Junkanoo

We’ve been very fortunate to happen upon a variety of annual events that take place just when we arrive on a particular island. We were at Man-o-War for the annual island wide flea market. And we were in Marsh Harbor for the annual Love Rush Junkanoo celebration.

According to local lore, junkanoo dates back to slave days when an African tribal chief named John Canoe demanded the right to celebrate with his people and one day was set aside during the Christmas season. There are several other versions of the origin of the word and the festivities, but regardless of the origin, it’s a spectacle to behold.

Love Rush Junkanoo is a 2 night affair. The first night is Junior Junkanoo for young kids, mostly elementary school age. They were fabulous! Then the second night is for the adults – bigger, louder and longer. And each night was a contest with judges all along the route. We’re not sure what the criteria were, but people told us that costumes take months to make and each troupe, usually representing a town or a small island, practices for weeks.

Imagine the most colorful, flamboyant costumes on a troupe of maybe 100 or more people, all dancing to music provided by a couple dozen kazoos, whistles and drums (think 55 gallon barrels with skins). It’s amazing how just those 3 “instruments” can produce such amazing music. As one Bahamian we were sitting with said: “when the junkanoo music comes, if you don’t start dancing, you’re not alive.” He was right. The rhythm, the volume and the atmosphere had everyone along the street up and dancing along with the music – junkanoo!!

 

 

But if not…