Co-Founder and Inheritor: Sir Charles Hayward (1892–1983) and His Son Sir “Union” Jack Hayward (1923–2015)

By The Bahamianologist

In Homer’s Odyssey, Telemachus did not choose his inheritance — he was born into a house his father had built, on ground his father had claimed, in the middle of a contest over who ultimately had the right to occupy it. The story of Sir Charles Hayward and his son Sir Jack Hayward is a modern echo of that ancient dynamic: the father arrived in Grand Bahama with capital and ambition, built his harbour and took his seat at the table, and left his son to live inside an arrangement whose full complications — legal, political, sovereign — would only reveal themselves across the decades that followed. Read more>>

Freeport’s First Investor: A then 100 year old Abaco Lumber Company 1946

 

By The Bahamianologist

 

The 1967 Commission of Inquiry into Casino Gambling in The Bahamas is not light reading. But for those willing to sit with its transcript, it begins to illuminate something remarkable — how a single commercial agreement, struck in the colonial twilight of 1955, conjured an entire city out of pine forest and ambition.

That agreement was the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

That city was Freeport.  Read more>>

Religious Songs and Drums in the Bahamas - Various Artists

 

In this collection of Religious Songs and Drums in the Bahamas, Marshall Stearns demonstrates the strong external influences on Bahamian music and culture. The religious music by the Baptist-Methodist Group and the Congregation of the Church of God suggest a certain influence of American gospel music, while the drumming of the “Ring Game,” “Heel and Toe Polka,” and “Jumping Dance” indicate a continuance of African drumming traditions with the scraping element of a saw, unique to Bahamian “rake ‘n’ scrape” music.

 

 

 

 

 

Religious Songs and Drums in the Bahamas

Release Date: 1953
Label: Folkways Records

Tracklisting:
Alfred Henderson - Ring Play 00:00
Alfred Henderson, Gabriel Adderly - Fire Dance 01:14
Baptist-Methodist Group - In the Upper Room 03:46
Baptist-Methodist Group - Please Hear Me When I Call 07:26
Baptist-Methodist Group - Walk and Talk to Glory 10:44
Church of God Congregation (Nassau, Bahamas) - Church of God Congregation, Nassau-1 13:08
Church of God Congregation (Nassau, Bahamas) - Church of God Congregation, Nassau-2 16:42
Church of God Congregation (Nassau, Bahamas) - Church of God Congregation, Nassau 23:08
Harcourt Symonette, Gabriel Adderly, Alfred Henderson - Jumping Dance 26:30
Howard Johnson, Alfred Henderson - Heel and Toe Polka 30:58
Howard Johnson, Alfred Henderson, Gabriel Adderly - Jook Dance 32:20

 

Related music: I Don't Like Rum 

Related music: Conga Scrape

20th Annual Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival

 

20th Annual Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival

 

The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation announces the staging of the annual Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival, marking 20 years in existence. The two-day festival scheduled for 13-14 March is scheduled to take place in George Town, Exuma, at the Regatta Park. 

Under the theme, “Celebrating our past, embracing our future”, this year’s festival marks two decades of honouring the vibrant culture, music and traditions of The Bahamas, offering an immersive experience that highlights the spirit of Bahamian heritage.  Read more>>

Bahamas Reflected in Machiavelli’s “Great Man” Theory

 

Bahamas Reflected in Machiavelli’s “Great Man” Theory

 

By The Bahamianologist

There is a book, slim enough to hold in one hand, that has never gone out of print since it was first circulated in Renaissance Florence more than five centuries ago. Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, written in 1513, remains the most unsentimental manual of political power ever committed to paper. It does not concern itself with virtue in the conventional sense. It concerns itself with results — with the cold, calculating art of seizing, holding, and exercising power in a world that does not reward the meek.

Machiavelli’s “Great Man” was not necessarily a good man. He was a necessary man — visionary enough to see what others could not, ruthless enough to do what others would not, and shrewd enough to make his dominance look inevitable in hindsight. He bent fortune to his will through a combination of virtù — that untranslatable Italian word encompassing strength, skill, cunning, and audacity — and an almost clinical reading of the moment he inhabited.

