CULTURE & PEOPLE

The island's culture has been developed from the interweaving of several groups of people who have been a part of its profound history. Different groups of people hailing from different regions have introduced the island to different beliefs and traditions. These variety of cultures and traditions are vibrantly reflected in the life of the island today. Tourists are likely to be driven on the British side of the road taking them to an Indian restaurant in a French town, welcomed throughout the way in Creole patois. Cuisine is one of the most approachable aspects of the island's rich cultural heritage. Her fertile, volcanic soil bears a huge supply of crops, making her one of the leading banana exporters in the Caribbean with six different varieties of banana available on the island.

Fruits such as mangoes, papayas, pineapples, soursops, passionfruit, guavas and coconuts comprise the abundance of tropical fruits on the island. From the island's fresh produce together with a wide variety of equally fresh seafood, the local chefs create mouth watering curries, Creole-style entrees and pepperpot stews. Made from a leafy green vegetable similar to spinach, the Callaloo soup is St. Lucia's national dish. The island's excellent cuisine has attained international fame by fetching several gold medals in the areas of most eminent culinary competitions. The culture of St. Lucia is not just restricted to her outstanding cuisine but it stretches into intellectual and artistic talents as well. With two Nobel Prize winners, the late Sir W. Arthur Lewis who won the nobel prize for economics in 1979 and the poet Derek Walcott who one the nobel prize in 1992 for Literature, St. Lucia quietly triumphs in all directions.

It becomes necessary for one to gain some knowledge of various people that have inhabited the island since time immemorial in order to enjoy and understand her culture. The Arawaks, the Caribs and the Amerindians were the first among the rest to leave an impression on the cultural face of the island as well as to the entire Carribbean. These people were proficient farmers, hunters, fishermen and talented artists. Major crops during their time were sweet potatoes, cassava and yams which continue to play a vital role in the island's cuisine till date. The arrival of Europeans on the island destroyed the Amerindians and only a handful of St. Lucians can track their roots back to this group of people. Few of the features of Amerindian culture that continues to live include farina and cassava bread, fish-pots and few other native craft objects. In some villages of the island, the art of fishing in dug-out canoes is still practiced.

The next company of people to arrive on the island were Europeans who were comprised of mainly British and French. Although the Europeans did not settle on the island in large groups, they did have inestimable impact in the history and culture of the island. The British and the French both seemed to create an equal impact despite the fact that the French lost to the British in 1814. The British contributed to the diversified culture of St. Lucia by contributing to the field of language, educational system, legal and political structure. French culture has been more prominent in the aspect of art, music, dance and the Creole patois language which stands together with official language of English. Europeans brought their own cultures to the island while African culture became established with the arrival of slaves in European plantations and other certified slaves. A greater part of the island's population is made up of descendants from plantation slaves and their proud legacy has created a profound impression on St. Lucia's aspect as a nation. African tradition and culture has endured years of domination and discrimination becoming the strongest component in St. Lucian culture today. Post abolition of slavery, the island witnessed the coming of East Indians as servants under contract most of whom worked in sugar factories in Cul-de-Sac, Roseau, Mabouya valleys and in Vieux Fort, basing a vital East Indian community which survives till date. The East Indian community was smaller in number compared to other immigrant groups and although their traditional culture has almost vanished, the East Indians have been successful in imprinting a lasting influence on St. Lucia's cuisine.