From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival - The Evolution of Bahamian Culture
By Nathaniel Lewis
May 19, 2015 - 12:17:13 AM
Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie poses with film producer Nathaniel Prince Lewis at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival celebrations on Grand Bahama
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On May 9th, 2015 during the Road Fever component of Bahamas Junkanoo
Carnival, I stood on the back of the big truck dancing, while carefully
observing the crowd below. I can honestly and truly say, such sincere patriotism,
jubilant enthusiasm and unity among the Bahamian people have not been seen in
this country since the evening of
July 10th, 1973. For some Bahamas
Junkanoo Carnival was simply a “party.” For the majority, and those who us who
worked for months behind the scenes it was so much more – it was the Evolution
of Bahamian Culture.
In order to put this essay into proper context, it is important to first
establish the correct definitions.
Webster Dictionary defines the word “Evolution” as "a process of slow
change and development."
It defines the word “Culture” as the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a
particular society, group, place, or time."
The Evolution of Culture can then be defined as “the slow change and
development of beliefs, customs and arts of a particular society, group, place
or time.”
The History
Bahamian culture stems rich historical fusion of African and European
traditions spanning over the course of centuries. The Bahamas was captured and ruled under Spanish
forces in 1782 under General Galvez during the United States War of Independence.
Colonel Andrew Deveaux who led a British-American Loyalist expedition recaptured
the islands in 1783 and after the American Revolution, the land was granted to
British Loyalist who went into exile and fled the United States into order to
remain loyal to Britain. The population of The Bahamas at this time grew vastly
in numbers because if the arrival of the Loyalist but also because of the
influx of the African Slaves they brought with them as well. In 1808 the
British Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act of 1807 which abolished the slave
trade and in 1833, slavery was officially abolished in the British Empire. It
is believed by historians that around this time, the birth of Junkanoo in The
Bahamas took place.
Junkanoo
Junkanoo is the premiere national festival of the Bahamas which encompasses a
parade of persons dressed in costumes made from indigenous materials and
showcases the sounds of goat-skin drums, cowbells, horns and other musical instruments.
Junkanoo is largely believe to be a celebration of the abolishment of slavery
and the emancipation of slaves in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It’s a
national treasure that has continued for centuries to this very day.
While Junknaoo remains a premiere fixture of Bahamian culture, it remains one
component of a much larger group of elements that make up “Bahamian Culture.”
Music and Dance
Music and dance are both very large components of Bahamian culture with a wide
array of sounds such as Rake and Scrape which uses saws and screwdrivers, the
goombay drums, percussion instruments, etc. The use of such sounds combined with
composed music and lyrics have given birth to music legends such as Ronnie
Butler, Johnny Kemp and Exuma etc. as well as a birth of recording artist such
as Avvy, Julien Believe, D-Mac and many others. Dance also has a long history in
The Bahamas including moves such as the Bahamian Quadrille and the Heel and Toe
Polka.
The Mandate
While Junkanoo is a deeply respected and honored tradition of Bahamian culture,
many Junkanooers do it simply for the love. Similarly while dance and music have
also been a part of our culture, there’s never been a deliberate, concerted effort
to create a long-term, sustainable industry for Bahamians who wish to make both
creative avenues full time careers.
Under the leadership of Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Honorable
Daniel Johnson, the culture of the Bahamas is changing, for the better. One of
the mandates, under the present Administration and Minister Johnson is not only
advance culture, but moreover, the business of culture. That is, to move
culture from a hobby and simply doing it for the love, and turning it into a
full time career. Additionally, as Prime Minister The Rt. Honorable Perry
Gladstone Christie has said on many occasions, the government is heavily
focused and investing in creating long term sustainable jobs in the areas of
the arts for musicians, dancers, filmmakers and storytellers and other
stakeholders.
By advancing the Business of Culture, the Government is not only creating jobs,
but seeking to develop Cultural Entrepreneurs who would be able to form legally
registered complains and earn long-term profits
from their skills and then go on to train others and create sustainable
industries for years to come
Junkanoo Carnival’s Impact
During a business event held this year I spoke to a business owner who was
against the concept of Junkanoo Carnival, until I mentioned 3 key facts: 1) All
costumes are designed by local Bahamians. 2) Profits from costumes will go
directly to the economic benefit of local cultural entrepreneurs. 3) We aren't
just Carnival "groups" but official companies registered and in
compliance with licensing regulations. They were completely surprised and by
the end the day, walked up to me and said "I'm sold."
As Bahamas National Festival Commission events chairman Ed Fields explained in
2014 during the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival introductory seminar: “This event is
about celebrating Bahamian culture in all of its forms. Carnival is the
economic vehicle that will drive participation. The Junkanoos and other
cultural entrepreneurs will deliver an experience that is authentically
Bahamian. Bahamians who are looking for opportunities can start up a carnival
company that will design and sell costumes and packages for the main street
parade next year.”
