History of Junkanoo

Junkanoo History

Junkanoo is a form of Bahamian cultural expression which derived from their ancestry. It encompasses parades that are held twice a year in the Bahamas, on 26th of December (Boxing Day) and on New Year's Day.

The parades are judged on three facets of Bahamian culture: music, art (costumes), and dance (choreography).

The origins of Junkanoo are somewhat controversial as many historians offer opposing theories. However, the most commonly accepted theory is that the word” junkanoo” is a contraction of the name John Canoe, an African prince and slave trader in the 17th century. Canoe was reputed to have outwitted the English forces and gained control of Fort Brandenbury, an English stronghold. The African slaves viewed him as a hero and worshipped and idolized him. Once the slaves were brought to the Bahamas, they continued to praise him in the form of Junkanoo.

In the days of pre-emancipation, slaves were given three days off from work, December 25th and 26th, and January 1st. On December 26th and January 1st, they were allowed to perform their “John Canoe” festival. Following emancipation, the festival continued and evolved into a uniquely integral part of Bahamian culture.

The Bahamas Development Board commercialized the festival in the 1920s, when the festival was first held on Bay Street. Prizes were offered, making the parades more competitive, and the festival eventually became the main tourist attraction in the Bahamas. In 1938, December 26th was declared a public holiday, called “Boxing Day,” commemorating the day that the slaves used to box and exchange gifts amongst themselves.

The parades were temporarily suspended in 1942 following civil unrest called “The Burma Road Riots.” They were revived five years later in 1947. In the 1950s, they became more organized with the introduction of categories and the formation of various groups representing the different districts of the island.

The first organized group performed in 1954...