Editing Anguilla (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:Cap Juluca - Anguilla.jpg|thumb|right|The beach at the Cap Juluca resort on Maundays Bay]]
[[File:Sandy Ground Anguilla.jpg|thumb|Sandy Ground beach]]
The island's cultural history begins with the native [[Taíno people|Taino]], [[Arawak]] and [[Kalina people|Carib]]. Their artefacts have been found around the island, telling of life before European settlers arrived.<ref name="Hailey et al. 2011">{{cite book|last1=Hailey|first1=Adrian|last2=Wilson|first2=Byron|last3=Horrocks|first3=Julia|title=Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies|date=7 April 2011|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-9004194083|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNdbVSDfF6oC&q=Anguilla+antilles|access-date=12 June 2016|archive-date=30 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530191505/https://books.google.com/books?id=QNdbVSDfF6oC&q=Anguilla+antilles#v=snippet&q=Anguilla%20antilles&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

Anguillan culture has also been built through immigration. Many European families have moved to the island and have impacted the formalities of the Anguillan people.

Similar to nearby islands, Anguillans geography and location require a cultural reliance on the ocean. The island's abundance of sea life has led to the incorporation of many fish and crustacean into daily life. They have become a part of the local cuisine, opened up opportunities for ecotourism, and introduced celebrations such as Lobster Fest and boat races.

As throughout the [[Caribbean]], holidays are a cultural fixture. Anguilla's most important holidays are of historic as much as cultural importance – particularly the anniversary of the emancipation (previously August Monday in the Park), celebrated as the Summer Festival, or Carnival,<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – Anguilla" /> the sailboat races, and Lobster Fest. British festivities, such as the [[King's Official Birthday|King's Birthday]], are also celebrated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatwedoinanguilla.com/calendar/public-holiday-queen-birthday/|title=Public Holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen|date=17 June 2019|website=Whatwedoinanguila.com|access-date=10 February 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308072337/https://whatwedoinanguilla.com/calendar/public-holiday-queen-birthday/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Music in Anguilla presents itself as an important part of its culture as well. All different genres of music are played at the celebrations mentioned above. This music represents the deep history of talent that Anguillans have displayed for decades.

The Anguilla National Trust (ANT) was established in 1989 and opened its current office in 1991 charged with the responsibility of preserving the heritage of the island, including its cultural heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://axanationaltrust.com/about-us/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Anguilla National Trust |language=en-GB |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711005055/https://axanationaltrust.com/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Heritage Collection Museum]] used to showcase the history and artefacts of Anguilla, but in 2024 the collection was handed over to the [[Anguilla National Museum]].<ref name="f277">{{cite web | title=Heritage Collection Museum turns over artifacts to the Government of Anguilla | website=The Anguillian Newspaper - The Weekly Independent Paper of Anguilla | date=2024-01-26 | url=https://theanguillian.com/2024/01/heritage-collection-museum-turns-over-artifacts-to-the-government-of-anguilla/ | access-date=2024-05-20 | archive-date=30 May 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530191508/https://theanguillian.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Anguillan cuisine}}
[[File:Sunshine Shack Anguilla.jpg|thumb|Sunshine Shack Beachbar N Grill located in Rendezvous Bay]]
Anguillan cuisine is influenced by native Caribbean, West African, Spanish, French, and English cuisines.<ref name="UsaToday">Robinson, Peg. [http://traveltips.usatoday.com/foods-important-anguilla-20339.html "Foods That Are Important in Anguilla."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224035840/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/foods-important-anguilla-20339.html |date=24 December 2011 }} [http://traveltips.usatoday.com ''USA Today Travel''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717012905/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/ |date=17 July 2011 }}. Retrieved July 2011.</ref> Seafood is abundant, including prawns, shrimp, crab, [[spiny lobster]], [[conch]], [[mahi-mahi]], [[Lutjanus campechanus|red snapper]], [[marlin]], and [[grouper]].<ref name="UsaToday"/> [[Salt cod]] is a staple food eaten on its own and used in stews, casseroles and soups.<ref name="UsaToday"/> Livestock is limited due to the small size of the island and people there use poultry, pork, goat, and mutton, along with imported beef.<ref name="UsaToday"/> Goat is the most commonly eaten meat, used in a variety of dishes.<ref name="UsaToday"/> The official national food of Anguilla is [[pigeon pea]]s and rice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baconismagic.ca/anguilla/traditional-anguilla-food/|title=29 Tasty Anguilla Food and Drink You'll Love – Bacon is Magic|date=3 June 2019|website=Bacon is Magic – The Best Food Around the World|access-date=19 December 2019|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035813/https://www.baconismagic.ca/anguilla/traditional-anguilla-food/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A significant amount of the island's produce is imported due to limited land suitable for agriculture production; much of the soil is sandy and infertile.<ref name="UsaToday"/> The agriculture produce of Anguilla includes tomatoes, [[Bell pepper|peppers]], limes and other [[citrus fruit]]s, onion, garlic, squash, pigeon peas, and [[callaloo]]. Starch staple foods include imported rice and other foods that are imported or locally grown, including [[Yam (vegetable)|yams]],<ref name="NewYorkTimes">Higgins, Michelle (28 January 2007). [http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/travel/28anguilla.html "For Foodies: Anguilla."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813021644/http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/travel/28anguilla.html |date=13 August 2011 }} [http://travel.nytimes.com ''The New York Times – Travel''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717043729/http://travel.nytimes.com/ |date=17 July 2011 }}. Retrieved July 2011.</ref> sweet potatoes<ref name="NewYorkTimes"/> and [[breadfruit]].<ref name="UsaToday"/>

