The
first people to inhabit the Virgin Islands were three tribes known as the Taino,
Caribs and Arawaks. They mainly lived along the coast and fished for their
survival. These tribes gradually died and today most Virgin Islanders are
descendants from slaves. Although the Danes owned the islands for more
than 250 years, there are traces of English and Dutch plantation owners.
The French population primarily on St. Thomas is descendants of the French
Huguenots that fled French Catholic persecution in the mid-nineteenth
century. The melting pot caused by the various cultures provides a
kaleidoscope of intrigue. Although
English is the main language spoken, Spanish and French
Creole better known as “Patois” is also spoken. An occasional
conversation in French can be sometimes heard from the “Frenchies”.
The practice of voodoo or obia is present among the islands but the
scary taboo surrounding the stories of voodoo are mainly meant for
entertainment. “Jumbis” or ghosts are often blamed for bad occurrences
such as hurricanes. The jumbi stories were often told at night under
moonlit skies as crowds listened to the storyteller and his “tall”
tales. One such tall tale is that of Bru Nansi, a wily spidery man full of
wit and wisdom.
Virgin
Islanders love to party and music is at the cornerstone of the culture.
Fungi bands or scratch bands use instruments such as washboards and gourds
to produce delightful calypso music. A new age blend of reggae, soca,
hip-hop rock the many nightclubs throughout at the islands. Steel pan
orchestras also provide entertainment.
Dialect goes along way throughout the West Indians and the Virgin Islands is no exception. The people of each island in the Virgin Islands have their own distinct dialect and accent. For example a St. Thomians ignore stressing the ‘r’ sound while Crucians seem to exaggerate it. While on St. Thomas practice replacing the ‘er’ sound with ‘ah’ such watah instead of water.
Art
plays a very improtant role in the Virgin Islands and its people. Impressionist painter
Camille Pissarro, was born on St Thomas in 1830. Though he spent most of
his life in Paris he's still thought of fondly as a native son. The
Dronningens Gade house where he was born is open to the public. If art calls you,
visit the Tillet Gardens Arts Center, a complex
of studios, classrooms and galleries in a lovely setting northeast of
Charlotte Amalie.
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