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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Nassau, New Providence - Twelve groups in New Providence are preparing for a thrilling face-off
at Junkanoo Summer Festival (JSF) at Arawak Cay during four weekends in
July.
The electrifying festival, which is a signature event of
the Ministry of Tourism, will kickoff July 2 and conclude July 30. There
will be no JSF event on July 9 due to the country’s 43rd anniversary
celebrations.
This year’s festival is celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the slogan “It’s Better In The Bahamas.” Each group’s
costume, dance and music will reflect this theme.
Recently, the
Junkanoo groups in both A and B categories held a number picking
exercise that established the line-up for the competition.
In the A Group categories, the line up is as follows:
- Valley Boys
- One Family
- Saxons Superstars
- Roots
- Genesis
- Music Makers
In the B category:
- Conquerors for Christ
- Colours Entertainment
- Original Congos
- Fancy Dancers
- Redland Soldiers
- Body of Christ
Leader of Colours Junkanoo Group Chris Justilien said his group is definitely ready for battle.
“We’ve
always been ready to perform for our fans and the Bahamian public in
general. It’s going to be wonderful for us and I’m happy that the
Ministry of Tourism has chosen to do a Bahamian theme,” he said.
“Colours,
from our inception, has always done Bahamian themes. The costumes are
ready, the group is ready and we are excited. We are always competing
with ourselves. Once we go out there and do a wonderful job at what we
do we are quite pleased.”
Dencil Rolle, executive member of the Body of Christ, said his aim is to ensure that the community is involved.
“What
we try to do during the summer is bring younger children to give them
that Junkanoo experience and so that group that we had last year for the
first time was very excited and challenging because dealing with
children is not easy but they really enjoyed the festival,” he said.
Chairman
of Genesis Sean Adderley said his group is excited because it’s the
first time it is performing as group in the A category.
Even though the group is the new kid on the block, Mr. Adderley says Genesis is ready for a new beginning.
“We
bring new energy back into Junkanoo,” he said. “We look at Junkanoo as a
platform for us. We do a number of outreach programmes and Junkanoo is
just a part of it. Anytime the Junkanoo horn blows we are ready to rush.
You will see lots of love from Genesis.”
Week one of the
competition will feature the music; week two – Saturday, July 9 - is
time off for independence celebrations; week three is a dance off with
the choreography competition; week four is the costume competition and
week five the winners will be presented with awards followed by a all-
Bahamian concert.
The festival will begin at noon and will
feature Bahamian games like the crab catching, corn, pineapple and
watermelon eating contests among others.
There will also be
authentic Bahamian food sold by over 30 vendors and an exciting Kiddie
Corner with games, rides and story-time for children.
Junkanoo Summer Festival is also being held on a number of Family Islands.
For more information on the Nassau and Family Island festivals, visit www.Bahamas.com/Summerfestivals.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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