stimated at 4500 people which would make it one of the largest American citizen populations in the English speaking Eastern Caribbean.[2] Almost all Antiguans are Christians (74%[3]), with the Anglican Church (about 44%) being the largest denomination. Catholicism is the other significant denomination, with the remainder being other Protestants: including Methodists, Moravians, Pentecostals and Seventh-Day Adventists. There are also Jehovah's Witnesses. Non-Christian religions practiced on the islands include Rastafari, Islam, Judaism, and Baha'i. [edit] Language The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English, but many of the locals speak Antiguan Creole. The Barbudan accent is slightly different from the Antiguan one. Spanish is also widely spoken in certain communities in Antigua where immigrants from the Dominican Republic make up large numbers.[4] In the years before Antigua and Barbuda's independence, Standard English was widely spoken in preference to Antiguan Creole, but afterwards Antiguans began treating Antiguan Creole as a respectable aspect of their culture. Generally, the upper and middle classes shun Antiguan Creole. The educational system dissuades use of Antiguan Creole and instruction is done in Standard (British) English. The higher up one goes on the socio economic ladder, the less prevalent Antiguan Creole becomes, to the extent that some Antiguans will even deny that they speak or understand Antiguan Creole Many of the words used in the Antiguan dialect are derived from British and also African origins. The dialect was formed when enslaved Africans owned by British planters imitated the 18th century English spoken by their masters; utilizing traditional African language structures they created an African-English hybrid or pidgin. This can be easily seen in some phrases like: "Me nah go" meaning "I am not going". Another example is: "Ent it?" meaning "Ain't it?" which is in itself dialect and means "Isn't it?". Common island proverbs often can be traced to Africa. [edit] Culture The culture of Antigua and Barbuda is predominantly British which is evident throughout many aspects of the society. American popular culture also has a heavy influence. Family and religion play an important role in the lives of Antiguans. There is a national Carnival celebration held during August each year. Historically, Carnival commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. The annual Carnival includes pageants, shows, contests and festive activities and is a notable tourist attraction. Calypso and soca music are important in Antigua and Barbuda and Burning Flames is a popular band. See also: Cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda [edit] Media There are two daily newspapers: Daily Observer, and Antigua Sun which also publishes newspapers on other Caribbean islands. Most American television networks are available in addition to the local face television ABS TV 10 which is the only stations that show 100% local shows. There are several local and regional radio stations. [edit] Sport Cricket ground in St. John, Antigua. Like in many commonwealth countries, cricket is a very popular sport. The 2007 Cricket World Cup was hosted in the West Indies from 11 March to 28 April 2007. Antigua hosted eight matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which was completed on 11 February 2007 and can hold up to 20 000 people at full capacity. Antigua is also a Host of twenty20 Cricket, a game created by Allen Stanford in 2006 as a regional cricket game with almost all Caribbean islands taking part. Association football is also a very popular sport. Antigua has a national football team albeit inexperienced. Athletics is also popular. Talented athletes are trained from a young age and Antigua and Barbuda have produced a few fairly adept athletes. Janill Williams, a young athlete with much promise comes from Gray's Farm, Antigua. Also, Sonia Williams and Heather Samuel have represented Antigua and Barbuda at the Olympic Games. Others prominent rising stars include Brendan Christian (100 m, 200 m), Daniel Bailey (100 m, 200 m) and James Grayman (High Jump). [edit] Education The people of Antigua & Barbuda have a high level of literacy at well over 90%. In 1998, Antigua and Barbuda adopted a national mandate to become the preeminent provider of medical services in the Caribbean. As part of this mission, Antigua and Barbuda is building the most technologically advanced hospital in the Caribbean, the Mt. St. John Medical Centre. The island of Antigua currently has two medical schools, the American University of Antigua (AUA),[5] founded in 2004 and The University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA),[6] founded in 1982. There is also a government owned state college in Antigua as well as the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Information Technology (ABIIT). The University of the West Indies has a branch in Antigua for locals to continue University studies. With the onset of the Internet more Antiguans are completing online degrees. [edit] Foreign relations Main article: Foreign relations of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, Caribbean Community, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Organization of American States, World Trade Organization and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System. Antigua and Barbuda is also a member of the International Criminal Court (with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military as covered under Article 98). [edit] See also Antigua Antigua Carnival Antigua ground lizard Antiguan Racer Antiguan Creole Caribbean Community Chickenhawk (bird) Great Bird Island, Antigua Commonwealth of Nations Communications in Antigua and Barbuda Hawksbill turtle Lesser Antilles Military of Antigua and Barbuda Music of Antigua and Barbuda St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Scouting in Antigua and Barbuda Transport in Antigua and Barbuda VC Bird International Airport West Indian Whistling Duck 2007 Cricket World Cup Cricket carnival Antigua Recreation Ground List of Antiguans and Barbudans States headed by Elizabeth II [edit] References ^ CIA - The World Factbook: Antigua and Barbuda (2007-08-17). Retrieved on 2007-08-23. ^ Background Note: Antigua and Barbuda. