It is a jamaican traditional dance form of african descent. 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 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. Kingston, jamaica jonkunoo characters pitchy patchy, belly woman and cow head along constant spring road saturday. Mirrors and tinsel generally add shine to costumes. Jonkonnu dates back to when slaves celebrated one of the few days they were relieved of their duties at christmas. The jonkonnu revelers parade through the streets in colorful masquerade costumes. Some believe it honours john conny, an active, successful black merchant near axim along the guinea coast circa 1720. Over time, the themes of the costumes, which had strong european elements, evolved to be more afrocentric. The traditional jonkonnu features characters dressed as king, queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman, horse head, wild apache indian. His costume is made of layered strips of brightly colored fabric.
A special gleaner feature on pieces of the past a jamaican. Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey of the ancient and modern state of the island. Characters in the johnkonnu masquerade are quite frightening to onlookers. At one time jonkonnu celebrations spread as far as the southern united states. 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 jonkonnu characters scaring the children is a longstanding tradition in jamaica, which. The rise of revivalism in jamaica jamaica observer.
Displayed in effigy are pitchypatchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor. Pitchy patchys role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Pitchy patchy also did quick steps sideways from foot to foot, which caused his costume of brightly colored rags and tatters to tremble. The creek of the mersey gurgles, twice in the fourandtwenty hours, with eddying brine, clangorous with seafowl. 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. John canoe or jonkonnu has a very long tradition as a folk festival, incorporating both african and european forms.
Masqueraders are normally dressed in costumes such as king and queen, cow head, horse head, devil, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. There was no reason for pitchy patchy to be banished or to remain underground after emancipation. 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. Another character that may reflect an african heritage is pitchy patchy. 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. Pitchy patchy specific to jamaican jonkonnu, pitchy patchy is the crowd control character whose costume is made of many colorful strips of fabric. Discover a uk campsite and start planning your next outdoor adventure today. Minerals with a pitchy luster are often radioactive and have gone through the process of metamiction.
While some claim that pitchy patchys costume is based on a traditional african model, bettelheim argues that his costume is very similar to the 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. 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. Edward longs the history of jamaica or, general survey. Queen of the jonkonnu, and wild indian represents the presence of the east indian. He is usually the most flamboyant and athletic troupe member and appears in both jonkonnu and masquerade bands. One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of. Some of the major characters include pitchy patchy, horse head and belly woman. While some claim that pitchy patchy s costume is based on a traditional african model, bettelheim argues that his costume is very similar to the jackin. Today these mysterious bands with their creative costumes appear more at cultural events such as christmas, emancipation and independence days. Vocalist, nora dean and producerartists, jimmy riley, winston blake and prince buster as well as label owner lloyd a campbell. 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.
The parade and festival probably arrived with african slaves. One of the main cultural contributions of the igbo people in jamaica is the jonkonnu. The few days preceding christmas, in kingston at least, were frenetic. Displayed in effigy are pitchy patchy, horsehead, belly woman, jack in the green, houseboat, and the sailor. Jamaican of coconut trees, christmas bask in the joy of. A brief walk through emancipation park this yuletide season will acquaint or reacquaint one with the characters who make up a jonkunnu band. Called jonkonnu, this caribbean christmas celebration blended african and english masquerade and mumming traditions. Indian chiefs moved with long steps and menacing actions. Jonkonnu in jamaica and belisarios sketches of character.
So over 10 years ago as grown up i couldnt resist creating my pitchypatchy. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and its performance at christmas time is merely historical. The november 22nd, 2016 generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady is dedicated to hector bunny williams during this miserable year of 2016, we have lost some of truly great foundation artists in jamaican music. Jonkonnu festival article about jonkonnu festival by the. The jonkonnu festival is secular in nature and used to be performed at christmas.
The island of jamaica has rich cultural traditions and some unique practices when it comes to celebrating the festive christmas season. Jonkonnu dancers most often wore costumes that would depict a cow, a horse, the devil, the different categories of warriors and indians, as well as a character known as pitchy patchy. Pitchy patchy s role in the carnival is to keep masqueraders and the surrounding crowd in order by cracking a cattle whip. Traditional jonkonnu features costumed characters such as king.
Pitchy patchy pitchy patchy is a jamaican jankunu festival figure. Pitchy patchy was a pretty sight, a restless character, twirling and leaping and dancing everywhere. One of the things which surely lets you know that christmas season has. The traditional set of jonkonnu characters included the horned cow hear, thepoliceman, 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. Find uk campsites, glamping and caravan sites pitchy. One of the many characters of jonkonnu, traditionally seen at christmas time. Queen, devil, pitchypatchy, belly woman, cow head, policeman. 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. He is dressed in shredded strips of cloth bearing bright. Jamaican john canoe or masquerade a history youtube.
