Jamaica cultural alliance jonkunno the forgotten christmas. Jonkunnu is a jamaican traditional dance of african origin. Jamaica traditional foods and dances kevin4esturiene. Pitchy patchy in particular was a striking sight his costume made up of. 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 ancient art form declined rapidly in the mid 1800s when in 1841 the mayor of kingston banned jonkonnu parades. This essay considers the links between jonkonnu and similar performances from the african. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday. It blends genuinely jamaican manners to go the dance performed at todays jubilations.
Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. 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. 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. John canoe, jonkanoo, joncanu, johnkannu, jonkonnu. There will still be the traditional old junkanoo mas with pitchy patchy, belly woman, the devil, the dame lorannes ect. No one knows for sure where the name jonkonnu comes from. They also danced the jig step, using hatchets and bows and arrows in exciting gestures. Pitchy patchys role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Jonkonnu dances still exist today, as does the revival dance style of pukkumina. 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. 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. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions. But the history of jonkonnu still fascinates us as adults, especially as we get closer to christmas and this holiday tradition.
Cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. The rise of revivalism in jamaica jamaica observer. Pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. 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. Jonkonnu is a whirl of song and dance our state magazine. However, jonkonnu dance traditions make it the islands oldest style on record. 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. 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. African cultural influences appear to dominate jonkonnu dancing, probably because jamaicans of african descent developed and kept the custom alive over the centuries. Pitchy patchy, the cowhead, the horsehead, the devil.
Dec 17, 2018 this dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Cheryl ryman postulated that jonkonnu linked music and dance, mime and symbols as the earliest traditional dance form of african descent. Sep 23, 2019 the more popular steps of the dance included jigs and polkas, open cut out, one drop and marching tune, among others. One of the main cultural contributions of the igbo people in jamaica is the jonkonnu.
John canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used jonkonnu as a form of self expression. Masqueraded marchers wearing colorful headpieces and costumes that have taken months to prepare dance to the beat of an afrobahamian rhythm called goombay. Should jamaica carnival stick to jamaican culture and. 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. 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. A traditional dance of jamaica by fridien nana on prezi. Sep 01, 2011 jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Historical records mention celebrations of jonkonnu taking place near edenton, n. Horsehead, cowhead, belly woman, pitchy patchy, houseboat head, and actor boy. 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. Pitchy patchy pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure.
Mar 01, 20 jonkonnu jonkonnu is more than just a celebration. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. Misspitchypatchy, newcastle under lyme, united kingdom. 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. It is believed that this character represents the overseer of the plantation era who usually appeared mounted on a horse and clutching a whip. The traditional masquerade party of john canoe or jonkanoo is a highlight of jamaican christmas. Jonkonnu, or john canoe british influenced writers spell it, is a folk festival across several caribbean counties around christmas time. Jun 03, 20 the jonkonnu dancers are commonly referred to as masqueraders and mostly perform during christmas or independence. It is performed at christmas time and a strong feature of the dance is the all male characters whose movements match their roles. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits. 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. Men in strange masks and brightly coloured costumes walking on stilts terrified many of us as children.
Each character had a special role and sometimes a special dance to perform. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship. Should jamaica carnival stick to jamaican culture and music. Jonkonnu festival article about jonkonnu festival by the. At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states. Colourful jonkonnu troupes usually perform in communities at christmas time. Jonkonnu called john canoe by the british is a band of masqueraders which. Cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. It involves music, dancing and elaborate costumes that performers. 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. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and used to be performed at christmas. Generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady radio.
Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. Long supposed that the jonkonnu dance was named after a west african merchant known as john canoe or john conny, from axim, west guinea. 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. The jonkonnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, at that time the bands were very large and elaborate. 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. Pitchypatchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. Pitchy patchy turns, cartwheels, large movements in circular patterns. In the towns, during the christmas holidays, they have several robust fellows dressed up in grotesque habits followed with.
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 the john canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both. It blends authentically jamaican styles to become the dance performed at todays celebrations. It is performed mainly at christmas time and a strong feature of the dance is the characters, all males whose movements match their roles. Pitchy patchy and devil, john canoe characters, dancing during jonkonnu john canoe parade. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. The participants combine african dance movements with old european dance steps, such those from the quadrille.
They are sometimes invited to perform at heritage festivities. Devil this entertaining character is accustom to making movements that simulate the. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. It blends authentically jamaican styles to become the dance performed at todays.
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. Pitchy patchy 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. The ashanti swordsman became the horned headed man. Jonkonnu celebration in the bahamas essay 366 words. The national library of jamaicas nlj holdings constitute the most comprehensive collection of jamaican documentary offering an invaluable representation of jamaicas history and heritage. Jonkonnu is one of the oldest dance forms in jamaica which was performed on the. The character pitchy patchy is perhaps the most popular jonkonnu figure. A special gleaner feature on pieces of the past a jamaican. 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. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many.
Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days. Dec 23, 2017 the traditional masquerade party of john canoe or jonkanoo is a highlight of jamaican christmas. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Traditional jamaican dances 10 popular jamaican folk dances.
Although many charactertypes exist in jonkonnu, there are some stock characters. The more popular steps of the dance included jigs and polkas, open cut out, one drop and marching tune, among others. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels. Jonkonnu, or john canoe british influenced writers spell it, is a folk festival across. Joncunu became a christmas dance because historically this was the. 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. And, except for a single 19thcentury historical reference to a jonkonnu celebration in suffolk, va, historians have been unable to. Wearing a mask, the psychological impact relationship guide. 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. Jonkonnu dance traditions make it the islands oldest manner on record.
He is masked, and he often uses a whip to make sure that the crowd does not get too rowdy. Jonkunnu or burru jonkunnu john canoe is another of the traditional jamaican dances of african origin. He is dressed in shredded strips of cloth bearing bright. The skull is painted and eyes are added to give a real life experience. This dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. However it began, jonkonnu melded the tradition of masquerade from. Other john canoe characters and spectators are looking on.
Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of mixed african. A troupe of john canoe dancers including the queen and pitchy patchy. 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. 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. While very colourful and entertaining, their antics and mingling with onlookers often had the effect of scaring young children. Johnkunno characters include, king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, and belly woman. The dance group usually consists of several instruments, drum, bass, rattler, and fife. 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. It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo.
These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed. But now, on two saturday nights in december, the sounds of shouting, drumming, and clapping burst onto the street like a ragtag dance troupe. 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. Some of these characters are pitchy patchy, devil, horsehead, cowhead, actor. It consists of a troupe of male players who don masks and dance in the streets at christmas time. African tradition and gave jonkonnu dance steps known as jigs and polkas.
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. Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. Pitchypatchy specific to jamaican jonkonnu, pitchy patchy is the crowd control character whose costume is made of many colorful strips of fabric. 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. Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Jan 28, 2010 jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime. Jonkonnu john canoe, john kooner, junkanoo at the beginning of the eighteenth century a new christmas custom arose in the british west indies. Displayed in effigy are pitchy patchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor. They dance to the beat of drums gumbay, congo and other instruments like the bango, fife, and kitchen grater. Pitchy definition of pitchy by the free dictionary.
Connu this dance is probably an honourable memorial to john conny jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Typically jamaicans would parade in the streets and enact mimestyle plays. One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. The dancers are masked and costumed characters who dance according to their role. John canoe was the european name given to an akan warrior from axim, ghana. Here, jamaica youth theatre shares this folk form with visitors at the norman manley. 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.
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