The origins of jonkonnu the british called it john canoe are obscure, but according to olive seniors az of jamaican heritage an essential book for your shelves, by the way the name may originate in the ewe language of eastern ghana and togo, with the meaning sorcerer man. For the cover, well known jamaican artist viv logan has provided an aweinspiring rendition of life in its most innocent depiction yet. Researchers suggest that they represent the power of horned animals, which embody strength and power in african tradition, where they are often associated with secret rituals, funerals and warriors. Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. Dec 22, 2015 notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchy patchy. John canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used jonkonnu as a. Pitchy patchy, belly woman, policeman, horse head, jackin. The changes continued in the last half of the 20th century, and characters such as the horse head, belly woman, pitchy patchy, the devil, and some fictional ones, were added to the cast of masquerades. Mckenzie tailors a traditional masquerade with a modern message.
Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. Participants frequently take to the streets and with music, mime and dance. Jamaican jonkonnu celebrations take place on december 26 see also st. Dec 09, 2017 another strong tradition at the time was jonkunnu, the noisy masquerade parade featuring music and dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that included characters like pitchypatchy and belly woman, as well as animals, policemen and always a devil. The jonkunnu rhythm is played in 22 or 44 time on the fife, a rattling drum with sticks, bass, and grater. These characters did not remove their masks in public, nor did they speak or sing. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. To me jonkunnu definitely played a big role in the early forming and shaping of our jamaican.
They are sometimes invited to perform at heritage festivities. The changes continued in the last half of the 20th century, and characters such as the horse head, belly woman, pitchypatchy, the devil, and some fictional ones, were added to the cast of masquerades. While very colourful and entertaining, their antics and mingling with onlookers often had the effect of scaring young children. Some of these characters are pitchy patchy, devil, horsehead, cowhead, actor boy, belly woman, warrior, wild indian, to name a few. Notwithstanding these differences to be recognized across the island, traditional jonkonnu most often includes as core participants, the cow head, the horsehead, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchypatchy. Next up was a childrens choir, followed by the festivals highlight, the jonkunnu bands, which came from kingston, westmoreland, st. Pitchy patchy, the cowhead, the horsehead, the devil, other participants the king, the queen, the police, belly woman, french set girls. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate. John canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used. Jonkunnu jamboree energetic and entertaining pantomime. Introduction the origin of the word junkanoo is rather. Jamaica gleaner news great family fun day jonkunnu.
Dec 21, 20 kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday afternoon. These characters combine european and african elements. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions. Horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman dance around with spectators watching the show. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african. Jonkonnu, pronounced john canoe is an african american holiday celebration whose roots can be traced back to jamaica and to the slave ships from west africa. Another strong tradition at the time was jonkunnu, the noisy masquerade parade featuring music and dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that included characters like pitchypatchy and belly woman, along with animals, policemen and, of course, a devil. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. Pitchy patchy in particular was a striking sight his costume made up of. Dec, 20 other characters included those mocking the military, aristocrats, police, sailors, the devil, horsehead, jackinthegreen, pitchy patchy, belly woman, warrior, red indian or wild indian, kookoo or actor boy, king and queen, and redset and blueset girls.
One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. The dances beginning in birthrate rites can still be seen in the manner of the dance moves. Jonkunnu jamboree has all the markings of the jamaican pantomime. Pitchy patchy, belly woman, policeman, horse head, jackinthe green, wild indian, actor boy, set girls and the devil. Each day we will highlight a historical fact, food or tradition that are related to the special season. Jonkunnu dancejohn canoe a jamaican traditional dance of african origin. The costumed characters were accompanied by musicians who played wellknown traditional songs on the bamboo fife, bass and rattling drums, shakas and graters. In jamaican jonkunnu the main characters include pitchypatchy, actor boy, cow head, horse head and devil. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and its performance at christmas time is.
Some of these characters, such as cowhead, clearly reflect african imagery. Jonkonnu characters typically look like the devil, complete with fork et al, and these masked creatures have been popular in jamaicas culture since the 1960s. Red indians are besides characters that were cultivated to take part in the dance. Pitchy patchy s role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Fife and drum which immediately set your feet and body dancing. The traditional marching group jonkunoo has not been a prominent.
The traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow hear, thepoliceman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. Other characters included those mocking the military, aristocrats, police, sailors, the devil, horsehead, jackinthegreen, pitchypatchy, belly woman, warrior, red indian or wild indian, kookoo or actor boy, king and queen, and redset and blueset girls. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. In jamaica, john canoe is viewed as a recreational activity and is usually reserved for the christmas period when there emerges a band of diverse masqueraders. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. Caribbean cultural expression pt 1 oer linkedin slideshare.
The character known as pitchypatchy is covered with strips of colourful cloth, while jackinthe green is similarly attired, but all in green. This dance form is a both a masquerade form and myal. It is performed mainly at christmas time and a strong feature of the dance is the characters, all males whose movements match their roles. Aug 19, 2018 jonkonnu dance at national arena, jamaica august 1, 2018. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. Jonkunnu is jamaicas 1 st traditional and longest dance form of african descent still being practiced in jamaica up to this day. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday afternoon.
If, around christmas time, you see children of all ages and even some adults running away screaming and frightened from a spectacle in the streets, a good guess would be that they are running away from the scary jonkonnu. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow. Pitchypatchy was a pretty sight, a restless character, twirling and leaping and dancing everywhere. Another strong tradition at the time was jonkunnu, the noisy masquerade parade featuring music and dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that included characters like pitchypatchy and belly woman, as well as animals, policemen and always a devil. Aston cookes jonkunnu jamboree, recently staged by the university players under the direction of michael holgate, is an entertaining melee of dance and music. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. The jankunoo dance poemeater original poetry write.
