Bahamian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

The Bahamas is a nation of around seven hundred islands and cays in the Atlantic, south-east of Florida, famous for its clear waters and beaches. English is the official language. Bahamians in Britain include students and professionals, and many study at British universities.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 4,460 people living in the city had been born in Caribbean countries other than Jamaica, a group that includes the Bahamas.

Working for Birmingham

Bahamian residents study and work in fields such as law, finance, tourism, healthcare and marine science. The Bahamas has close ties with Britain, and Bahamian lawyers and professionals often train in British institutions before returning home.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Bahamian community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Junkanoo, a street parade of music, dance and elaborate costumes held on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, is the heart of Bahamian culture. Conch fritters and cracked conch are national favourites, and rake and scrape music is played at celebrations.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the Bahamian community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.