What is a Jankunu?
What is a Jankunu?
Jankunu, also known as John Canoe in English, is the HABINAHAN WANARAGUA Festival of the Garifuna of southern Belize. As an ethnic group, the Garifuna resisted slavery, and successfully preserved their language and culture. The Jankunu dance is a satirical dance.
Where did Jankunu come from?
The historical evidence strongly suggests that the Jankunu festival originated in Jamaica during the 18th century – possibly earlier.
What is the traditional dance of Belize?
One of the most famous of traditional dances is the John Canoe or Jankunu, also known as the Wanaragua. This dance, originated in times of slavery.
Which ethnic group performs the John Canoe dance?
This dance is well known among members of the Maroon population. Jonkunnu (called John Canoe by the British) is a band of masqueraders which usually perform in towns and villages around Christmas time. The Jonkunnu customs go as far back as the days of slavery, but at that time the bands were very large and elaborate.
How long does Junkanoo last?
Junkanoo is a four-day celebration that always runs between Boxing Day, 26th December and New Year’s Day 1st January.
Who brought maypole to Jamaica?
slaves
The Maypole The dance was introduced to the island by slaves and was usually on May 27, Queen Victoria’s Birthday. Maypole, also referred to as the Long Ribbon Pole in rural areas, was a part of outdoor social festival of old England and Jamaica and was performed at fairs, garden parties or picnics.
What music is popular in Belize?
The style of music you will hear played throughout Belize is punta rock, reggae, marimba, hip-hop, jazz, mariachi, orchestra, brukdown, and soca.
How is Junkanoo celebrated?
Junkanoo, named after the West African John Canoe Festival, originated in the Bahamas around the 17th century as a masquerade. Slaves with their faces hidden under a flour paste, celebrated on Boxing Day and the day after Christmas. Later, flour paste was replaced by wire masks held on a stick.
What is the most popular dance in Jamaica?
Kumina
The single most popular and traditional dance is the “Kumina,” which originated in West Africa. This style of dance is predominantly found in the parishes of St. Thomas and St. Mary and is otherwise known as “Kalunga” or “Kaduunga.”
What do Jankunu dancers wear in Belize wear?
The smallest Jankunu Dancer in Belize steps into the limelight and wows the ladies. The costumes are colorful and gorgeous to an extreme. Pants are dark colored and the shirts white or light colored adorned with cross ribbons reminiscent of the cross gun belts of British military uniforms.
Who are the Jankunu and the Garifuna?
The Jankunu is part of the Creole and Garifuna cultures. The Creoles are direct descendants of British slaves. The Garifuna who were never enslaved and resisted British domination to the bitter end are a distinct ethnic group with their own language and culture.
Where did habinahan wanaragua Jankunu festival come from?
The event has its roots in in Africa and Belize’s experience with slavery from its days as a British colony.
What was the origin of the Jankunu dance?
Research shows that the Jankunu has its roots in male secret societies of West Africa, Poro and Egungun, source of the bulk of slaves uprooted by the British and forcibly transported to British Honduras to fuel their exploitation of the country’s vast natural resources.
What is a Jankunu? Jankunu, also known as John Canoe in English, is the HABINAHAN WANARAGUA Festival of the Garifuna of southern Belize. As an ethnic group, the Garifuna resisted slavery, and successfully preserved their language and culture. The Jankunu dance is a satirical dance. Where did Jankunu come from? The historical evidence strongly suggests…