The traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow hear, thepoliceman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great. Translatio studii and the poetics of the digital archive. Masqueraded marchers wearing colorful headpieces and costumes that have taken months to prepare dance to the beat of an afrobahamian rhythm. Notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchypatchy. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. The character belly woman, a pregnant woman is primarily played by a male. Masqueraded marchers wearing colorful headpieces and costumes that have taken months to prepare dance to the beat of an afrobahamian rhythm called goombay, which refers to. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. He was a chief of the ahanta people in the early 18th century, who established a stronghold in the defunct fort fredericksburg and held it against european encroachment for 20 years.
Junkanoo festival article about junkanoo festival by the. Jonkonnu the john canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Bahamian soda junkanoo punch is really a good sample of. In 1838, less than one year before the enslaved of jamaica were fully emancipated, isaac mendes belisario completed his sketches of character, a set of lithographs that today constitutes one of the first visual representations of the jamaican jonkonnu performance from the preemancipation period. This beach has a lot of traffic as in people, being that its so close to the down town area. Over time, the themes of the costumes, which had strong european elements, evolved to be more afrocentric. There are also junkanoo parades in miami in june and key west in october, where local black american populations have their roots in the bahamas.
There are also junkanoo parades in miami in june and key west in october, where local black. The ashanti swordsman became the horned headed man. They also danced the jig step, using hatchets and bows and arrows in exciting gestures. Pitchy patchy s role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits.
After that brief history, im sure youre anxious to know just how the magic happens, or at least some of it. Junkanoo beach is a public beach located close to the down town area. It had always been on my bucket list to one day rush this is when we hit the streets and parade around in our costumes, not sure how i was going to or who would make my costume but i figured id worry about that when the time came, if it ever did. The changes continued in the last half of the 20th century, and characters, such as the horse head, belly woman, pitchypatchy, the devil, and some fictional ones, were added to the cast of masquerades. A large portion of our african ancestors arrived in the bahamas in the 1780s following the american revolutionary war as slaves of the united loyalists, while others arrived after the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 as liberated africans, freed. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. Junkanoo is a national festival in the bahamas, the only place where it holds such an honor. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king. Bahamas 1988 056 new providence junkanoo 23021714259. Mediating the sacred between junkanoo and the church in.
View all hotels near junkanoo expo museum on tripadvisor. The largest junkanoo parade happens in the capital nassau, new. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. Jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters.
Here, jamaica youth theatre shares this folk form with visitors at the norman manley. Making of a junkanooer the official site of the bahamas. Also known as the western esplanade, this area joins the beach at arawak cay and long wharf, the two beaches near downtown nassau which are just a few minutes walk from the cruise ship dock. Seasonal junkanoo festivals began during the and centuries when slaves in the bahamas were given a special holiday around christmas and could leave the plantations. The largest junkanoo parade happens in the capital new providence. Junkanoo is a street festival of west african origins held during christmas time here in nassau. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. Early american literature, caribbean assemblages, and freedom dreams, american literary history 29, 2 2017. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. Queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman.
It fell finally in 1725 and his followers were transported as slaves to the americas. It is held on december 26, boxing day, and january 1, new years day. Some scholars believe it has its origins in west african secret societies the performers are always. Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate. Junkanoo, a bahamian national festival, is a kaleidoscope of colours and sound. Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. Music of the anglophone caribbean junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of akan origin in many islands across the bahamas every boxing day december 26 and new years day january 1, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival.
Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey. At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states. The rhythmic sounds of cowbells, goat skin drums and whistles, accompanied by an array of brass instruments, create a sweet musical beat that will move you. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african origin in many islands across the english speaking caribbean every boxing day 26 december and new years day 1 january, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival of ghana. John canoe was the european name given to an akan warrior from axim, ghana. Pitchypatchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed.
The traditional masquerade party of john canoe or jonkanoo is a highlight of jamaican christmas. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions. The costumed characters were accompanied by musicians who played wellknown traditional songs on the bamboo fife, bass and rattling drums. West bay st and nassau st, nassau, new providence island. Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. Introduction the origin of the word junkanoo is rather.
Junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes in many towns across the bahamas every boxing day december 26 and new years day january 1. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters includes bellywoman, policeman, devil, horsehead, pitchy patchy, cowhead and househead to name a few. The meaning and history of junkanoo for bahamian culture. Jonkonnu john canoe, john kooner, junkanoo at the beginning of the eighteenth century a new christmas custom arose in the british west indies. Celebrating junkanoo in the bahamas matador network. They are sometimes invited to perform at heritage festivities. It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. Exhibit bibliography early caribbean digital archive. There are also junkanoo parades in miami in june and key west in october, where local black populations have their.
The origins of jonkonnu the british called it john canoe are obscure, but according to olive seniors az of jamaican heritage an essential book for your shelves, by the way the name may originate in the ewe language of eastern ghana and togo, with the meaning sorcerer man. This essay considers the links between jonkonnu and similar. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days. The bahamas junkanoo parade is the craziest beginning to the new year. Junkanoo, for bahamians, is the ultimate national symbol. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african.
Bahamas junkanoo photos pictures bahamas junkanoo costumes in december we had our jonkonnu, we enjoyed making different costumes such as belly woman, pitchy patchy, the devil, sailors and caribs, and parading and jonkonnu parades making a junkanoo costume is a timeconsuming, tedious process that takes skill and creativity. Although a popular destination for spring breakers, on saturdays youll find bahamians hosting cookouts and other fundraising activities. God loves junkanoo, with all the threats of rain through the twelvehour presentation the weather held up in favour of the parade. The roots, branches and essence of junkanoo michael craton department of history, university of waterloo, waterloo, ontario, n2l 361, canada pages 14.
Media in category junkanoo the following 40 files are in this category, out of 40 total. Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday. The junkanoo parade and festival, held in nassaus native quarter, combines elements of mardi gras, mummers parades, and ancient african tribal rituals. Junkanoo is a bahamian cultural celebration that includes dance, music, spirituality, and a celebration of freedom. The largest parade, junkanoo, happens in nassau, the capital of the bahamas. Jamaican christmas customs jamaica information service. There is even a museum showcasing junkanoo costumes, art and artifacts in downtown nassaua cultural highlight and mustsee attraction for all visitors. However it began, jonkonnu has joined the tradition of masquerades from africa with those of a european nature and british mimes. The major event is in nassau on december 26 and new years day, but other islands celebrate as well, including the abacos, the exumas, harbour island, and grand bahama. The traditional characters wear white mesh masks, and go by the names of the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, and pitchypatchy.
Jonkonnu, junkanoo jonkanoo, jankunu, john canoe or johnkankus is a musical street masquerade, believed to be of west african origin, which occurs in many towns across the caribbean every december 26 and new years day. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also. One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. The junkanoo parades are an event not to be missed. Junkanoo expo museum nassau 2020 all you need to know. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents. Christianity and cultural identity in the bahamas, media enterprises, 2003, pp. While very colourful and entertaining, their antics and mingling with onlookers often had. The jonkonnu revelers parade through the streets in colorful masquerade costumes. You can also watch the junkanoo music practices, often held at night.
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