Barbadian

Barbadian is the demonym for a person from Barbados, an island nation in the Caribbean. The term also serves as an adjective relating to Barbados. Barbados is part of the Lesser Antilles, located northeast of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and east of Saint Lucia. It is a sovereign state and a member of the Commonwealth.

Most Barbadians speak English, with a local creole or dialect commonly used in informal speech known as Bajan. The population is around 300,000. The majority ethnicity is Afro-Barbadian, with communities of mixed and other backgrounds.

Barbados was a British colony until it gained independence on 30 November 1966. In 2021, Barbados transitioned to a republic and adopted a President as head of state, while the Prime Minister remains head of government and the Parliament continues to function as a democratic legislature.

The Barbadian economy centers on tourism, international business, and light manufacturing, with sugar historically playing a key role in its early economy. The culture features music such as calypso and soca, cricket as a popular sport, and cuisine including cou-cou and flying fish.

Notable Barbadians include Rihanna, the singer and businesswoman, and writers Kamau Brathwaite and George Lamming. The Barbadian diaspora and cultural contributions are recognized globally, reflecting the country’s enduring influence in the Caribbean and beyond.