When we survey the long arc of Bahamian history, from the swaggering chaos of the pirate republic to the quiet consolidation of the post-independence era, we find, at every decisive turning point, a man who fits Machiavelli’s template with uncomfortable precision. None of them were saints. All of them were transformative. And understanding them through Machiavelli’s lens may be the most honest way to reckon with what they actually accomplished — and what they cost. Read more>>

A Love Letter Written in Law: The Last Will and Testament of Kelson Samuel Cox (1928 – 2023)

 

Kelson and Dorcas Cox, 1955 and 2018

 By The Bahamianologist

There are love stories, and then there are Bahamian love stories. Not the kind written in novels or sung in ballads — but the kind forged in the predawn darkness of five o’clock prayer meetings, in the flour-dusted kitchens of a family bakery, in the quiet determination of a man cooking meals from his wheelchair for the woman he had promised to cherish more than fifty years before.

The kind of love that does not announce itself but simply endures — through heart attacks and business failures, through family triumphs and heartbreaking loss, through the slow erosion of the body that cannot diminish the iron of the spirit. Read more>>

"Cascarilla Tree" - Bahamas AI Image

©A. Derek Catalano

 

The cascarilla tree — its biology, geography, harvesting, uses (traditional, commercial, scientific, and industry), and what it would take to establish a lucrative cascarilla processing/export business in The Bahamas.

The Cascarilla Tree and Its Bark: Nature, Uses, and Value

 

1. Botanical Description

Cascarilla refers to the dried bark of Croton eluteria, a small aromatic tree in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The plant is native to the Caribbean region, including The Bahamas, and also grows in parts of Central America and other tropical areas. It typically grows as a shrub or small tree up to about 12–20 feet tall with pale yellowish-brown fissured bark, scanty lance-shaped leaves, and clusters of small white fragrant flowers (often in spring).

The name Croton eluteria reflects its botanical lineage: Croton from the Greek for “a tick” (referring to seed shape) and eluteria said to reference the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.

In the field, the bark is easily stripped from twigs and branches, then dried before further processing.

 

"Versailles Gardens, Paradise Island"

©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

The Versailles Gardens of Paradise Island: A Tropical Synthesis of History and Art

 

Introduction

Located on the narrow stretch of Paradise Island in the Bahamas, the Versailles Gardens represent one of the most remarkable architectural and horticultural feats in the Caribbean. A multi-tiered masterwork of landscape design, the gardens serve as a lush, formal sanctuary that leads toward the crowning "Cloisters"—the physical remains of a 14th-century French monastery. While the Bahamas is primarily celebrated for its turquoise waters and coral reefs, the Versailles Gardens offer a profound counter-narrative, blending medieval European stonecraft with the vibrant, untamed beauty of the tropics.

The Lazaretto - UPDATED

 

 

 

"The Lazaretto" - ⒸA. Derek Catalano

The Lazaretto, on Lazaretto Rd., off Carmichael Rd., New Providence, Bahamas. This was a place where those who were afflicted with leprosy were cared for in the early 1900s. I climbed atop a roof and did a sketch  looking north(top), then climbed atop another roof and did a sketch looking south(bottom).

The term “lazaretto” historically refers to a quarantine station — a place where people (especially sailors) and goods arriving by sea were isolated to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Quarantine stations were especially prominent in port cities where epidemics of plague, cholera, yellow fever, and other infectious diseases repeatedly threatened populations before the advent of modern medicine. Read updated article>>

National Coat of Arms Designer Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. (1942-2015)

 

Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. (1942-2015)

 

By Bahamianology.Com

To honour Majority Rule Day 2026, we remember Rev. Dr. Hervis Bain Jr. the designer of the Bahamian National Coat of Arms.

Hervis Leamonde Bain Jr., affectionately known as “Junior” or “Steeps,” was born February 5, 1942, in Nassau to musical parents Hervis Sr. and Helenor Bain. Growing up in Toote Shop Corner off East Street, he was raised in a home filled with family, friends, and music. Read more>> 

Happy Majority Rule Day 2026

 

Happy Majority Rule Day 2026

 

 

Majority Rule Day in The Bahamas

Majority Rule Day, celebrated annually on January 10th, is one of the most significant national holidays in The Bahamas. It commemorates a transformative moment in the nation’s history when the political landscape shifted to reflect the majority will of the Bahamian people, marking the start of a new era of equality, democracy, and self-determination. Read more>>

The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia: An In-Depth Exploration

 "The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia, Cat Is." Bahamas AI Image

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia: An In-Depth Exploration

Tucked into the lush, gentle hills of Cat Island in the central Bahamas is a place that at first glance seems out of time and place: a tiny stone monastery perched atop the highest point in the entire nation. This quiet, evocative site is known simply as The Hermitage, and it crowns Mount Alvernia — formerly known locally as Como Hill — rising to 206 feet (63 meters) above sea level. Though modest in stature by global standards, it holds outsized significance as a cultural, architectural, and spiritual landmark for the Bahamas. The Islands of The Bahamas

My Father’s Obituaries by Bahamianology.Com

 

Collected obituaries by the Late Rt. Honourable Bradley B. Roberts.

