Trinidad and Tobago
Motto:
Together we aspire, together we achieve
Language:
English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Location
Port-of-Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Population:
1.4 million (UN 2009)
Brief history:
Trinidad and Tobago is made up of two islands located in the Caribbean Sea north east coast of Venezuela. The country was once ruled by the French, Spanish, and British. Today the country has one of the most culturally diverse countries in world. “Trinis” people and culture are a combination of Latin African, Asian (Arab, Indian, Chinese), European, and Latin(Spanish, Portuguese, and French) influences. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean due to its large reserves in natural gas and oil.
Calypso music and the steel drum major cultural exports from Trinidad and Tobago. The annual carnival celebration is one of the most well attended carnival celebrations in the world. Each year the visitors nearly double the population of the island. For the first time in its history the Trinidad and Tobago in its history, their football team, Soca Warriors, qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
One may describe this country as a land of many faces. This nation is one of the most diverse in the Caribbean. Individuals can trace their roots, to Africa, Portugal, Spain, Syria, China, India and many other countries in the world.
The Pitch Lake, located in LaBrea, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt.
People from Trinidad are called Trindadian and those from Tobago are Tobagonians. But Trinidadians are informally referred to as Trinis.
Below are Trini cultural facts recommended Unieros friend Natalia
Books:
V.S. Naipaul: Trinidadian writer
"House for Mr. Biswas" by V.S. Naipual.
Naipual winner of te 2001 Nobel Prize for Literature.
The British writer, born in Trinidad, V(idiadhar) S(urajprasad) Naipaul was born in 1932 in a family descended from immigrants from the north of India.
“A House for Mr. Biswas, Naipaul extended the geographical and social perspective of his writing to describe with increasing pessimism the deleterious impact of colonialism and emerging nationalism on the third world”
World Music:
Parang is the music of Trinidad and Tobago, it comes from the word "Parranda" which Trinbagonians call "fete". Parang music is played around December time in Trinidad and Tobago basically to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but not only that but to have a great time and remembering our Spanish culture.
Recommended Music:
Food:
Pelau is a dish commonly associated with Trinidad. It made with rice, peas, and a meat either chicken, beef or pork. Sometimes with a combination.
Callallo is a side dish made with variety of ingredients, including, okra, spinach leaves, crab, pumpkin.
Other Foods to try:
Stew Chicken
Fry Bake
Roast Bake
Hops Bread
Pastelles
You enjoy a good meal with drink:
Mawby
Ginger Beer
Sorrell
Carib
Influential People:
Eric Williams: First Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (1956-1981)
Mervyn Dymally: The first foreign -born Black to be elected as a Member of the US Congress.
Pearl Primus: Dancer and choreographer from Trinidad and Tobago
Wendy Fitzwilliam: Winner of the 1998 Miss Universe competition.
Exports:
Petroleum products, natural gas, steel products, fertilizers, cocoa, citrus products, and flowers
Links:
Newspaper
http://www.newsday.co.tt/
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.tt/
Trinidad and Tobago Express
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
