[9] The earliest inhabitants of Barbados were indigenous Kalinago (Caribs) and Arawaks from South America.

Between 1536 and 1550, Spanish raiders regularly seized large numbers of indigenous Taino and Kalinago from Barbados to be used as slave labour on regional plantations.

This prompted the Kalinago to flee the island for other Caribbean destinations such as Dominica and St Vincent.

There is also a small population of Syrians, Lebanese, Jewish, Indian and Chinese people in the country.

Barbados is famous for its music, with genres such as calypso, soca, and reggae being the most popular in the country.

Barbados's rum industry is a significant contributor to Barbadian culture and history.