Junkanoo Festival

Junkanoo Festival

December 26; January 1

The Junkanoo Parade and Festival, held in Nassau's native quarter, combines elements of Mardi Gras, mummer's parades, and ancient African tribal rituals. It is held on December 26, Boxing Day, and January 1, New Year's Day. Masqueraded marchers wearing colorful headpieces and costumes that have taken months to prepare dance to the beat of an Afro-Bahamian rhythm called Goombay, which refers to all Bahamian secular music.
The music is played by a variety of unusual native instruments, including goat skin drums, lignum vitae sticks, pebble-filled "shak-shaks," and steel drums. The name comes from a number of sources. Historically, it referred to the drumbeats and rhythms of Africa, which were brought to the Bahamas by slaves. The term was used during jump-in dances, when the drummer would shout "Gimbey!" at the beginning of each dance. The Ibo tribes in West Africa have a drum they call Gamby, from which the name "goombay" probably derived.
The Junkanoo parade, which begins at two o'clock in the morning and continues until sunrise, is followed by the judging of costumes and awarding of prizes. There are Junkanoo parades in Freeport and the Family of Out Islands as well.
In Belize and parts of Guatemala the Junkanoo masqueraders dance from house to house. Their wire-screen masks are painted white or pink, have staring eyes, red lips, black eyebrows, and thin moustaches for men; they are accompanied by two drums and a women's chorus.
In Jamaica, Junkanoo is featured also at political rallies and Independence Day celebrations. There are "root" and "fancy dress" troupes, the latter being more sedate. Their procession contains courtiers; a king and queen preceded by a flower girl; Sailor Boy who uses a whip to keep the audience in line; Babu, an East Indian cowboy with a long cattle prod; and Pitchy Patchy, the latter three being more boisterous than the courtiers. The "root" Junkanoo parade features Amerindians and Warriors, the former dancing with a throbbing rhythm and more body movement; Belly Woman who shakes her belly in time with the music; and Cowhead and other animal characters who butt the crowd. "Root" Junkanoo is usually found in remote villages far from large towns or cities.
There are a number of theories as to where the name "Junkanoo" came from. One is that the festival was started by a West African named Jananin Canno, or from a folkloric figure known in the West Indies, John or Johnny Canoe. Another is that it comes from the French expression gens inconnus, or "unknown people," which would seem to refer to the masked dancers.
See also Yancunú, Fiesta del

CONTACTS:
Bahamas Tourism Office
60 E. 42nd St., Ste. 1850
New York, NY 10165
212-758-2777; fax: 212-753-6531
www.bahamas.com

SOURCES:
AAH-2007, p. 258
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 554
EncyChristmas-2003, p. 387
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 765
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 16
HolSymbols-2009, p. 426

Celebration days: Jan 1, Dec 26