History and Culture

There is evidence of an Amerindian culture as far back as 1500BC, but it is known that the Arawaks, an organised peaceful group were on-island by 100BC and stayed until usurped by the fierce Caribs in the 1500’s. Christopher Columbus sighted the islands in 1493 but never settled them, leaving it to the English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Danish to then elbow for control of the region, thus creating space for the Golden Age of Piracy during the 1690-1730’s, Blackbeard (Henry Morgan) being one such. The hidden bays and ideal sailing conditions made it attractive for such activities as well as ‘privateers’, but by the 1600’s the British had firmly taken control.

The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands, ‘scratch bands’, is called fungi after the local cornmeal dish with the same name. Its unique sound is a fusion between African and European music, so important, that it is incorporated into the school curriculum!

A New Era

Today, the BVI is a haven for the sailing community, with its calm waters, and steady breezes. It is also a financial haven with 50% of its income deriving from this sector, and is said to hold 45% of the world’s off-shore companies. Tourism accounts for another 45% of its income. It is a British Overseas Territory with its own Parliament.