“We, the people, are Barbados.”

Image of the flag of Barbados, which is blue and yellow with a black trident in the centre.

7digital’s new story for the BBC World Service revisits Barbados two years after it dropped the British monarch as its head of state.

‘We the people are Barbados’ is part of The Documentary series and is available on BBC Sounds now.

In September 2020, on the brink of a global pandemic, Barbados announced its decision to cut ties with the British monarchy. On 30th November 2021 - the island’s 57th Independence Day - it formally became a republic.

Two years later, author and presenter Candice Brathwaite explores Barbados’ transition. How much real change has taken place? What does the future of Barbados look like?

Through interviews with poet Esther Phillips, historian Dr Pedro Welch, artist Oneka Small, journalist Krystal-Penny Bowen and socio-economics expert Prof Don Marshall, Candice and producer Chloe Williams gain insights from the people of Barbados about the island’s evolving identity.

With thanks to Barbados Today and Barbados’ Prime Minister’s Office.

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7digital have made hundreds of hours of factual and arts audio for BBC platforms. Recent commissions include:

Everything is Everything: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at 25 with Laura Mvula

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Why Time Flies (And How to Slow It Down) with Armando Iannucci

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Gone but not forgotten: Syria's missing persons

Recall of the Rock with Helen Mort

Thought Pattern, Pattern Thought with Joanne Limburg

In The Child’s Best Interests with Fergus Walsh

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Award-winning series Michael Morpurgo’s Folk Journeys


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