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. ^ Antigua and Barbuda: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 (2006-09-15). Retrieved on 2007-08-23. ^ Farquhar, Bernadette. The Spanish Language in Antigua and Barbuda: Implications for Language Planning and Language Research. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. ^ American University of Antigua, College of Medicine. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. ^ University of Health Sciences Antigua. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. Liberta Village, Antigua [edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Antigua and Barbuda [edit] Government The Official Website of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua & Barbuda, its Department of Tourism website Antigua and Barbuda, United States Library of Congress Portals on the World Governments on the WWW: Antigua and Barbuda [edit] Country Data Antigua and Barbuda entry at The World Factbook World Bank's country data profile for Antigua and Barbuda Worldwide Governance Indicators World Intellectual Property Handbook: Antigua and Barbuda [edit] Other The High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism, business, history and culture, politics - an up to date website. Antigua Carnival - with photo galleries. American University of Antigua - a hospital integrated medical school in Caribbean. Health Sciences library - Library of American University of Antigua Recipes to many Antiguan dishes Video of Antigua and Barbuda trademarks registrations in Antigua and barbuda   Geographic locale v • d • e Countries and territories of the Caribbean Sovereign states Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Grenada · Jamaica · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines Commonwealth republics Dominica · Trinidad and Tobago Other republics Cuba · Dominican Republic · Haiti Dependencies and other territories United Kingdom Anguilla · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Montserrat · Turks and Caicos Islands Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles  (Bonaire • Curaçao • Saba • Sint Maarten • Sint Eustatius) France Guadeloupe · Martinique · St. Barthélemy · St. Martin United States Puerto Rico · U.S. Virgin Islands v • d • e Countries of North America Several nations listed here straddle both North and South America or can also be considered Caribbean Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Grenada · Guatemala · Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Trinidad and Tobago · United States Dependencies Denmark Greenland France Guadeloupe · Martinique · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Clipperton Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles United Kingdom Anguilla · Bermuda · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Montserrat · Turks and Caicos Islands United States Puerto Rico · U.S. Virgin Islands Coordinates: 17°03'N, 61°48'W   International membership v • d • e Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Members Antigua and Barbuda · Dominica · Grenada · Montserrat · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines Associate members Anguilla · British Virgin Islands v • d • e Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Members Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas1 · Barbados · Belize · Dominica · Grenada · Guyana · Haiti1 · Jamaica · Montserrat2 · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago Associate members Anguilla · Bermuda · Cayman Islands · British Virgin Islands · Turks and Caicos Islands Observers Aruba · Colombia · Dominican Republic · Mexico · Netherlands Antilles · Puerto Rico · Venezuela 1 Member of the Community but not of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).   2 British overseas territory awaiting entrustment to join the CSME. v • d • e Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda · Australia · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Grenada · Jamaica · New Zealand · Papua New Guinea · St Kitts and Nevis · St Lucia · St Vincent and the Grenadines · Solomon Islands · Tuvalu · United Kingdom v • d • e Commonwealth of Nations Sovereign states Antigua and Barbuda · Australia · Bahamas · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize · Botswana · Brunei · Cameroon · Canada · Cyprus · Dominica · Fiji · The Gambia · Ghana · Grenada · Guyana · India · Jamaica · Kenya · Kiribati · Lesotho · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Nauru · New Zealand · Nigeria · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Sri Lanka · Swaziland · Tanzania · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tuvalu · Uganda · United Kingdom · Vanuatu · Zambia Dependencies Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands · Australian Antarctic Territory · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · Coral Sea Islands · Heard Island and McDonald Islands · Norfolk Island New Zealand Cook Islands · Niue · Ross Dependency · Tokelau United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Anguilla · Bermuda · British Antarctic Territory · British Indian Ocean Territory · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Falkland Islands · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Isle of Man · Jersey · Montserrat · Pitcairn Islands · St. Helena (including Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha) · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Turks and Caicos Islands v • d • e States with an Anglophone majority – the Anglosphere Europe Guernsey • Jersey • Ireland • Isle of Man • United Kingdom the Americas Antigua and Barbuda • the Bahamas • Barbados • Canada • Dominica • Guyana • Saint Kitts and Nevis • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines • Trinidad and Tobago • United States Oceania Australia • Marshall Islands • Federated States of Micronesia • Nauru • Palau • New Zealand Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_and_Barbuda" Categories: Antigua and Barbuda | Island countries Views Article Discussion Edit this page History Personal tools Log in / create account if (window.isMSIE55) fixalpha(); 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