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George Blackman BWIR – There were no parades for us
In 1915 Britain’s War Office, which had initially opposed recruitment of West Indian troops, agreed to accept volunteers from the West Indies. A new regiment was formed, the British West Indies Regiment (BWIR), which served in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “They called us darkies. But when the battle starts, it didn’t make a…
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Banja in Barbados and its influence on calypso throughout the West Indies
The story of Banja and its development and its influence on calypso though the West Indies told by our guest contributor Roger Gibbs – who is Toronto based. Here we re-publish Roger Gibbs’ video presentation: Early Calypso in Barbados. In addition to the video Roger has also provided us with a transcript for those that…
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King Ja Ja, L’Année Passée and Rum & Coca-Cola
This is a follow-on to the well-known Barbadian folk song Millie Gone to Brazil and is how two classics songs L’Année Passée and Rum & Coca-Cola trace their heritage back to the Bajan folk song: King Ja Ja. It is told by our guest contributor Roger Gibbs. King Ja Ja of Opobo King Ja Ja…
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Lt. Joseph Nathaniel Griffith – the Bajan that taught a band to play
This is the story of Bajan Lt. Joseph Nathaniel Griffith who was the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) musical director which debuted at the Festival of Britain at the South Bank Exhibition in London on 26th July 1951. At the time TASPO was probably the most technically advanced steelband in the world. Bajan: Lt. Griffith…
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Christopher James Davis (1842-1870) – The Good Black Doctor
Christopher James Davis was born at Whitehaven, St. Philip, Barbados on 23rd April 1842. He was baptised on 4th June the same year. He was the youngest of 10 children. His Father, John Thomas Davis, was a Carpenter. His mother’s name was Mary Ann. His family were Wesleyan Methodists. Christopher Davis worked as a schoolmaster…
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A Fisherman’s Tale
Every picture tells a story. Adorning the walls of the Atlantis Hotel, St. Joseph, Barbados hangs an old black and white photograph titled the “Martins Bay Fisherman”. This Siza photograph of the nine fishermen of Bath is a picture with many stories. On an early December morning, near the turn of the 20th century, a…
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Cecil Ward (Bajan Cecil) – early pan pioneer Trinidad
Bajan John Archer was so notorious in Trinidad & Tobago at the turn of the twentieth century that his nickname “Badjohn” entered that nation’s vocabulary. He was one of many Bajans who contributed significantly to Trinidad & Tobago’s history and culture. Take for instance pan, that quintessential Trini art form. It’s early development was accelerated…
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How “badjohn” became a word
badjohn – nounA man willing to use violence and who likes being known as a dangerous person; a ruffian, hooligan or miscreant. An illusion to Bajan John “Bad John” Archer, a criminal who figured prominently in Trinidad in the early 20th century. Of the countless jailbirds to tread this island, none has cast a longer…
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Bajan Garveyites
The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) which was established by Marcus Gavey in New York City’s Harlem district in 1916. His ideas were known as Garveyism. A number of Bajan Garveyites played important roles in the UNIA and its conventions or were otherwise noteworthy in the international affairs of the movement. Bajan Garveyite: Clifford Bourne…
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F/O Errol Barrow RAF Navigator World War II & Prime Minister of Barbados
Errol Walton Barrow (21st January 1920 – 1st June 1987): distinguished Barbadian statesman, visionary leader and a champion of Caribbean unity led Barbados to independence on 30th November 1966 and then served as Barbados’ first and fourth Prime Minister. Prior to independence from: 1961 to 1966 as leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Errol Barrow…
BajanThings
Bajan history. Interesting Bajan people. Hiking in Barbados and Overseas. International Travel…
Category: Black History Month
The theme of Black History Month is to focus on celebrating being Black or Brown, and to inspire and share the pride people have in their heritage and culture.
Black History Month happens in the USA in February and is also known as African-American History Month.
In the UK Black History Month happens in October.
In addition in the United Kingdom, Windrush Day was introduced in June 2018 on the 70th anniversary of the disembarkation of passengers of HMT Empire Windrush on 22nd June 1948 at Tilbury Docks who were migrating to the United Kingdom. 2023 was the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks.
Though Windrush Day is not a bank holiday in the UK, the 22nd June is an observed day. According to the United Kingdom Government the purpose of Windrush Day is to encourage “communities across the country to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants”.