(EDITOR’S NOTE: Every Christmas that I spend in Washington, D.C., I eagerly look forward to viewing Junkanoo live o ZNS-TV, but this year the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of the annual Junkanoo parades on Bay Street on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. So I want to thank my Facebook friend Rosemary Clarice Hanna for satisfying my Junkanoo addiction by granting me permission to publish this excerpt from her unpublished “Bahamian Picture Book” as a Guest Commentary in BAHAMAS CHRONICLE?)
GUEST COMMENTARY: BY ROSEMARY CLARICE HANNA
NASSAU, Bahamas — Junkanoo is the quintessential celebration of the Bahamian spirit, and nothing else compares. Junkanoo parades are held on Bay and Shirley Streets on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) and New Year’s Day. Over the years the celebration has evolved in many ways from the time when revelers wore costumes made with sponge, shredded newspapers and fringed crepe paper, and the groups literally “rushed” towards each other from opposite directions and often got into fights.
In the early days the only instruments used were drums, cowbells, whistles and horns, but the parades have now reached a level of sophistication where brass and other instruments have been added and most groups also have choreographed dancers and large sculptured “lead” pieces. In the old days everyone made his or her costume at home. At that time there were very few women involved in Junkanoo as it was looked down upon by many. The late veteran entertainer Maureen Duvalier was the first woman to take a Junkanoo group to Bay Street. In former times there were no barriers and the general public was free to mingle with the Junkanoos, and I can recall children climbing up trees to get a better view. But we now buy tickets and watch the parade from high atop bleachers.
Nowadays the groups all have secret “shacks” where the members gather months ahead of the parades to collaborate, come up with themes, design and create the magnificent costumes like the ones seen in the following pictures. And there is very serious rivalry. When I was young one of my brothers rushed with a group led by John Chipman. People from every strata of society in The Bahamas are now involved in Junkanoo.
The late Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling was involved, the former Prime Minister The Hon. Perry G. Christie was a member of the Valley Group and he became known for his “Junkanoo shuffle”; and our current Prime Minister, Dr. The Hon. Hubert Minnis, is a member and beller (cowbell ringer) of the Saxons Super Stars Group, which is led by Percy “Vola” Francis. I have always been a great fan of the Saxons who are headquartered in my old neighbourhood. Pictured here is master artist Andret John who makes some of those wonderful lead pieces mentioned above.
We also have a separate Junior Junkanoo parade for school children and this is held at Arawak Cay, West Bay Street, as well as on some of the Family Islands..
For those folks who have never experienced Junkanoo, “trust me,” as we Bahamians like to say, when those drums, cowbells, whistles, brass and other instruments “lick up” only the dead would not be compelled to dance. That’s our Bahamian thing!
Junkanoo Parade on Bay Street
Photographs by Rosemary C. Hanna
© 2017 Rosemary C. Hanna
