Afro–Trinidadians and Tobagonians

The ultimate origin of most African ancestry in the Americas is in West and Central Africa. The most common ethnic groups of the enslaved Africans in Trinidad and Tobago were Igbo, Kongo, Ibibio, Yoruba and Malinke people. All of these groups, among others, were heavily affected by the Atlantic slave trade. The population census of 1813 shows that among African-born slaves the Igbo were the most numerous.{{cite book|title=Slave Populations of the British Caribbean, 1807–1834|first=B. W.|last=Higman|edition=reprint|page=450|publisher=The Press, University of the West Indies|year=1995|isbn=978-976-640-010-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pGv5dC2hDV8C&pg=PA450|ref=CITEREFslav}}

Around half of Afro-Trinidadians were the descendants of emigrants from other islands of the Caribbean, especially Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent, and Grenada. Other Afro-Trinidadians trace their ancestry to American slaves recruited to fight for the British in the War of 1812 or from indentured laborers from West Africa.{{cite web|title=Trinidad's Slave Census of 1813: Representative of African Ethnic Origins|url=https://tracingafricanroots.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/trinidads-slave-census-of-1813-representative-of-african-ethnic-origins/?utm_source=chatgpt.com|access-date=18 April 2025}}

In 1498, Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Trinidad, where he encountered the indigenous Taíno people. Shortly after Columbus's arrival, Trinidad became a territory of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish enslaved the native population and, over time, intermingled with them, leading to the emergence of the Mestizo identity. The term "Mulatto" originated when Spain began transporting enslaved Africans to Trinidad in 1517 via the Atlantic slave trade.{{cite web|url=https://nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/EmancipationDay/tabid/189/Default.aspx?PageContentID=224|title=Slavery and Emancipation in Trinidad and Tobago|website=Nalis.gov.tt|access-date=20 August 2017}}

In 1783, the King of Spain enacted the Cedula of Population law, which promised free land to Europeans willing to relocate to Trinidad to work. This law encouraged French settlers from the French Antilles to migrate to Trinidad and establish sugar cane plantations. These settlers contributed to the island's diverse ancestry, giving rise to the Creole identity. Languages spoken included Spanish, French, and Antillean Creole (Patois).{{cite web|url=https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/EmancipationDay/tabid/189/Default.aspx?PageContentID=224|title=Slavery and Emancipation in Trinidad and Tobago|publisher=Nalis.gov.tt|access-date=18 April 2025}}

In 1797, Great Britain took control of the island, and slavery was eventually abolished in 1834. The abolition of slavery led to an influx of indentured servants from various regions. Between 1853 and 1866, 2,645 Chinese immigrants arrived in Trinidad as indentured laborers for the sugar and cacao plantations.{{cite web|url=https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/census-mixed-population-on-the-rise/article_d29f9fd9-56bc-537b-b6fa-2abdeba8f8ec.html|title=Trinidad and Tobago Census Report|access-date=19 February 2013}}

In the 1840s, European indentured servants began arriving, including the French, Spanish, Germans, Swiss, Portuguese, English, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Irish, Corsican, Italians, Dutch, Norwegian, and Polish. Over time, many of these settlers intermarried with the families of freed slaves, contributing to the island's ethnic diversity.{{cite web|url=https://www.nriinternet.com/Trinidad/History/1_Hostory_East_Indians_in_Trinidad.htm|title=NRI: East Indians in Trinidad|publisher=NRI Internet|access-date=20 August 2017}}

On 30 May 1845, the British transported indentured servants from India to Trinidad. This day is known as Indian Arrival Day. A portion of this group of Indians began to racially mix into the Trinidadian populace, and their descendants became known as the Dougla people. After the system of indentured servitude was abolished in 1917, a second group of Indians steadily migrated to Trinidad from India, mostly for business.{{cite web|url=https://www.nriinternet.com/Trinidad/History/1_Hostory_East_Indians_in_Trinidad.htm|title=NRI: East Indians in Trinidad|publisher=NRI Internet|access-date=20 August 2017}}

Between 1968 and 1970, the "Black Power Revolution" gained strength in Trinidad and Tobago. The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) was formed by a group of undergraduates at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. Influenced by people such as Fidel Castro, Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The National Joint Action Committee demonstrated to bring about Black Power and a return to African heritage and African culture.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://newsday.co.tt/2020/02/23/njac-marks-50th-anniversary-of-black-power-revolution/|title=NJAC marks 50th anniversary of Black Power revolution|first=Carol|last=Matroo|newspaper=Trinidad and Tobago Newsday|date=23 February 2020|access-date=10 May 2022}}

On 6 April 1970, protester Basil Davis, was killed by the police. This was followed on 13 April by the resignation of A. N. R. Robinson, Member of Parliament for Tobago East. On 18 April, sugar workers went on strike and there was talk of a general strike. In response to this, Williams proclaimed a State of Emergency on 21 April and arrested 15 Black Power leaders. Responding in turn, a portion of the Trinidad Defence Force, led by Raffique Shah and Rex Lassalle, mutinied and took hostages at the army barracks at Teteron. Through the action of the Coast Guard and negotiations between the Government and the rebels, the mutiny was contained and the mutineers surrendered on 25 April. It was around this time that the term Afro-Trinidadian started to be used.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

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The massive influx of enslaved Africans to Trinidad and Tobago shores that happened in the 19th century was important in shaping the cultural space of Trinidad and Tobago. Afro-Trinidadian culture is immanent within and encapsulates all other cultures. Afro-Trinidadian culture is decisive in steelpan culture, Carnival culture, soca culture, and calypso culture and also helped in many ways to shape.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

{{Main article|Religion in Trinidad and Tobago}}

Most Afro-Trinidadian and Tobagonians are Christian, with the largest group being Roman Catholics, and (in Tobago) Methodists. Smaller numbers follow Afro-Caribbean syncretic faiths such as Rastafarianism and the Spiritual Baptist Church. Non-Christians include adherents of Islam, the Orisha-Shango (Yoruba) faith, Afro-American religions, the Baháʼí Faith, Hinduism or are followers of Sai Baba.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

{{Portal|Trinidad and Tobago|Africa}}

• Slavery in the British and French Caribbean
• Creole peoples
• Dougla people
• Demographics of Trinidad and Tobago

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Category:Ethnic groups in Trinidad and Tobago