Jonkanoo
Encyclopedia
Jonkanoo is a masquerade
festival/parade from The Bahamas
, believed to be of West Africa
n origin. It is traditionally performed through the streets during the Christmas
period, and involves participants dressed in a variety of fanciful costumes, such as the Cow Head, the Hobby Horse
, the Wild Indian, and the Devil (Satan). The parade is accompanied by a band consisting of fife
, drums, and a coconut grater
used as a scraper, and jonkanoo songs are also sung. There is also a Jonkanoo pepper sauce, described as "a carnival of red hot peppers blended with scallions, onions, thyme and garlic."
Masquerade ceremony
A masquerade ceremony is a cultural or religious event involving the wearing of masks.Examples include the West African and African Diaspora masquerades, such as Egungun Masquerades, Northern Edo Masquerades, Caribbean Carnival and Jonkonnu.-External links:* - slideshow by Life magazine*...
festival/parade from The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, believed to be of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n origin. It is traditionally performed through the streets during the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
period, and involves participants dressed in a variety of fanciful costumes, such as the Cow Head, the Hobby Horse
Hobby horse
The term hobby horse is used, principally by folklorists, to refer to the costumed characters that feature in some traditional seasonal customs, processions and similar observances around the world. They are particularly associated with May Day celebrations, Mummers Plays and the Morris dance in...
, the Wild Indian, and the Devil (Satan). The parade is accompanied by a band consisting of fife
Fife (musical instrument)
A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer...
, drums, and a coconut grater
Grater
A grater is a kitchen utensil used to grate foods into fine pieces. It was invented by François Boullier in the 1540s.-Uses:...
used as a scraper, and jonkanoo songs are also sung. There is also a Jonkanoo pepper sauce, described as "a carnival of red hot peppers blended with scallions, onions, thyme and garlic."
Films
- 1984 - Caribbean Crucible. From Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music series, program 6. Directed by Dennis Marks and Geoffrey Haydon.
- 1990 - Before Reggae Hit the Town. Directed by Mark Gorney.