Nola’s Baked Crabs was once a Bahamian culinary institution. Mrs. Nola Musgrove Daniel is historically credited, going as far back as the 1950s and 60s, with commercialising the mouthwatering recipe for baked stuffed crab shells.
Operating from her commercial kitchen on Carmichael Road, Nola became a household name for her savoury seafood recipe.
The Tribune Tuesday 15th May 1973
However, in 1972, things began to change for Nola, as the push towards Bahamian independence gained momentum.
A little known genealogical fact, was that Nola Musgrove Daniel was originally from Turks and Caicos. And, on 4th January 1973, despite living in The Bahamas from the late 1940s, Nola left the country, acrimoniously I might add, to return to her native Turks and Caicos.
Nola sold her business and rights to the name ‘Nola’s Baked Crabs.’
Few in the country remembered or realised that Nola’s Baked Crabs business in The Bahamas, continued on from 1973, without Nola.
The Tribune Tuesday 15th May 1973
Why would Nola move her entire life and family back to Turks and Caicos, after more than thirty years in Nassau? Well, as newspaper headlines would say at the time, her political affiliations played a big part. Nola was also casualty of an emerging new era in Bahamian sociopolitical history called Bahamianization.
The Tribune Tuesday 15th May 1973
Bahamianization was designed to ensure employment and upward mobility opportunities for Bahamians, in particular, negro Bahamians. This meant, moving foreign workers out, as Bahamians gained new skills, experience and education in a soon to be independent Bahamas.
Bahamianization, as a sociopolitical manifesto would not be achieved without some economic casualties. A number of foreign workers were forced to leave. Many left voluntarily as new employment opportunities had to be created for Bahamians only.
In January 1973, Nola’s husband described what he called political victimisation of Nola and her crab business, by the ruling Progressive Liberal Party because Nola was a supporter of the once ruling United Bahamian Party and later Opposition Free National Movement. At that time, those still holding rank within the UBP and FNM were diametrically opposed to independence in 1973, and definitely opposed to it under a PLP government. Political hostility between parties and their supporters was rife. The cry of victimisation or favouritism could be heard everywhere.
Nola also related that business was much more productive and prosperous for her after moving back to Turks and Caicos. She also said that part of the decision to leave The Bahamas was due to work permits for her key Haitian workers not being renewed by the PLP government. Nola’s family claimed it was all part of a campaign of blatant victimisation.
Nola’s Baked Crabs was started by Mrs. Nola Musgrove Daniel, a native of Turks and Caicos. Nola came to Nassau around 1936 and started her popular baked crab business around 1947. She sold it in January 1973.
Some 37 years later, in late 1972, Mrs. Nola Musgrove Daniel left The Bahamas, taking her children grandchildren and husband, who, by that time had been blind for some for 15 years.
Work permits for two of Nola’s essential workers, were denied.
Frustrated by the sudden turn of events, Nola Musgrove Daniel sold her Carmichael Road based baked crab business to family members of a Rev. Dr. H. W. Brown.
After moving back to Turk’s and Caicos, Nola was given 50 acres of land and her workers’s employment permits were granted by Caicos government.
