The People of the Bahamas
People-To-People Programme People-to-People is a year-round Ministry of Tourism programme intended to give visitors a genuine and informal view of Bahamian hospitality and culture as you might see it when visiting a friend. Volunteers holding interests similar to yours are available to give a sample of Bahamian life in a convenient, personal way. You may join them at home for pleasant conversation and an authentic Bahamian meal, at civic or social clubs, at a church service or sports event, or see the sights with a native interpretation.
One of the main organized events of the programme is the monthly Tea Party at Government House, held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the last Friday of each month (January to August). It is open to 200 guests, who are hosted by the wife of the Governor-General of the Bahamas. Other highlights are:
If you would like to consider the People-to-People Programme in Nassau, once you are in Nassau, drop by one of the Tourist Information Centres, which are located at the Airport and at Rawson Square, or contact them by phone 242-356-0435/7/8 or by fax 242-356-0434. If you would like to consider our People-to-People Programme in Freeport, once you are in Freeport/Lucaya, visit the Tourist Information Centre at the International Bazaar or call 242-352-8044. You will be supplied with more information on how you can enjoy the People-to-People Programme. Please contact us at 800-330-8272 about the program and we will assist you in making the arrangements for you. Traditions
Language English is the official language of the Islands of the Bahamas. If you are comfortable withEnglish, you won't have any trouble getting around, reading street signs, ordering at restaurants, etc. However, until you become accustomed to the region's dialect, you may have to ask some people to repeat what they say. Dialects differ slightly from one island to the other, and Bahamians use idioms you probably are not familiar with. If someone says "day clean" they mean "daybreak" and "first fowl crow" refers to the first cry a rooster makes in the morning. These idioms are typical of the Black Bahamian English, which is closely related to the Gullah dialect of South Carolina. As Loyalists from the American South settled in the Islands of the Bahamas, they brought this language with them. African slaves, English Puritans and other immigrants settling in the Islands of the Bahamas have also influenced the dialect and idioms of these islands. Somehow the different cultures have blended their speech together to produce the melodic English you hear only in the Islands of the Bahamas. If you need a foreign language translator, contact The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in Nassau for more information. Bush Medicine
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Most Bahamians are of African descent - about 85 percent. The remaining white population is directly descended from Loyalists, Eleutheran adventurers and sailors. Some families have been Bahamian for over two centuries. Bahamians are a dynamic, independent and friendly people who love music. Religion is an important part of their lives and churches are plentiful. English is spoken throughout the islands.
People-to-People is a popular activity. More than 1,000 volunteers are available in Nassau and about 100 in Freeport. They come from all walks of life and undergo an eligibility screening prior to becoming enrolled. Visitors are matched with residents of similar age groups, interests and professions - for example, pairing a visiting schoolteacher with a Bahamian teacher. Because many volunteers are professionals, most get-togethers take place in the evenings or on weekends and volunteers will gladly donate their time in the spirit of international goodwill.
As in all countries, the people in the Islands of the Bahamas have traditions. You can see these traditions by observing the way the citizens treat ailments, the idioms or slang they use and the way they celebrate holidays. Bahamian traditions have developed over the past 300 years. As people from different countries have settled on the islands and different cultures have lived side-by-side, Bahamians have developed traditions unique to their country.
Bahamians have practised bush medicine for many years. Using indigenous plants for medicinal purposes is a tradition that African slaves brought with them when they came to the Islands of the Bahamas. Cat Islanders, with their reputation for longevity, attribute bush medicine with keeping them healthy. They prepare internal and external remedies to relieve such symptoms as headaches, high blood pressure, diabetes, coughs, itching, etc. There are nearly 100 plants in the Islands of the Bahamas that are reliable sources of medical treatment. The aloe vera plant, for instance, is a known burn cure, pain reliever, tonic and laxative. Other examples of plants that have medicinal value and are believed to provide beneficial treatment for a variety of ailments include Bagarina, Cascarilla, Crab Bush, Fig Leaf, Hibiscus Pepper Leaf, Pond Bush, Sailors' Flowers, Sour Sop Leaf, Spanish Sage and White Sage.