The other day I was trying to figure out how many generations my family has been here, and the furthest ancestor I could think of is my great, great grandmother.

She migrated here as part of the Nigerian diaspora that came to the Caribbean as free Blacks. My grandmother grew up with her, and recalled her entertaining friends, all of them speaking their native Yoruban tongue.

So I suppose that would make me a fifth generation Trinidadian.

Many years ago I had a get-together at home and my grandmother was living with us at the time. One of my friends asked me if she had been born in Trinidad to which I replied of course.

She was shocked. And then explained that all four of her grandparents were immigrants (from India). 

I guess we’ve been here for a little while. 150 years doesn’t sound like that much though.