Caribbean
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Trinidad & Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago.
Culture:
The culture of Trinidad and Tobago reflects the influence of African, French, Amerindian, Chinese, British, Indian and to a lesser extent Spanish and Portuguese cultures. The histories of Trinidad and Tobago are different, and there are contrasts in the cultural influences which have shaped each island. There are also regional differences within each island.
Trinidad and Tobago is an English-speaking country with strong links to the United Kingdom. Historical membership in the British Empire left a major influence on the country, including the dominance of the English language and the popularity of the two top sports in the country, football and cricket.
Cuisine:
Trinidad and Tobago cuisine is indicative of the blends of Indian, African, Creole, Amerindian, European, Chinese and Lebanese gastronomic influences.[1][2] Trinidad and Tobago has one of the most diverse cuisines in the Caribbean and is known throughout the world. There are more than one national dishes, in fact, there are so many that T&T may have more national dishes than any other country, national dhishes include Callaloo, Bake & Shark, Doubles, Pelau, Curried crab & dumplings, Oil Down, Pastelles, Black Cake, DHal Puri Roti, Buss-up-shot Roti (Paratha), Murtanie (a.k.a. Mother-in-law) and Souse. They also eat boiled mashed plantains, known locally as crushed bananas.
The cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago draws upon the varied origins of its people. Three influences predominate, Creole, Indian and Chinese cuisine.
Creole food commonly includes callaloo, macaroni pie and red beans. Indian food is based on curry. Although the Chinese element in the population is small, it is cooked in most homes,[why?] and is served in almost all sit-down restaurants.
Music:
The music of Trinidad and Tobago is best known for its calypso music, soca music and steelpan, including its internationally noted performances in the 1950s from native artists such as Lord Kitchener and Mighty Sparrow. The art form was most popularised at that time by Harry Belafonte. Along with folk songs and African- and Indian-based classical forms, cross-cultural interactions have produced other indigenous forms of music including soca, rapso, parang, chutney, and other derivative and fusion styles. There are also local communities which practise and experiment with international classical and pop music, often fusing them with local steelpan instruments.
Ethnic Racial Composition:
* 35% East Indian (Including European-East Indian Mix)
* 34% Black & Mulatto
* 23% Multiracial (mostly Douglas and Douglas with some European, Amerindian, and Chinese admixture)
* 8% Others (mostly Whites, some Chinese and Arabs)
People:
The ethnic composition of Trinidad and Tobago reflects a history of conquest and immigration.[52] While the earliest inhabitants were of Amerindian heritage, since the 20th Century the two dominant groups in the country were those of South Asian and of African heritage. Indo-Trinidadians make up the country's largest ethnic group (approximately 37.6%). They are primarily descendants from indentured workers from India, brought to replace freed African slaves who refused to continue working on the sugar plantations. Through cultural preservation some residents of Indian descent continue to maintain traditions from their ancestral homelands.
Afro-Trinidadian and Tobagonians make up the country's second largest ethnic group, with approximately 36.3% of the population identifying as being of African descent. People of African background were brought to the island as slaves as early as the 16th century. 24.4% of the population identified in the 2011 census as being of "mixed" ethnic heritage. There are small but significant minorities of people of European, Chinese, and Arab descent residing in Trinidad and Tobago.
Languages:
The official language of Trinidad and Tobago is English. They also speak a local dialect in informal situations, known as locally "dialect". The dialect of both Trinidad and Tobago have their roots with British and Hiberno English, with influences from West African languages. However, the english dialect of Trinidad has some French and East Indian influences.
Some of the early Indian arrivals to the island speak Bhojpuri, though native speakers of the language decreased over time. Currently very few residents of Indian background continue to speak languages from their ancestral homelands. Attempts are being made to preserve the Bhojpuri language in the country, including the promotion of an Indo-Trinidadian musical form called Pichakaree, which is typically sung in a mixture of English, Hindi and Bhojpuri.
Religion:
Many different religions are present in Trinidad and Tobago. Among Christian denominations (65.7%) are Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Seventh-day Adventists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Jehovah's Witnesses and other Evangelical groups. Other religious groups include Hindus (25.6%) and Muslims (6.6%) (2000 census).[56]
Two African syncretic faiths, the Shouter or Spiritual Baptists and the Orisha faith (formerly called Shangos, a less than complimentary term) are among the fastest growing religious groups.
Similarly, there is a noticeable increase in numbers of evangelical and fundamentalist churches usually lumped as "Pentecostal" by most Trinidadians (although this designation is often inaccurate).
A small Jewish community exists on the islands, and several Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Taoism are followed by the Chinese community. There is also a small Baha'i community.
Sports:
Trinidad and Tobago is an English-speaking country with strong links to the United Kingdom. Historical membership in the British Empire left a major influence on the country, including the dominance of the English language and the popularity of the two top sports in the country, football and cricket.
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