The origins of the name are largely unknown, but there are some theories. Wild indian wears a very similar costume with the exception that he carries a tall. Michael craton department of history, university of waterloo, waterloo, ontario, n2l 361, canada. Pitchy patchy, the cowhead, the horsehead, the devil. The character of pitchy patchy, whose costume consists of layers of green cloth or strips of coconut leaves, epitomizes the fusion of african and english performance traditions in jonkonnu. 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. Junkanoo or jonkonnu is a street parade with music, dance, and costumes of akan 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. 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. The pitchy patchy costume made entirely of colorful rags represents many familys spirits. Jonkonnu is a band of masquerades usually performed in towns and villages at christmas time. The skull is painted and eyes are added to give a real life experience. Dec 17, 2010 traditionally, men wearing white, mesh masks play the characters which include the horned cow head, the policeman, horsehead, wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchy patchy, and sometimes a bride and house head which is an image of a great house carried by the reveller on his head.
The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy. These enigmatic characters would revel through the streets, playing traditional drums and interacting with people, especially children, as they go along. Generoso and lilys bovine ska and rocksteady radio. The dance group usually consists of several instruments, drum, bass, rattler, and fife. Pitchy patchy was usually the most flamboyant and athletic troupe member and appeared in both jonkonnu and masquerade bands. While very colourful and entertaining, their antics and mingling with onlookers often had the effect of scaring young children. Jun 17, 2009 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 character pitchy patchy is perhaps the most popular jonkonnu figure. Jamaica traditional foods and dances kevin4esturiene. Traditional jamaican dances 10 popular jamaican folk dances. Jun 03, 20 the jonkonnu dancers are commonly referred to as masqueraders and mostly perform during christmas or independence. The characters included the king and queen, cow head, horse head, pitchy patchy, red indians and belly woman. Dani andreu as various characters enric ases as various characters manel bartomeus as. The acceptance of jackinthegreen was logical because of his similarity to the original circumcision figures of west africa and the local bush symbols. Traditional christmas celebration in jamaica the georgian. 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 pitcher is charged with a wild pitch when his pitch is so errant that the catcher is unable to control it and, as a result, baserunners advance. Jonkonnu dance traditions make it the islands oldest manner on record. 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 jonkonnu as a form of self. The carnevale network jonkunnu by hazel d williams. Misspitchypatchy, newcastle under lyme, united kingdom. Jonkonnu bands play drums, rattles, fifes and even bottles and graters. Johnkunno characters include, king, queen, devil, pitchy patchy, and belly woman. 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. The costumes were colourful, even devil who, although dressed in black, had red decorations here and there, and pitchy patchy, as his name suggests, wore a costume made up of very colourful strips of cloth sewn in tiers. 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.
This brief reflection considers the third act civil war sequence that resonates with maroon war dances and costumed rituals in the jonkonnu festival of jamaica that i saw as a child, focusing on the importance of the female in this sequence. Colourful jonkonnu troupes usually perform in communities at christmas time. The carnevale network traditional christmas celebration in. Belly woman, pitchy patchy, houseboat head, and actor boy. 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. History of art department, visual resources collections. Jonkonnu john canoe, john kooner, junkanoo at the beginning of the eighteenth century a new christmas custom arose in the british west indies. It blends genuinely jamaican manners to go the dance performed at todays jubilations. Ill highlight some of the unique christmas traditions in this alluring nation, from a local perspective below. 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.
It is believed that this character represents the overseer of the plantation era who usually appeared mounted on a horse and clutching a whip. He also jumped and spun in the air and turned cartwheels. So, what did christmas mean to jamaicans this year. We want to help you find the perfect campsite, whether you want to camp under the stars, find a dog friendly campsite or need some added luxury with a glamping spot. Pitchy patchy, not jackinthegreen, was the original jonkonnu figure. Jamaican christmas customs jamaica information service. This essay considers the links between jonkonnu and similar performances from the african. John canoe, jonkanoo, joncanu, johnkannu, jonkonnu, jonkunu. 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. Jonkonnu, or jonkanoo john canoe is parade that links music, dance, symbols and mime.
One of the original figures of jamaican carnival, pitchy patchy is usually represented by a suit made of tattered, colorful pieces of cloth. Introduction the origin of the word junkanoo is rather. 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 was the festive opportunity afforded to the slaves by the planter class, christmas was one of the few times that. Sep 01, 2011 jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of jonkanoo. Wild indian, devil, bellywoman, pitchypatchy, sailor and. Jonkonnu article about jonkonnu by the free dictionary. 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.
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