Culture of Grenada

Grenada's French colonists brought along their culture, as did the African slaves they brought across the Atlantic for agricultural work. The combination of these cultures is what you will find on this island. Indians have also influenced the island culture in more recent years.

Importantly, many descendants of the first African Grenadians have maintained their own tribal knowledge. Many Grenadians are aware of the tribe from which their ancestors came, and their dance styles have been maintained throughout the island.

With the passing of the Slave Trade Act 1807 by the British Parliament and the subsequent Abolishing of Slavery, indentured labor from India was procured at a very large scale.

The first ship, named the Maidstone, departed from Calcutta, India on January 27, 1857 and arrived a few months later on May 1. In all; 3,206 East Indians arrived to Grenada by 1885. Only 380 of them returned to India. The Indians made many contributions to Grenada. Indian Arrival Day was celebrated last year for the first time since the centenary celebration in 1957.^[1]

The Indians later on assimilated with the existing Africans, Europeans and other ethnicities intermarrying with each other. This very much influenced the culture and cuisine of Grenada.

Cuisine

Special dishes reflect the cultural diversity of Grenada. The national dish, Oil Down(pronounced ile dung), is a combination of breadfruit, coconut milk, turmeric (misnamed saffron), dumplings, callaloo (taro leaves) and a salted meat such as saltfish accra (codfish)^[2], smoked herring or salt beef. It's often cooked in a large pot commonly referred to by locals as a karhee, or curry pot. Popular street foods include aloo pie, doubles and dal puri^[3] served wrapped around a curry, commonly goat, and bakes and fish cakes. Sweets include kurma, guava cheese, fudge or barfi, tamarind balls, rum and raisin ice cream and currant rolls.

Music & Festivals

Main article: Music of Grenada

Music plays a huge part in Grenadian culture with the annual Carnival competition generating new soca and calypso material in August. The rest of the time soca, calypso, and reggae are the mainstay on the minibuses competing for the loudest and, unfortunately, sometimes fastest bus service. Zouk music has also been imported to Grenada from other French Caribbean islands recently. Other local celebrations include the National Dance Festival, and Independence Day.

References

1. ^ Indian Arrival Day
2. ^ Saltfish accra- NomadicGourmet.com
3. ^ Roti Dalpuri- NomadicGourmet.com

External links

• The Division of Culture, Grenada - Official site
• Grenadian Cuisine

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