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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Dancers for the Saxons perform to the music of their backline during the music competition of the Summer Junkanoo Festival. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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Nassau, Bahamas - It was all about the sounds of Junkanoo bringing Bay Street alive during the second week of the Summer Junkanoo Festival in July this past weekend.
On Friday, July 11, B Category Junkanoo Groups and on Saturday, July 12, A Category Junkanoo Groups had tourists and residents dancing on Bay Street and debating which group sounded better as this weekend’s competition focused on the music of Junkanoo. So it was time for the backlines of the groups that participated to shine.
Members of One Family’s backline put on a show in full costume. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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Charity Armbrister, Director of Events, at the Ministry of Tourism said, “Tonight it was really great although it was all about the music. Some of the groups really came in some really decent looking costumes overall, so we are really pleased about that because presentation is key.”
She also explained that the Ministry was pleased to see the number of people enjoying the festival increased over the first week, which could only mean that publicity surrounding the festival is growing
A young dancer performs as Colours backline performs during Summer Junkanoo Festival. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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“There are a lot of visitors out here and I had the opportunity to speak to a few of them. They are from all over the U.S., Switzerland and Germany and we are really excited about this. Some of them have been enquiring as to how they can get involved in the event during the Christmas, and so this is a great way for us to promote Junkanoo during the Christmas period as well.”
The Director noted that many tourists who came out to enjoy the festival heard about it online, especially on the Ministry’s website, www.bahamas.com.
Two of the young men in the backline of the Valley Boys show off their choreographed moves. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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As a result, Ms. Armbrister said the Ministry is making make sure that events are placed online with enough information and in sufficient time so that potential visitors can plan vacations to The Bahamas around the events of which they have an interest.
Lucian and Nicole Dronca from Romania were a couple who found out about the Festival on the Internet, as did a group of ladies staying on the Carnival cruise ship that was docked in Nassau Saturday evening allowing them to enjoy the festival and the Bahamian food and drinks.
One of the Junkanoo Summer Festival’s mascots interacts with the people attending the festival. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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Vendors are serving the normal Bahamian dishes like crab ‘n dough, bake crab, crab soup, peas soup and conch salad. However, there are also some new tasty dishes being introduced such as conch rolls, shrimp balls, conch balls and fish balls. There are also sweet treats, daiquiris, smoothies and much more. There are also vendors selling Junkanoo paraphernaliathat are creative and unique.
Of course, some visitors found out about the festival through good old word of mouth. Mr. Billy West and his wife Delores of Maryland have been visiting The Bahamas for 29 years, and this time they are spending two weeks in their adopted country. They also brought along their two granddaughters for the first time this year.
Drummers for The Body of Christ perform for the crowd during the music competition of the Summer Junkanoo Festival. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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They said they found out about the festival from the staff working at their hotel, and they enjoyed the even so much the first night that they came back on Saturday, arriving early both nights to catch the sights and sounds.
Ms. Armbrister promised that next weekend will be even bigger and better than the past two weeks.
“It will be like a Boxing Day because the groups are coming fully costumed, music dancers, everything.
A young man performs with cowbells for the Junkanoo group Redland Soldiers. (Photo by Derek Smith)
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Angelique McKay, Cultural Events Coordinator in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, who was a part of the planning for the Festivaladded, “Next week you get to have a full feel of a whole Junkanoo group, because the groups are bringing their full complement, everything from their banner straight to the base drum in the backline.
“That is inclusive of choreographed dancers, free dancers, jumpers, off the shoulder dancers. Next week we are seeing the introduction of the King and Queen of Junkanoo competition to see potential kings and queens in the A and B categories. That completion promises to be fierce.”
The festival is being sponsored by Cable Bahamas, Atlantis, the Royal Bank of Canada, John Bull and Abaco Markets.
The B Junkanoo Groups that are participating are: Colours, Body of Christ, Conquers for Christ, Redland Soldiers and the Original Congos.
The A Junkanoo Groups participating include: Roots, Valley Boys, Prodigal Sons, Music Makers, One Family and the Saxon Superstars.
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