The Bahamas, with its rich and often conflicted history, has developed a unique culture that blends traditions and beliefs of the many groups that have inhabited the islands.

Locals of Grand Bahama are predominantly descendants of West African slaves that were captured in their native land and shipped to the Americas to work on cotton plantations during the 1600s and 1700s. Britain abolished slavery in its Caribbean territories in 1834; without a cheap supply of labor, the plantation system fell apart. Today, the Bahamas’ economy relies on tourism more than agriculture.

Most white Bahamians trace their lineage back to the Puritans of the 1600s, who emigrated from England to escape religious persecution. Other groups seeking political or religious haven often followed suit. For example after the American Revolution, many Loyalists from the American colonies immigrated to the Bahamas. As a result, the Bahamas today have a culture that draws upon not only the indigenous tribes that first inhabited the area, but also various European and West African cultures.

The official language of the Bahamas today is English; common speech is more British than English, though there are noticeable West Indies influences as well. Modern Bahamian culture values entrepreneurship and expresses a love of the outdoors, especially the sea.