in christ" ,he goes to rest and can help the living; if one who is ungodly dies, thier spirit wanders frightening and hurting people. Religion is givien the utmost importance within Bahamian society.

 In addition, the largely hidden and rarely-mentioned practice of Obeah, is still said to persist. Obeah is a type of sorcery, which is sometimes compared with Haitian Voodoo.



Junkanoo Festival.



Music:
Junkanoo music is indigenous to the Bahamas. It is associated primarily with Junkanoo, a type of street carnival which occurs on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). The parades are characterized by spectacular costumes and powerful rhythms beaten traditionally on goatskin drums as well as rich brass bands and shaking cow bells. Bahamian music also incorporates other Caribbean forms such as Calypso, Trinidadian Soca and Jamaican Reggae, as well as American-inspired Rap and Hip Hop.
Bahamian music has clear connections to African forms, drums and dances such as the fire dance and the ringplay can be traced to Africa.