The Bahamas celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain today (July 10) with festivities across the country and throughout Nassau-Paradise Island. The celebrations culminate days of events throughout the islands involving both residents and visitors, including this morning’s 1 a.m. People’s Rush, when the public is invited to join parade groups to inaugurate Junkanoo.

Colourful Junkanoo, The Bahamas’ famous national cultural celebration, roused Bay Street in Nassau with the rhythmic sounds of cow bells and goat skin drums as costumed danced and paraded into the morning.

A host of events have taken place throughout the year, intensifying in the past 10 days and featuring other parades and lavish celebrations at landmark resorts like Baha Mar, which hosted its own 10-day festival, and Atlantis Paradise Island, which amongst other festivities will light up the Nassau sky with fireworks tonight.

And themed events will continue throughout the year, while many hotels continue to offer celebratory discounts. After all, it’s not every year that you’re 50 years young.

History of The Bahamas

Originally inhabited by the Lucayans, The Bahamian island of Guanahani, traditionally identified as San Salvador, was Christopher Columbus’ first landfall in the New World in 1492. During the 17th century, England was at war, and piracy became rampant. As a result, Nassau quickly became the “Privateer’s Republic,” and Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, declared himself Nassau’s magistrate.

The Bahamas then became an English royal colony during the American Revolution. In 1807, England’s Parliament banned the slave trade, and by 1834, Parliament declared general Emancipation.

In 1953, young politician Lynden Pindling, who had grown up in Nassau’s West African Over-the-Hill district, formed the Progressive Liberal Party, which 20 years later led the nation to vote for independence from England – marking the anniversary of independence on July 10, 1973.