Long supposed that the jonkonnu dance was named after a west african merchant known as john canoe or john conny, from axim, west guinea. 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. Jan 28, 2010 jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. Dec 17, 2018 this dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Jonkonnu festival article about jonkonnu festival by the. Jonkonnu dance traditions make it the islands oldest manner on record. Cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Pitchypatchy specific to jamaican jonkonnu, pitchy patchy is the crowd control character whose costume is made of many colorful strips of fabric. Pitchy patchy s role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip.
These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many. While very colourful and entertaining, their antics and mingling with onlookers often had the effect of scaring young children. Mar 01, 20 jonkonnu jonkonnu is more than just a celebration. Cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. In 1838, less than one year before the enslaved of jamaica were fully emancipated, isaac mendes belisario completed his sketches of character, a set of lithographs that today constitutes one of the first visual representations of the jamaican jonkonnu performance from the preemancipation period. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. Jun 03, 20 the jonkonnu dancers are commonly referred to as masqueraders and mostly perform during christmas or independence. Cheryl ryman postulated that jonkonnu linked music and dance, mime and symbols as the earliest traditional dance form of african descent. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate. Generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady radio. Pitchy patchy specific to jamaican jonkonnu, pitchy patchy is the crowd control character whose costume is made of many colorful strips of fabric. At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states.
He is masked, and he often uses a whip to make sure that the crowd does not get too rowdy. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. It consists of a troupe of male players who don masks and dance in the streets at christmas time. John canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used jonkonnu as a form of self expression. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship guide. Pitchy definition of pitchy by the free dictionary. Jamaica cultural alliance jonkunno the forgotten christmas. In the towns, during the christmas holidays, they have several robust fellows dressed up in grotesque habits followed with. It blends authentically jamaican styles to become the dance performed at todays celebrations.
He is dressed in shredded strips of cloth bearing bright. They also danced the jig step, using hatchets and bows and arrows in exciting gestures. The dance group usually consists of several instruments, drum, bass, rattler, and fife. One of the main cultural contributions of the igbo people in jamaica is the jonkonnu. Pitchy patchy, the cowhead, the horsehead, the devil. A special gleaner feature on pieces of the past a jamaican. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. Pitchy patchy and devil, john canoe characters, dancing during jonkonnu john canoe parade. Displayed in effigy are pitchy patchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor.
Jonkunnu is a jamaican traditional dance of african origin. However, jonkonnu dance traditions make it the islands oldest style on record. 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. One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. Jonkunnu or burru jonkunnu john canoe is another of the traditional jamaican dances of african origin. Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Pitchypatchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble.
Dec 23, 2017 the traditional masquerade party of john canoe or jonkanoo is a highlight of jamaican christmas. Sep 01, 2011 jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. The character pitchy patchy is perhaps the most popular jonkonnu figure. To enhance access to its rich and varied collections, the national nlj has digitized thousands of historical photographs, prints, drawings, pamphlets, programmes, manuscripts, books, rare maps and. 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. It involves music, dancing and elaborate costumes that performers. Colourful jonkonnu troupes usually perform in communities at christmas time. Traditional jamaican dances 10 popular jamaican folk dances. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. Jonkonnu celebration in the bahamas essay 366 words. African tradition and gave jonkonnu dance steps known as jigs and polkas. No one knows for sure where the name jonkonnu comes from. Jonkonnu dances still exist today, as does the revival dance style of pukkumina.
This essay considers the links between jonkonnu and similar performances from the african. Connu this dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Pitchy patchy this character is known to dance in quick small steps, while dancing in a circular motion and taking up as much space as possible. John canoe, jonkanoo, joncanu, johnkannu, jonkonnu. The more popular steps of the dance included jigs and polkas, open cut out, one drop and marching tune, among others. One major character in the jonkonnu bands is pitchy patchy, who wears a costume made from fabric strips, produced in a way that is technically and aesthetically similar to the fabric strip mats, and the fabric strips of this colourful costume bounce and swirl, amplifying the movements of the masquerader as he dances down the streets. A traditional dance of jamaica by fridien nana on prezi. However it began, jonkonnu melded the tradition of masquerade from. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday.
The rise of revivalism in jamaica jamaica observer. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship. A troupe of john canoe dancers including the queen and pitchy patchy. Pitchy patchys role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Each character had a special role and sometimes a special dance to perform. It is performed at christmas time and a strong feature of the dance is the all male characters whose movements match their roles. Men in strange masks and brightly coloured costumes walking on stilts terrified many of us as children. This dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters.
Masqueraded marchers wearing colorful headpieces and costumes that have taken months to prepare dance to the beat of an afrobahamian rhythm called goombay. Jonkonnu called john canoe by the british is a band of masqueraders which. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels. December 5, 2016 pitchypatchy, belly woman, horse head, devil and policeman dance to the music of the drums, rattles, fife and grater in this jonkonnu masquerade.
Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. Historical records mention celebrations of jonkonnu taking place near edenton, n. Pitchy patchy in particular was a striking sight his costume made up of. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. They dance to the beat of drums gumbay, congo and other instruments like the bango, fife, and kitchen grater. The traditional masquerade party of john canoe or jonkanoo is a highlight of jamaican christmas.