Pitchypatchy in particular was a striking sight his costume made up of. Well, pitchy patchy is one of the most famous characters. The ashanti swordsman became the horned headed man. The character belly woman, a pregnant woman is primarily played by a male. Each did their best to scare and terrorise young patrons, many of whom ran for cover. Other participants include policeman, bellywoman and wild indian. Cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. But then the play descends into regular pantomimeness. Characters would interact with one another, example the policeman trying to keep order in the band, as well as with their audience. So the biggest problem with aston cookes jonkunnu jamboree is that it is a pantomime.
Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey of the ancient and modern state of the island. The characters include a mix, some apparently introduced from africa, with others later evolving as a result of european influences. In december we had our jonkonnu, we enjoyed making different costumes such as belly woman, pitchy patchy, the devil, sailors and caribs, and parading and jonkonnu parades making a junkanoo costume is a timeconsuming, tedious process that takes skill and creativity. Some scholars believe it has its origins in west african secret societies the performers are always men.
Dancers wear costumes and masks representing characters like pitchy patchy, king, queen, horsehead, cowhead, and belly woman that act out skits and dance. And, except for a single 19thcentury historical reference to a jonkonnu celebration in suffolk, va, historians have. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. We all adopt roles as set girls and pitchy patchy and belly woman. A special gleaner feature on pieces of the past a jamaican. Traditional jamaican dances montego bay cultural centre. Displayed in effigy are pitchy patchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor. At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states. The frightening masks and costumes that they wore always scared the children. Jonkonnu john canoe, john kooner, junkanoo at the beginning of the eighteenth century a new christmas custom arose in the british west indies. The spelling jonkunnu or variations thereof raises many questions, as does.
Sep 01, 2011 jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Displayed in effigy are pitchypatchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor. The more popular characters are quite worthy of further mention as their. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Jonkonnu characters the traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carried an image of a great house on his head. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits. Jonkunnu challenges us to engage our youth their talent and candour stifled by a lack of mentorship. Bands of dancers prepare homemade costumes that identify them as specific characters associated with the festival masquerade.
In addition, various characters also had their own types of movement. Modern jonkunno bands are rarely as large as they were in the 19 th century. Other characters that can make up a band are cowhead, actor boy, bushdoctor, amerinidian and the devil. Pitchy patchys role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african origin in many islands across the english speaking caribbean every boxing day 26 december and new years day 1 january, the same as kakamotobi or the fancy dress festival of ghana. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. Historical records mention celebrations of jonkonnu taking place near edenton, n. Traditional jamaican dances 10 popular jamaican folk dances. The cow head, and the horse head are traditionally two of the most feared characters, charging and chasing jonkunnu spectators. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters includes bellywoman, policeman, devil, horsehead, pitchy patchy, cowhead and househead to name a few. The rhythm of the jonkunnu music is quite distinct from other ritual folk music with its fife and rattling drum carried on the shoulders and played with sticks.
Other jamaican jonkunnu characters are pitchypatchy, masquerade queen, kuku or actor boy, warrior, belly woman, policeman, babu the east indian, and cow head or horse head. I have very fond memories of the excitement created when the first strains reached my ears and the cry of jonkunnu a come. Pitchypatchy, belly woman, horse head, devil and policeman dance to the music of the drums, rattles, fife and grater in this jonkonnu masquerade. Christmas breeze, jonkunnu and christmas fruit cake are christmas traditions that are uniquely jamaican and is highlighting one a day in the jamaican christmas blog series. Although clothed as the characters of the past devil, pitchypatchy, king and queen, bellywoman, actor boy and horsehead young men, once disillusioned, deliver robust. An examination of jonkonuus evolution led to the discovery of several characters. Another character that may reflect an african heritage is pitchypatchy. Characters include a king, a queen, courtiers, the cow head, the horse head, the devil, pitchypatchy a flamboyant performer with a costume. For the cover, well known jamaican artist viv logan has provided an aweinspiring rendition of life in its most innocent depiction yet laced serious social, cultural and religious symbolism. Jamaican christmas customs jamaica information service. Some of the major characters include pitchypatchy, horse head and belly woman. Queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman. Jamaica cultural alliance jonkunno the forgotten christmas.
Traditional christmas entertainment jonkunnu in jamaica. Over time, the themes of the costumes, which had strong european elements, evolved to be more afrocentric. Props included cowheads whip, policemans baton, bellywomans very prominent pregnant belly and devils trident. It was a tradition that had started as far back as the days of slavery, but seemed to be slowly dwindling away. Some of these characters are pitchy patchy, devil, horsehead, cowhead, actor boy, belly woman. Devil made fairly quick vibrating steps, followed by long quick turns, with sharp jabs of his pitch fork.
Souldance is a work of literary art that presents a celebration of life so vividly captured even before your begin to turn the pages. Pitchypatchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of. And, except for a single 19thcentury historical reference to a jonkonnu celebration in suffolk, va, historians have been unable to. Jonkunnu john canoe is another of the traditional jamaican dances of african origin. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king. Among the jamaican characters are the horse head, cow head, house jonkunnu, house boat jonkunnu, actor boy, pitchypatchy, jackothe green, bellywoman, whoregirl, policeman, the. Pitchy patchy was a pretty sight, a restless character, twirling and leaping and dancing everywhere. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days.
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