In additional to the creation of some 30+ registered Bahamian Businesses,
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival also created and additional opportunity which Bahamian
musicians can look forward to annually: The Music Masters Competition. Not only
does this component allow Bahamian musicians to professionally develop their
craft but it also awards the winning musician with a grand prize of $20,000
which is just shy of the medium annual income of a Bahamian current standing at
$21,000. Moreso, through the Carnival CD, our artist are given an opportunity
to attain for the global exposure of their music and the ability to introduce
their music to audiences nationally and internationally.
The overwhelming majority of Bahamian Citizens and residents alike including
some critics praised the success of the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Candia Dames of the Nassau Guardian said of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in her
May 11th, 2015 “National Review:”
"…We were pleased to see our inaugural event was largely a celebration of
Bahamian cultural expressions. The mega concert was first class entertainment.
It was well organized and well produced …It seems the success for Carnival 2015
is that it has laid the foundation for something truly amazing. For that,
Christie deserves to be congratulated."
I however want to go even further and focus on explaining the vision of the
Prime Minister as I understand it what Bahamas Junkanoo truly means for the
Bahamas. It is easy to see how few remaining critics and naysayers who only participated
as attendees of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival argue that the event is just a "party.”
For those of us who were fortunate enough to see an work behind-the-scenes however,
this event is became so much more.
Cultural Entrepreneurship and Jobs
From the beginning of this year, young people who would have otherwise been
unemployed have been working day in and day out for months earning an honest
living.
The Vision:
1) Those young people will go on to host their own craft workshops in Toronto,
London etc earning profits.
2) Our Junkanoo Groups will be booked
internationally as they have in the past and eventually develop brands of their
own.
3) Our Junkanooers will be able to sell
Carnival costumes all year long benefiting themselves and the local economy.
4) Cultural leaders will be a given a platform to retail their products worldwide
and market themselves though and outside of the event.
In addition to event planning, I personally saw with my own eyes the skills
training made available to our nation’s youth in the areas of processing and
filing documents, drafting business contracts, booking keeping, public speaking
and the list continues.
Junkanoo Carnival isn't a just "party" but a year-round a training
ground for young people and a business opportunity for cultural entrepreneurs.
The Way Forward
It is now a nationally accepted, indisputable fact: Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival
is the single largest cultural investment by any government in the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas and the largest showcase of Bahamian culture since the founding
of our country in 1973!
When I say Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is the Evolution of Bahamian culture, I am
in no way saying Junkanoo has somehow evolved into Carnival or that Junkanoo
and Carnival are the same. To assume such would be the height of ignorance and
simply missing the point. Instead I am saying that the 5 day event, which
spaned over 3 weeks and two islands known as Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival demonstrated
the entire Culture of The Bahamas and each individual component have evolved in
their own respective right. The Junkanoo Parades have gotten bigger. The Music has
been enhanced to world class compositions and global marketable sounds. The
dance has improved to flow with the rhythm of the music. The use of indigenous
materials has expanded. Our entire culture: Junkanoo, The way we make music,
the way we choreograph our dance, the way we use indigenous materials, the way
we think, the way we feel about our country, our belief system in our country
and who we are as a people – ALL of it has evolved.
In the mid 1900's we had Rake and Scrape using saws and showcased Junkanoo
parades. In the late 1900's we has bigger parades and live bands. Now in 2015
through Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival we've taken the sounds of goat skin drums,
rake and scrape and added the electric guitar, professionally composed the
tunes and turn it into a global, marketable piece of music that has been
embraced by our people and the wider international community. THAT is a clear
example of the evolution of our culture. Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is an
EVOLUTION of our art."
Speaking to the success of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in Parliament on
Wednesday, May 13th, 2015, Minister Daniel Johnson summarized the
sentiment by eloquently saying “" This was not just about Junkanoo,
Bahamian culture is not just Junkanoo. We are far more diverse, we are bigger
than that and we are going beyond what we have ever done. On that same stage
Rake and Scrape was for the first time televised all around the world. This was
the most popular event for families all day and night. It is of important note;
we also involved our brothers and sisters from around the Caribbean. The PM is
the present Chairman of CARICOM and head of a select committee about art and
culture in the Caribbean. The festival commission paid tribute to The Bahamas
and our role in the region and out international partners this year by creating
an inclusive multi-lingual stage and festival where artists were also invited
from countries such as Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Columbia."
In one sentence, when it said, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is the Evolution of
Bahamian Culture one simply means Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival provided a platform
that showcased each individual aspect of our culture; Junkanoo, Our Music, Our
Dance, Our Art, and demonstrated that over a slow period of time, each aspect
has developed and gotten better and will continue to do so. This is something
all right-thinking, patriotic Bahamians can rally behind and celebrate.
Nathaniel Lewis
Disclaimer:
The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her
private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of
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