Land of 365 Beaches: Antigua and Barbuda (The Moreish Podcast)
Known as the land of 365 beaches, this twin-island paradise often looked at as a vacation spot offers a rich tapestry of history and culture that most tourists miss.
Listen to the episode
A brief history of Antigua and Barbuda
Call it Antigua or Antigua and Barbuda, this Caribbean nation is more than just a luxurious vacation spot. With about 95,000 residents, it’s important to remember that this twin-island state is home to many people. Antigua is often front and centre, but let’s not forget Barbuda!
It is believed that the first inhabitants were the Siboney people, and the first well documented people were the Arawaks, who may have arrived from Venezula, later overtaken by the Caribs.
Colonial history tells a tale of British settlers starting around 1632, briefly interrupted by the French in 1666. The establishment of sugar plantations in the 1670s that forever altered the demographic fabric of Antigua, importing approximately 140,000* enslaved Africans to toil the fields.
Population and Cultural Influences
Today’s population reflects a mix of African ancestry, British colonial influences, and smaller pockets of Hispanic and white residents. Understanding where the people came from helps us appreciate their rich culture and resilient history.
A Culinary Exploration of Antigua and Barbuda
The National Dish
The national dish of Antigua and Barbuda is Fungi and Pepper Pot, which embodies the islands’ African roots and colonial history.
Fungi, which you’ll also find called Funchi, Turn Cornmeal, or Cuckoo on other Caribbean islands, is a cornmeal-based savory porridge made with cornmeal, okra, and water. It’s reminiscent of African fufu, commonly enjoyed with various stews.
Pepper Pot in Antigua is similar but different than its Guyanese counterpart, being more of a hearty vegetable soup with small amounts of added meats than a strictly meat-based stew. It’s a vegetable-rich dish with ingredients like spinach, okra, eggplant, green squash, and pumpkin, along with any available meat, often salted pork or beef which is a nod to its colonial era origins.
In present day you can see how the history of the country and the people who arrived – from the British to the enslaved African people – have shaped the culture and culinary landscape of Antigua and Barbuda.
