Culture of Grenada

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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.

[edit] Cuisine

Local dishes reflect the cultural diversity of Grenada. The national dish, Oil Down, is a combination of breadfruit, coconut milk, turmeric (misnamed saffron), dumplings, calalloo (taro leaves) and a salted meat eg. saltfish (codfish), 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 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. Foods of African origin include accra(commonly referred to as fishcake)and coo coo. Foods of East Indian origin include doubles and curry chicken.

[edit] Music & Festivals

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.