ANTIGUAN/BARBUDAN

Language/Ethnic Makeup

English is the official language of Antigua and Barbuda. However, a large number of islanders speak Antiguan Creole, which uses many words of West African origin. Most islanders are a mix of Amerindian, West African and British.

Spiritual Affiliation

The majority of the population is Christian, and the Official religion is Anglican.  However, Catholicism, Islam, Baha’i and Rastafarianism are also practiced.

Dietary Preferences

Most of the islands’ food is imported and consists of Creole dishes or specialties representative of their parent cultures. Corn and sweet potatoes play an important role in the cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda.  Other staples are rice pudding, shellfish, peas and rice, pepper pot soup and eggplant.  The salted cod used in making the national breakfast is imported from the U.S. and Canada.  In recent years, American fast-food chains have established a presence on the islands.

Cultural Considerations

Family and religion, as well as storytelling, music, Cricket and soccer, play important roles in the lives of Antiguans and Barbudans. The educational system in Antigua and Barbuda Includes public and private schools, and the literacy rate is 90 percent.  Cricket is the national sport and several famous Players hail from here.  American pop culture and fashion are heavy influences, and most of the country’s media is made up of major U.S. networks. Coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, Influenza and pneumonia are leading causes of death in Antigua and Barbuda.  Life expectancy for men is 73 years; for women, 77.