Dec 12, 2015 jonkonnu festivals faded in north carolina by the end of the 19th century, with jim crow laws discouraging africanamericans from throwing boisterous parties in the street. Although many charactertypes exist in jonkonnu, there are some stock characters. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian, bride and house head. 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. Jonkonnu the john canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both. Horsehead, cowhead, belly woman, pitchy patchy, houseboat head, and actor boy. Jonkonnu is a whirl of song and dance our state magazine. Joncunu became a christmas dance because historically this was the. Typically jamaicans would parade in the streets and enact mimestyle plays. Jan 21, 2018 the rise of revivalism in jamaica served the loudest purpose and expressions of our ancestors defiance to secular injustice and recognition that the long arc of their worship of god must bend. Jonkonnu, or john canoe british influenced writers spell it, is a folk festival across.
Jonkonnu john canoe, john kooner, junkanoo at the beginning of the eighteenth century a new christmas custom arose in the british west indies. 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. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. Should jamaica carnival stick to jamaican culture and music. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and used to be performed at christmas. John canoejonkonnu is believed to be derived from the name of a famous african chief of the guinea coast named john connu and a cultural retention of slave society. The ancient art form declined rapidly in the mid 1800s when in 1841 the mayor of kingston banned jonkonnu parades.
Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. Here, jamaica youth theatre shares this folk form with visitors at the norman manley. Jonkonnu, or john canoe british influenced writers spell it, is a folk festival across several caribbean counties around christmas time. Misspitchypatchy, newcastle under lyme, united kingdom. Devil this entertaining character is accustom to making movements that simulate the. But the history of jonkonnu still fascinates us as adults, especially as we get closer to christmas and this holiday tradition. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions.
The characters, typically played by men in costume, include pitchy patchy bits of coloured cloth cover the dancer from head to foot, horse, cow, house, the devil, bellywoman pregnant woman, policeman, actor boy. There will still be the traditional old junkanoo mas with pitchy patchy, belly woman, the devil, the dame lorannes ect. Pitchy patchy turns, cartwheels, large movements in circular patterns. It was during this period that european and english elements were mixed with african tradition and gave jonkonnu dance steps known as jigs and polkas, open cut out, one drop and marching tune among others. Jamaica traditional foods and dances kevin4esturiene. It blends genuinely jamaican manners to go the dance performed at todays jubilations.
Johnkunno characters include, king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, and belly woman. Other john canoe characters and spectators are looking on. They are sometimes invited to perform at heritage festivities. But now, on two saturday nights in december, the sounds of shouting, drumming, and clapping burst onto the street like a ragtag dance troupe. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days. He was a chief of the ahanta people in the early 18th century, who established a stronghold in the defunct fort fredericksburg and held it against european encroachment for 20 years. One of the more exciting features of grand marketchristmas eve festivities of yesteryear was the sight of screaming children, and some adults, as they ran and hid from their pursuers, masked men and women. It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. Should jamaica carnival stick to jamaican culture and. The national library of jamaicas nlj holdings constitute the most comprehensive collection of jamaican documentary offering an invaluable representation of jamaicas history and heritage. It blends authentically jamaican styles to become the dance performed at todays. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman.
Jonkunnu also spelt jonkonnu, john canoe, john konno and john canou can be traced back to the free time given to slaves during the christmas holidays. The dancers are masked and costumed characters who dance according to their role. It was the festive opportunity afforded to the slaves by the planter class, christmas was one of the few times that slaves were relieved of their duties. The rise of revivalism in jamaica served the loudest purpose and expressions of our ancestors defiance to secular injustice and recognition that the long arc of. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african. John canoe was the european name given to an akan warrior from axim, ghana. The ashanti swordsman became the horned headed man. A christmastime tradition, jonkonnu is a bawdy street dance, one of the oldest traditional performances and a clear mix of african mime and the folk theaters of europes market towns.
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. The participants combine african dance movements with old european dance steps, such those from the quadrille. Sep 23, 2019 the more popular steps of the dance included jigs and polkas, open cut out, one drop and marching tune, among others. And, except for a single 19thcentury historical reference to a jonkonnu celebration in suffolk, va, historians have been unable to. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters includes the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy, and sometimes a bride and house head, who carries an image of a great house on his head. The masquerade of characters like the horned cow head, policeman, horse head, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy and sometimes a bride and house head who carries an image of a great house sitting on a plantation on his head. It is performed mainly at christmas time and a strong feature of the dance is the characters, all males whose movements match their roles. The skull is painted and eyes are added to give a real life experience. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits. Jonkonnu festivals faded in north carolina by the end of the 19th century, with jim crow laws discouraging africanamericans from throwing boisterous parties in the street. The jonkonnu parade, which begins at four oclock in the morning and continues until sunrise, is followed by the judging of costumes and awarding of prizes.
It is believed that this character represents the overseer of the plantation era who usually appeared mounted on a horse and clutching a whip. Jonkonnu is one of the oldest dance forms in jamaica which was performed on the. Pitchy patchy pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. December 5, 2016 pitchy patchy, belly woman, horse head, devil and policeman dance to the music of the drums, rattles, fife and grater in this jonkonnu masquerade. Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. African cultural influences appear to dominate jonkonnu dancing, probably because jamaicans of african descent developed and kept the custom alive over the centuries. Some of these characters are pitchy patchy, devil, horsehead, cowhead, actor.
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