Culture

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago are famous for their steel band music.  This music is an important part of Carnival,the biggest celebration of the year on the islands.  Carnival is a giant celebration that happens before Lent every year.  There are many parties and parades where thousands of people dress up in fantastic costumes and dance the calypso.  It is very colorful and lots of fun for everyone.

Trinidad and Tobago also have their own university and many local artists and writers.  There are theaters that put on plays and many musical concerts and celebrations.

For sports, people enjoy soccer, rugby, cricket, horse racing, and boat racing.  There are powerboat races between the two islands.  

calypso music and the steelpan, which is widely claimed to be the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century. The diverse cultural and religious background allows for many festivities and ceremonies throughout the year. Other indigenous art forms include soca (a derivate of calypso),Parang (Venezuelan-influenced Christmas music),chutney,Rapso music, which was made famous by Cheryl Byron and pichakaree (musical forms which blend the music of the Caribbean and India) and the famous Limbo dance.

The artistic scene is vibrant. Trinidad and Tobago claims two Nobel Prize-winning authors, V.S. Naipaul and St Lucian-born Derek Walcott. Mas' designer Peter Minshall is renowned not only for his Carnival costumes, but also for his role in opening ceremonies of the Barcelona Olympics, the 1994 Football World Cup, the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics, for which he won an Emmy Award.Hasely Crawford was the first Trinidadian to win the Olympic Gold Medal in the men's 100 m dash.