Junkanoo |The Bahamas Festivals

Junkanoo is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes in many towns across the Bahamas every Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). The largest Junkanoo parade happens in the capital New Providence. There are also Junkanoo parades in Miami in June and Key West in October, where local black American populations have their roots in The Bahamas. In addition to being a culture dance for the Garifuna people, this type of dancing is also performed in The Bahamas on Independence day and other historical holidays.

Dances are choreographed to the beat of goatskin drums and cowbells.

##History

Igbo masked dancer from the early 20th century depicting a spirit of a girl.

The origin of the word junkanoo is disputed. Theories include that it is named after a folk hero named John Canoe or that it is derives from the French gens inconnus (unknown people) as masks are worn by the revelers. Douglas Chambers, professor of African studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, suggests a possible Igbo origin from the Igbo yam deity Njoku Ji referencing festivities in time for the new yam festival. Chambers also suggests a link with the Igbo okonko masking tradition of southern Igboland which feature horned maskers and other masked characters in similar style to jonkonnu masks. Many of the colonies Jonkonnu was prominent, Bahamas, Jamaica, Virginia, had a relatively high percentage of Igbo people among the enslaved African population. Similarities with the Yoruba Egungun festivals have also been made. F

It is believed that this festival began during the 16th and 17th centuries.^{[citation needed]} The slaves in The Bahamas were given a special holiday around Christmas time when they would be able to leave the plantations to be with their family and celebrate the holidays with African dance, music, and costumes. After emancipation, this tradition continued, and junkanoo has evolved from its simple origins to a formal, more organised parade with sophisticated, intricate costumes, themed music and incentive prizes.

Parades in The Bahamas are judged in various categories; A (or Major) Category, the B Category, Individual costume, and fun groups:).

##Popular culture

The Junkanoo parade has been featured in multiple media properties.

• The parade was featured in After the Sunset.
• The parade was featured in Jaws The Revenge.
• A Junkanoo parade is featured in sequences of the James Bond film Thunderball that occur in Nassau, Bahamas. The celebration was staged specifically for the movie since it was filmed at the wrong time of year, but local residents were enthusiastic, creating elaborate floats and costumes and involving hundreds of people.^{[citation needed]}
• In Top Chef: Allstars Season 8, episode 13, "Fit for a King", the contestants danced at the Junkanoo parade, learned about its history, and competed to make the best dish for the Junkanoo King.

• 

  Rush for Peace Freeport Bahamas 2011

• 

  Costume sans participant after the parade

• 

  Junkanoo costume

• 

  Junkanoo costume