Celebrating Junkanoo in the bahamas as a mark of our identity
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction Page 2
The Origin of Junkanoo Page 3
How has Junkanoo changed over the years Page 4
The Music Page 5
The Dance Page 7
The Costume Page 8
What makes Junknoo unique to The Bahamas Page 9
The role Junkanoo played in the building of the national identity Page 10
Conclusion Page 11
References Page 12
Introduction
Junkanoo is the greatest cultural event in the Bahamas. “It is a type of street carnival which is similar to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras and Trinidad Carnival and groups compete for prizes, with distinctive music and attire.”N-Bethel(2000) It is held during Christmastime, and represents poverty and wealth, discipline and rebellion, competition and cooperation, creative genius and physical powess.
The main event happens in New Providence but there are also smaller parades on some of the ‘family islands’ like Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Abaco. Junkanoo is distinctive to The Bahamas and is an event that is greatly anticipated.
Like Carnival, Junkanoo may be regarded as the culmination of the tales of identification told to the self (Bahamians) and to other (tourists and other foreigners). “Bahamian Junkanoo tells the tales of the self: it is simultaneously the central symbol of black Bahamians’ development, a metaphor for national progress, an affirmation of Bahamian creativity, and arena for social commentary and a ready tool for the education of the young”.- N Bethel(2000)
The Origin of Junkanoo
“The original Junkanoo is the strongest remaining African tradition in the Bahamas”-V.Bain. The origin of the word Junkanoo is unknown. Some say it comes from the French "L 'inconnu" (meaning the unknown), in reference to the masks worn by the paraders; or "junk enoo," the Scottish settlers ' reference to the parades, meaning "junk enough;" or "John Canoe," the name of an African tribal chief who demanded the right to celebrate
Introduction Page 2
The Origin of Junkanoo Page 3
How has Junkanoo changed over the years Page 4
The Music Page 5
The Dance Page 7
The Costume Page 8
What makes Junknoo unique to The Bahamas Page 9
The role Junkanoo played in the building of the national identity Page 10
Conclusion Page 11
References Page 12
Introduction
Junkanoo is the greatest cultural event in the Bahamas. “It is a type of street carnival which is similar to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras and Trinidad Carnival and groups compete for prizes, with distinctive music and attire.”N-Bethel(2000) It is held during Christmastime, and represents poverty and wealth, discipline and rebellion, competition and cooperation, creative genius and physical powess.
The main event happens in New Providence but there are also smaller parades on some of the ‘family islands’ like Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Abaco. Junkanoo is distinctive to The Bahamas and is an event that is greatly anticipated.
Like Carnival, Junkanoo may be regarded as the culmination of the tales of identification told to the self (Bahamians) and to other (tourists and other foreigners). “Bahamian Junkanoo tells the tales of the self: it is simultaneously the central symbol of black Bahamians’ development, a metaphor for national progress, an affirmation of Bahamian creativity, and arena for social commentary and a ready tool for the education of the young”.- N Bethel(2000)
The Origin of Junkanoo
“The original Junkanoo is the strongest remaining African tradition in the Bahamas”-V.Bain. The origin of the word Junkanoo is unknown. Some say it comes from the French "L 'inconnu" (meaning the unknown), in reference to the masks worn by the paraders; or "junk enoo," the Scottish settlers ' reference to the parades, meaning "junk enough;" or "John Canoe," the name of an African tribal chief who demanded the right to celebrate
References: Bain, V. (1996). Junkanoo and public order in the Bahamas, 1890-1930s. Unpublished History Tripos Thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge. Miller Alleyne (1998) Sampath 1997, van Koningsbruggen 1997 Bethel, E. C. (1991). Junkanoo: Festival of the Bahamas. In N. Bethel (Ed.). London and Basingstoke: Macmillan Caribbean. Bethel, N. (1994). Ain 't nobody gone take it from you: Bahamian Junkanoo. Unpublished draft article for 1994 Festival of American Folklife booklet. Conard Kristin (2011) Creating Junkanoo in The Bahamas Bethel ,Nicollete . (2000) .Junkanoo in the Bahamas: a tale of identity Unpublished draft article Bethel, Nicollete, (2007) Blog World