 

 

My father collected obituaries.

In retirement, after twenty-five years in politics and sixty years of working life, the Late Rt. Honourable Bradley B. Roberts turned his attention to a project both humble and monumental: collecting obituaries. Not dozens, but thousands—each one a thread in the vast tapestry of Bahamian ancestry, each one a doorway into the interconnected lives that built a nation. Read more>>

Religious Wars: Causes, Examples, and the Possibility of Peace

 

"Religious War" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Religious Wars: Causes, Examples, and the Possibility of Peace

Throughout human history, religion has been one of the most powerful forces shaping societies. It has inspired art, law, charity, moral systems, and community. At the same time, religion has also been linked to some of the bloodiest conflicts the world has ever known. Religious wars are often remembered for their violence, intolerance, and lasting damage. Understanding what religious wars are, why they happen, and whether they can ever truly end is essential if humanity hopes to build a more peaceful future.

Happy Boxing Day 2025

 

"Happy Boxing Day 2025" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

Green Turtle Cay New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade

 

Green Turtle Cay

New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade

 

January 1st at 2:00PM

Starts at the Basketball Court

 

Celebrating the Origins of Junkanoo-

FROM WHICH WE CAME 

A History of Boat Building in The Bahamas and Its Modern Trajectory

 "Bahamian Sloop" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

A History of Boat Building in The Bahamas and Its Modern Trajectory

The Bahamian archipelago, comprising over 700 islands and cays scattered across the western Atlantic, is inherently a maritime nation. From its earliest Lucayan inhabitants to the modern global shipping hub of today, the sea has dictated life, commerce, and communication. Central to this enduring relationship is the craft of boat building, a tradition that evolved from dugout canoes into sophisticated sailing vessels, serving as the economic engine and cultural backbone of the Out Islands for centuries. The history of Bahamian boat building is a chronicle of adaptation, resilience, and masterful use of indigenous materials, leading to a modern industry that balances tradition with global demand.

Paradise Island Lighthouse

 

 Paradise Island Lighthouse - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Paradise Island Lighthouse

 

Introduction

Perched at the western tip of Paradise Island—formerly known as Hog Island—just off the coast of New Providence Island and the city of Nassau in the Bahamas, the Paradise Island Lighthouse stands as a silent sentinel of maritime history. Built in 1816–17, it is widely regarded as the oldest surviving lighthouse in the West Indies.

In this essay we will explore its historical significance, architectural character, operational role, current condition and conservation efforts, as well as its place in the cultural and tourism landscape of the Bahamas.

Guy Fawkes: The Man Behind the Gunpowder Plot and His Legacy

 

 "Guy Fawkes" - Bahamas AI art
©A. Derek Catalano

 

Guy Fawkes: The Man Behind the Gunpowder Plot and His Legacy

Introduction: Who Was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes is a name forever etched in the annals of British history as one of the central figures in the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born on April 13, 1570, in York, England, Fawkes grew up during a period of intense religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in England. A devout Catholic, Fawkes became deeply disillusioned with the Protestant rule of King James I and took part in the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate the king.

Though his mission was unsuccessful, Fawkes' actions left an indelible mark on British history and culture. His legacy is still remembered annually on Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, celebrated on November 5th. This event commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot and the survival of King James I. However, this tale of treason and rebellion has also spread beyond British borders, influencing various cultures—including in The Bahamas, where Guy Fawkes is remembered in a unique and lively fashion. Read full article>

 

 

 Fort Montagu, Nassau, Bahamas. - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Fort Montagu: Nassau's Oldest Coastal Sentinel

Perched gracefully on the eastern shore of New Providence Island, Fort Montagu might be the smallest of Nassau's remaining historical fortifications, but its significance is arguably the greatest. As the oldest fort still standing in the Bahamas' capital city, this limestone bulwark is a testament to the island’s turbulent colonial past, playing a critical role in battles and diplomatic chess games that spanned two major conflicts.

If you’re seeking a slice of history paired with stunning coastal views, Fort Montagu is an essential stop on your Bahamian journey.