===Literature===
The Anguilla National Trust has programmes encouraging Anguillan writers and the preservation of the island's history. In 2015, ''Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla'' A New Anthology by [[Lasana M. Sekou]] was published by House of Nehesi Publishers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theanguillian.com/2015/05/where-i-see-the-sun-anthology-available-in-anguilla/|title="WHERE I SEE THE SUN" ANTHOLOGY AVAILABLE IN ANGUILLA|work=The Anguillian Newspaper - The Weekly Independent Paper of Anguilla |date=29 May 2015|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622072500/http://theanguillian.com/2015/05/where-i-see-the-sun-anthology-available-in-anguilla/|archive-date=22 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the forty three poets in the collection are Rita Celestine-Carty, [[Bankie Banx]], John T. Harrigan, [[Patricia J. Adams]], Fabian Fahie, Dr. Oluwakemi Linda Banks, and Reuel Ben Lewi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://soualiganewsday.com/local/soualiga-newsday-features/item/3890-think-and-know-where-i-see-the-sun-%E2%80%93-contemporary-poetry-in-anguilla.html |title=Think and Know: ''Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in Anguilla'' |access-date=17 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407200910/http://soualiganewsday.com/local/soualiga-newsday-features/item/3890-think-and-know-where-i-see-the-sun-%E2%80%93-contemporary-poetry-in-anguilla.html |archive-date=7 April 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Anguilla}}
[[File:BankieBanx.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bankie Banx]], noted reggae artist and poet from Anguilla who has built up an international following]]
Various Caribbean musical genres are popular on the island, such as [[soca music|soca]] and [[calypso music|calypso]], but reggae most deeply roots itself in Anguillan society. Anguilla has produced many artists and groups in this genre.

Reggae has shown itself to be the most popular genre in Anguilla. The most successful of reggae artists originating in Anguilla come from the Banks family. Bankie "Banx" and his son Omari Banks have had many chart-topping songs listened to around the world. The two musicians continue to provide live performances across the island quite often.

British Dependency has also gained popularity throughout the 21st century. The band, who began in Anguilla, boasts the island's first female bass player. Performing alongside The Wailers on tour, British Dependency have earned attention from an American audience.

