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Last Updated: Jan 22, 2019 - 1:34:00 PM |
A Groups: Various Junkanoo Groups received donations from CIBC FirstCaribbean with the aim of helping to preserve Bahamian culture, community, and creativity. L to R: Jean Joseph, Roots; Eric Knowles, Prodigal Sons; Beulah Arthur, CIBC FirstCaribbean Treasurer; Brian Adderley, Valley Boys; Holly Bain, One Family; Nathan Taylor, Genesis; and Toby Austin, Saxons. Photo credit: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry
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Nassau, Bahamas - Every year, thousands of Bahamians of all ages and economic backgrounds come together to build and celebrate their culture through the phenomenon of Junkanoo, and CIBC FirstCaribbean has been supporting the A and B Junkanoo groups for more than 20 years with the aim of preserving the cultural expression and fostering community and creativity.
The number of Junkanoo groups, and thus competitors, continues to grow, and Junkanoo leaders said they hope to see even more groups emerging as a result of significant contributions from organizations like CIBC FirstCaribbean.
During a cheque presentation to representatives of 20 groups at CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Head Office, Brian Adderley, Chairman of the Valley Boys, said, “[We] have been involved in Junkanoo for many years, and it’s something that’s just in us now. Our objective is to make sure it continues to grow by passing it on to new generations of young Bahamians.”
Eric Knowles, Leader of The Prodigal Sons, added, “Junkanoo is our passion and we have to leave it better than we met it. I was a member of the Valley Boys; now I’m the leader of The Prodigal Sons… so hopefully something may spin out of The Prodigal Sons, and so forth.
“To mobilize a bunch of young people and get them focused in one area takes a lot of energy. What CIBC FirstCaribbean is doing through donations like this is putting more life into the groups and the parades. It’s a donation that will extend from us into the community, and into the young people who will carry the baton, so that hopefully Junkanoo can go on from year to year long after Brian and I are gone.”
B Groups: Junkanooers came together in jovial spirits at a cheque presentation from CIBC FirstCaribbean. L to R: Gregory Bethel, Colors Entertainment; Bryan Davis, Original Congos; Glen Knowles, Fancy Dancers; Whitney Strachan, Mystical Bombers; Nikia Christie, CIBC FirstCaribbean Marketing Manager; Orlando Strachan, Mystical Bombers; Henry Higgins, Conquerors for Christ; and Nicholas Hyland, New Vikings. Photo credit: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry
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CIBC FirstCaribbean Managing Director Marie Rodland-Allen commended the inter-group camaraderie and spoke of the role the cultural phenomenon plays in bringing Bahamians together. “Junkanoo is a story of togetherness and really portrays who we are as Bahamians. It is us uniting as one people to preserve our culture, roots, and history. We cannot undervalue the significance of this key aspect of our culture to our society, and thus CIBC FirstCaribbean is proud to invest in it year after year.”
Rivalry among presenting groups, come Christmas and New Year’s, may not be as intense as perhaps thought. Whitney Strachan, longtime member of Junkanoo group the Mystical Bombers, said competition is intense, but good-natured.
“There is more unity in Junkanoo than division,” said Whitney, who along with her brother Orlando, has been rushing for as long as she can remember. It’s a time for all Bahamians to come together and enjoy themselves as one.”
Her brother, Orlando, said, “Junkanoo is a time for families and friends to see each other and have fun. But even we [competitors] unite and help each other out to make sure everyone makes it to Bay Street.”
The recipient groups were, from the A category: Genesis Junkanoo Group, Music Makers, One Family, Prodigal Sons, Roots, Saxons Superstars, and Valley Boys; and from the B category: Body of Christ, Chipping Knights, Colours Entertainment, Conquerors for Christ, Dynasty Junkanoo Group, Fancy Dancers, Foundations Junkanoo Group, Fox Hill Original Congos, Mystical Bombers, The New Vikings, Redland Soldiers, The Ultimate Force, and Z-Bandits Junkanoo Group.
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