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Junkanoo, a Bahamian
festival, is an energetic, colourful parade of brightly
costumed participants gyrating and dancing to the rhythmic accompaniment
of cowbells, brass, and whistles. The celebration occurs on Boxing Day,
December 26 and New Years Day - beginning in the early hours of the
morning and ending at dawn.
Junkanoo is reminiscent of New Orleans' Mardi Gras and Rio de Janeiro's
Carnival, but it is distinctly Bahamian and exists nowhere else. Parade
participants, arranged in groups of up to 1,000, are organized around a
particular theme. Their costumes, dance and music reflect this theme. At
the
end of the Junkanoo procession, judges award cash prizes. The three main
categories for the awards are: best music, best costume and best overall
group
presentation.
The most spectacular Junkanoo parade occurs in the capitol of Nassau.
However, you can also experience it on Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Bimini
and
Abaco.
HISTORY OF JUNKANOO
The origin of the word
"Junkanoo" is unknown. The most popular belief is that it
derived from "John Canoe," an African tribal chief who demanded he be
allowed
the right to celebrate with his people even after he was brought to the
West
Indies as a slave. Others believe the name is from the French "gens
inconnus,"
which means "the unknown people" and refers to people wearing disguises
and
thus being unknown.
Junkanoo's roots can be traced to West Africa. In fact, other areas in
the region
that practiced slavery - like Bermuda and Jamaica - have their own
versions of
John Canoe parades.
Junkanoo probably began in the 16th or 17th century. Around Christmas,
Bahamian slaves were given a few days off to leave the plantations to be
with
their families and to celebrate the holiday with music, dance and
costumes.
In the early years, Junkanoo participants wore grotesque masks and
walked on
stilts. They were allowed to move around anonymously and let off
steam.
After slavery was abolished, Junkanoo almost disappeared, but a few
islanders
kept the tradition going. Over time, Junkanoo's popularity has waxed and
waned.
Today, it is a joyous celebration of freedom. It is an important part of
the
Christmas season, and the Islands of the Bahamas is the only country
where one
can experience it.
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