Rastafarian beliefs are christian, with a jamaican twist. Jonkonnu bands include a mix of traditional and modern characters, varying across the island. Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. Jonkonnu bands include a mixture of traditional and modern characters, which vary from one part of the island to another, including. Junkanoo festival article about junkanoo festival by the. Jamaican traditions archives samsara and legends hotel blog. However, the size, popularity and vibrancy increased significantly when plantation owners began supporting the revelry. There was no reason for pitchy patchy to be banished or to remain underground after emancipation.
One major character in the jonkonnu bands is pitchypatchy, who wears a costume made from fabric strips, produced in a way that is technically and aesthetically similar to the fabric strip mats, and the fabric strips of this colourful costume bounce and swirl, amplifying the movements of the masquerader as he dances down the streets. In jamaica, the jonkonnu procession includes a king and queen with their courtiers. Bands jonkonnu include a mix of traditional and modern characters, such as cow head, horse head, king, queen this wearing a veil, the devil, pitchypatchy, the red indians, the belly woman a character who dresses to simulate having a pregnancy with a huge belly and the police, a gendarme of pretend that seeks to keep the crowd in order. Wearing a mask was one of those things that brought a thrill to those who wore them. Specific dances are ascribed to the dancers, each with their own role and character to portray. Johnkunno characters include, king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, and belly woman. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Cow head or horse head, king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, red indians, belly woman and policeman a mock officer of the law to keep the motley crew and crowd in check. Such costumes have several equivalents in west africa and there is evidence, for instance in isaac mendes belisarios emancipationera lithographs of jonkonnu bands and characters, that pitchypatchy has its origin in costumes made from plant materials that were replaced by fabric, some have suggested, as the tradition became more urbanized. The music of jonkonnu bands are animated with a variety of traditional and modern characters, which vary from one part of the island to another. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and used to be performed at christmas.
John canoe is mainly a jamaican traditional band of masqueraders who appear in towns or villages during the christmas season. John canoe jonkonnu is believed to be derived from the name of a famous african chief of the guinea coast named john connu and a cultural retention of slave society. Jamaica traditional foods and dances kevin4esturiene. One major character in the jonkonnu bands is pitchy patchy, who wears a costume made from fabric strips, produced in a way that is technically and aesthetically similar to the fabric strip mats, and the fabric strips of this colourful costume bounce and swirl, amplifying the movements of the masquerader as he dances down the streets. Jonkonnu, junkanoo jonkanoo, jankunu, john canoe or johnkankus is a musical street masquerade, believed to be of west african origin, which occurs in many towns across the caribbean every december 26 and new years day. It is held on december 26, boxing day, and january 1, new years day.
So, what did christmas mean to jamaicans this year. The jonkonnu costumes originated in the days of slavery, and at that time the bands were large and elaborate. Cow head or horsehead, king, queen wearing a veil, devil. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed. Jonkonnu festival article about jonkonnu festival by the. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade incite fear to onlookers, especially young children. A christmastime tradition, jonkonnu is a bawdy street dance, one of the oldest traditional performances and a clear mix of african mime and the folk theaters of europes market towns. Dancehall is named after jamaican dance halls in which popular jamaican recordings were played by local sound systems. Generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady radio.
Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. Jonkonnu celebration in the bahamas essay 366 words. Pitchy patchy, one of the original costumed characters of jamaican street carnival known as jonkonnu, has layered strips of brightly colored textiles, similar to the structure of egungun fabric sculptures. Notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchy patchy. Pitchy patchy, not jackinthegreen, was the original jonkonnu figure. They also danced the jig step, using hatchets and bows and arrows in exciting gestures. Notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchypatchy. The character of pitchy patchy, whose costume consists of layers of green cloth or strips of coconut leaves, epitomizes the fusion of african and english performance traditions in jonkonnu. The john canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both african and european forms. Ethiopian prince ras tafari is at the center of the religion. Presenters whirling return of the ancestors uwmadison.
Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. Tis the season to be irie holiday traditions in jamaica. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. The carnevale network traditional christmas celebration in. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. Dec 17, 2018 jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. The dance group usually consists of several instruments, drum, bass, rattler, and fife. The november 22nd, 2016 generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady is dedicated to hector bunny williams during this miserable year of 2016, we have lost some of truly great foundation artists in jamaican music. The junkanoo parade and festival, held in nassaus native quarter, combines elements of mardi gras, mummers parades, and ancient african tribal rituals. Nov 23, 2014 the jonkonnu costumes originated in the days of slavery, and at that time the bands were large and elaborate. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship guide. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. Some patchwork, however, was used for costumes in johnkonu such as the character pitchy patchy.
Vocalist, nora dean and producerartists, jimmy riley, winston blake and prince buster as well as label owner lloyd a campbell. Masquerade costumes included king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Jun 03, 20 the jonkonnu dancers are commonly referred to as masqueraders and mostly perform during christmas or independence. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels. I will also consider other offshoots of african masquerades in the diaspora. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble.
Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. It was the festive opportunity afforded to the slaves by the planter class, christmas was one of the few times that slaves were relieved of their duties. It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. Some of the masquerades include cow head or horsehead, king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, red indians, belly woman and a policeman to keep the parade and gathering crowds in check. One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. Indira is a biomedical scientist based in the bahamas. On top of all that, jamaican christmas traditions abound, and jonkonnu is one you will definitely want to be a part of so be sure to ask about it no read more. Information and translations of pitchy in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. In fact, we have everything from great weather to breathtaking beaches, wonderful music and mouthwatering food. While some claim that pitchy patchys costume is based on a traditional african model, bettelheim argues that his costume is very similar to the jackin.
The largest parade, junkanoo, happens in nassau, the capital of the bahamas. Some of the major characters include pitchy patchy, horse head and belly woman. Using objects to convey meaning and break silences. Jan 28, 2010 jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. John canoejonkonnu is believed to be derived from the name of a famous african chief of the guinea coast named john connu and a cultural retention of slave society. Pitchy patchys role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Characters include a king, a queen, courtiers, the cow head, the horse head, the devil, pitchypatchy a flamboyant performer with a costume made of layered strips of brightly coloured fabric, different categories of warriors and indians. Jamaica is the home of rastafarianism, a religious movement spurred by the beliefs of famous jamaican marcus garvey and inspired by an ethiopianist reading of the king james bible. Information and translations of pitchy in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions.
Description a troupe of john canoe dancers including the queen and pitchy patchy. During slavery, a few european women in jamaica practiced quilting, but the evidence of jamaican enslaved people making quilts and patchwork designs for their everyday wear and functional use in the home is scarce. Ninja man, the clash godfather brought the loot up for grabs on stage and kiprich arrived in gear that at first seemed to be from a distant underexplored past. There was devil, fiercely pointing and jabbing his pitch fork at people, and pitchypatchy, resplendent in the clusters of strips and shreds of his many colored cloths. Jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Sep 23, 2019 jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. All things jamaican archives page 2 of 3 samsara and.
Other participants the king, the queen, the police, belly woman, french set girls. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african origin in many islands across the english speaking caribbean every boxing day 26 december and new years day 1 january, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival of ghana. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. Christmas in jamaica is an experience like no other. Kiprichs gear was a sort of cross between desert seal combat camouflage and jonkonnu character pitchy patchy, linked to egungun masquerades of west africa. The main feature of the parade is a band of masqueraders usually dressed in hideous costumes and known by names such as.
John canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both african and european forms. Some of the major characters include pitchypatchy, horse head and belly woman. The acceptance of jackinthegreen was logical because of his similarity to the original circumcision figures of west africa and the local bush symbols. Dec 22, 2015 notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchy patchy. Traffic swelled to gridlock levels, supermarkets were under siege and nerves were frayed as shoppers with limited budgets struggled to find the best. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. The practice remained strong even in the times when such activities were banned. Pitchy patchy, the cowhead, the horsehead, the devil. Survival and the imagination in jamaican dancehall culture.
Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Borrowing from walter ongs conceptualisation of writing as a technology that restructures human thought, this paper posits that the junkanoo festival seen in the african diaspora throughout the caribbean and americas can similarly be framed as a transcendent akan. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship. The dancers are masked and costumed characters who dance according to their role. They are sometimes invited to perform at heritage festivities. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. The few days preceding christmas, in kingston at least, were frenetic. Yes this means that dancehall is definetly prehiphop. Babu, an east indian cowboy with a long cattle prod.
The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and its performance at christmas time is merely historical. The carnevale network traditional christmas celebration. Borrowing from walter ongs conceptualisation of writing as a technology that restructures human thought, this paper posits that the junkanoo festival seen in the african diaspora throughout the caribbean and americas can similarly be framed as a. Mar 01, 20 typically, african groups would enact mimestyle plays, while european traditions of folk theater played short scenes and recitations. Jamaican john canoe or masquerade a history youtube.
Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey. Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. Typically, african groups would enact mimestyle plays, while european traditions of folk theater played short scenes and recitations. Characters include a king, a queen, courtiers, the cow head, the horse head, the devil, pitchypatchy a flamboyant performer with a costume made of layered strips of brightly coloured fabric, different categories of warriors and indians, belly woman, bride house head, and policeman. Then the queen, in white, her face covered in a veil, and the fake policeman motioning at the crowd to move back. In jamaica, john canoe is viewed as a recreational activity and is usually reserved for the christmas period when there emerges a band of diverse masqueraders. Jonkonnu was a way for slaves on the plantation to celebrate and express elements of their african culture. Jan 01, 2019 traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. A troupe of john canoe dancers including the queen and pitchy patchy. Dec 16, 2005 jonkonnu bands include a mixture of traditional and modern characters, which vary from one part of the island to another, including.
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