People Cultures Traditions

Known as the Gem of the Caribbean, Antigua is a culturally diverse and multi-talented nation with international fame and recognition in the performing arts, sports, and literature, amongst other professional fields of endeavor.

Of all the nations in the Caribbean, Antigua is probably the most adaptable and well assimilated to modern pop cultures, international trends, and social norms that shape the lifestyle of the people. Antigua is an open and secular society built on a foundation of political stability, shared values, and civil obedience that helps to preserve peace, social structure, and the rule of law in the country.

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Antigua and Barbuda share similar cultural traditions, but the social structures and way of life are conspicuously different. The landscape, environmental conditions, and limited availability of natural resources on Barbuda caused Barbudans to adopt and develop unique cultural norms that distinguish them from Antiguans.

The most notable distinctions between Antiguans and Barbudans are the different accents in the pronunciation of words used in the local dialect. Apart from that, the unique attributes of Barbuda's cultural heritage are apparent in the culinary styles, fishing, agriculture, and hunting methods used on the island.

Although Antigua is an open, liberal, and secular society, religion is an integral part of the social culture and has always played an essential role in the daily lives of Antiguans and Barbudans of all religious faith. There are churches of many denominations, Christian schools, and religious organizations established on the island but religion seems to be losing its appeal and having less influence on young people on the Islands today.