One of many musical events that take place in Anguilla is Moonsplash. Moonsplash is an annual reggae music festival that has occurred in Anguilla for 33 consecutive years and proves to be the oldest independent musical event in the Caribbean. Along with its longstanding history, it is the largest festival annually alongside carnival.

While not many soca and calypso artists have gained extreme popularity, the genres are still widely listened to across the island.

=== Sports ===
{{See also|Sailing in Anguilla|Cricket in the West Indies|Rugby union in Anguilla}}
Boat racing has deep roots in Anguillan culture and is the national sport.<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica – Anguilla"/> There are regular sailing [[regattas]] on national holidays, such as Carnival, which are contested by locally built and designed boats. These boats have names and have sponsors that print their logo on their sails.

As in many other former [[British Colony|British colonies]], cricket is also a popular sport. Anguilla is the home of [[Omari Banks]], who played for the [[West Indies Cricket Team]], while [[Cardigan Connor]] played first-class cricket for English county side [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]] and was 'chef de mission' (team manager) for Anguilla's [[Commonwealth Games]] team in 2002. Other noted players include [[Chesney Hughes]], who played for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club]] in England.

[[Rugby union]] is represented in Anguilla by the Anguilla Eels RFC, who were formed in April 2006.<ref>[http://www.news.ai/gl//article.php?story=20060425160749670 Rugby in Anguilla!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521021347/http://www.news.ai/gl//article.php?story=20060425160749670 |date=21 May 2018 }}, Anguilla News</ref> The Eels have been finalists in the St. Martin tournament in November 2006 and semi-finalists in 2007, 2008, 2009 and Champions in 2010. The Eels were formed in 2006 by Scottish club national second row Martin Welsh, Club Sponsor and President of the AERFC Ms. Jacquie Ruan, and Canadian standout Scrumhalf Mark Harris (Toronto Scottish RFC).

Anguilla is the birthplace of sprinter [[Zharnel Hughes]] who has represented Great Britain since 2015, and England at the [[2018 Commonwealth Games]]. He won the 100 metres at the [[2018 European Athletics Championships]], the 4 x 100 metres at the same championships, and the 4 x 100 metres for [[England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games]]. He also won a {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay team gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a silver on the {{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} relay for [[Great Britain]] at the [[2020 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Zharnel Hughes breaks silence on CJ Ujah doping scandal as Team GB face silver medal loss |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/team-gb-zharnel-hughes-ujah-24824629 |website=Mirror |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207115707/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/athletics/team-gb-zharnel-hughes-ujah-24824629 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023 he broke the British record for the 100m sprint, with a time of 9.83 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/24/zharnel-hughes-shatters-linford-christies-british-100m-record |newspaper=The Observer |title=Zharnel Hughes shatters Linford Christie's 30-year British 100m record |date=24 June 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=30 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530191507/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/24/zharnel-hughes-shatters-linford-christies-british-100m-record |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Shara Proctor]], British Long Jump Silver Medalist at the World Championships in Beijing, first represented Anguilla in the event until 2010 when she began to represent Great Britain and England. Under the Anguillan Flag she achieved several medals in the [[North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association|NACAC]] games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shara Proctor: It's time for Anguilla to have an Olympic Committee |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/shara-proctor-its-time-anguilla-have-olympic-committee1-555557 |website=Caribbean Loop |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-date=30 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530191508/https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/shara-proctor-its-time-anguilla-have-olympic-committee1-555557 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Keith Connor]], triple jumper, is also an Anguillan. He represented Great Britain and England and achieved several international titles including Commonwealth and European Games gold medals and an Olympic bronze medal. Connor later became Head Coach of Australia Athletics.<ref>{{cite web |title=SMU's Connor Bounds To Triple Jump Greatness |url=https://www.ustfccca.org/ncaa-100/keith-connor-smu-1982-ncaa-outdoor-championships-triple-jump-meet-record |website=USTFCCCA.org |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207120315/https://www.ustfccca.org/ncaa-100/keith-connor-smu-1982-ncaa-outdoor-championships-triple-jump-meet-record |url-status=live }}</ref>