Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2020 | Page 42

Junkanoo
Junkanoo video
With its roots dating back to slavery, the African
influence on this local festival is evident as
masqueraders parade through the streets
of Nassau. With goatskin drums, cow bells,
horns and participants donned in spectacular
costumes, a cultural expression of historical
significance is being kept alive each year.
Junkanoo is a reminder of a period of time on
The Bahamas, when slaves were given three
days “holiday” over the Christmas season. They
used this time to dance and make merry, with
the use of costumes, masks and music. Today,
Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are the two
official days set aside for the Junkanoo Festival.
Spectators are treated to a colourful display
of costumed story-tellers, reflecting a blend of
African and European influences, both remnants
of the island’s colonial past. This energetic,
colourful parade takes place overnight and ends
the following morning.
In addition to the Holiday season’s Junkanoo
Festival, there is also a Junkanoo Carnival held
in May.
Nassau hosts the largest Junkanoo Festival, but
smaller ones are also held on some of the other
islands.
Visit www.bahamas.com for more information.