JUNKANOO

Jump In. Enjoy the Beat. Feel the Rush.

BACKGROUNDER

A LIVING LEGEND

The Bahamas Junkanoo Tradition has been around for well over 500 years. How it all started is up for lively debate amongst the Bahamian people. While many believe that the tradition began when legendary West African Prince John Canoe became a local hero for besting the English, others imagine it came from the French gens inconnus which were the unknown or masked people. However, most people consider the traditions as having grown out of the times of slavery. Celebrations would ring out for the three days at Christmas that the enslaved people were given off. They would travel house-to-house singing and dancing in colorful masks. After slavery was abolished, the festival evolved into the energetic extravaganza of Junkanoo today that continues to bring thousands to the Bahamas each year.

ISLAND TRADITIONS

Distinctly Bahamian, the Junkanoo festival celebrates and explores none other than the life and soul of the tiny island. The most famous of the festivities is the colorful, energetic parade of brightly costumed people dancing and moving to the accompaniment of the popular Junkanoo sounds of the goombay drums, copper bells and mouth whistles. Beautifully colored crepe paper and cardboard are used to weave imaginative costumes inspired by the upcoming Boxing Day, New Years Day and summer time. Groups of up to 1,000 dancers perform impressive routines to the traditional Bahamian rhythms of goatskin drums, cowbells, whistles and horns. The crowds of spectators are never caught sitting still as the Junkanoo parade travels through downtown Nassau in the early morning (typically from 2am to 10 am) with its lively music and vivacious dancers. Prizes are awarded each year for best music, best costume and best overall group presentation.

 CHARACTERISTIC BAHAMIAN MUSIC & CULTURE

The heart of the Junkanoo festival clearly lies in Nassau, but during the festive time of year, the spirit and soul of Junkanoo can be felt miles away. Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, The Exumas and The Abacos are infiltrated with joyous exuberance that exemplifies what the Bahamian culture is all about. While Junkanoo is without a doubt the most popular style of music in the Bahamas as it has become an inherent part of the island heritage, the musical styles of calypso, reggae, and rake n scrape also thrive and are embraced as a part of the Bahamian culture. Calypso: An Afro-Caribbean music that has spread through many parts of the Caribbean and led to a traditional form of dance music known as Soca. Rake n Scrape: characterized by the use of a saw as the primary instrument and is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian Quadrille and the heel-toe polka. International appreciation for the Bahamian musical undertones has grown profusely in places like Japan and the United States, especially with the increasing popularity and expansion of the Junkanoo festival.