What is the message (or meaning) of Junkanoo?

I was watching the Boxing day parade and I kept asking myself, "What is this for?"

Mankind uses parades and ceremonies to communicate some kind of meaning to life or the spirit world. Parades are often used to drive away evil spirits especially if they employ a lot of noise. In its early days Junkanoo was a classic example of the use of noise to drive away evil spirits. There were cow bells, drums and the occasional whistle. Costumes were almost an after thought. Today there is music and dancing with costumes being the main focal point. It seems we have "organized" the real meaning Junkanoo out of existence. I don’t see what the "new" Junkanoo is for!!! Is it just for fun? I don’t see the fun. Most of the people ZNS interviewed were complaining about one thing or another.

Don’t get me wrong! I like to watch it but help me out here! What is Junkanoo for? Is there a deeper meaning?

Don’t get me wrong! I like to watch it but help me out here! What is Junkanoo for? Is there a deeper meaning?
Find me the first meaning and then I will look for a deeper meaning (if there is any).

I think Junkanoo has become too commercialized now and it's not fun anymore, limited to a few and too many political hands involved in the planning process.

I think they will get the picture after this year.

Find me the first meaning and then I will look for a deeper meaning (if there is any)..........
It has a meaning, just what that is must have been lost overtime. What we need is an anthropologist to take a look at Junkanoo and help us get it back. When that happens, the festival will take on a new meaning.

What an anthropologist will see right way is that this is form of "tribal display." This is a very common thing in Africa. (World wide for that matter) Tribes dress in their finest things and march around trying to intimidate other tribes in the area. In that sense it is a "threat display" as well. The noise that Junkanoo produces, and its proximity to the end of the year, makes it a "driving out evil spirits" festival perhaps. Whatever it is, it is more than what it has become a tourist attraction! It would be nice to know.

Ya'll joking right?
Asking what's the meaning of Junkanoo? You mean that you really do not know or are you guys just playing around?

I started to explain a bit on my last post:

http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?t=649

Ya'll joking right?
Asking what's the meaning of Junkanoo? You mean that you really do not know or are you guys just playing around?

I started to explain a bit on my last post:

http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?t=649
Enlighten us, YorickBrown. What is its meaning? (checked your link. Did not see anything there that would help.)

Well if you dont know, you dont know and it is hard to explain something :dgi:

Regards
HOHO

Enlighten us, YorickBrown. What is its meaning? (checked your link. Did not see anything there that would help.)

Well if you dont know, you dont know and it is hard to explain something :dgi:

Regards
HOHO

So we are all doing something that could be a ritual, or a spiritual statement or just maybe fun? But we are all doing it and we don't know what it means - or cannot explain it. No wonder we have allowed Government to take it over. At least they know that eventually, they can make a profit off it.

It has a meaning, just what that is must have been lost overtime. What we need is an anthropologist to take a look at Junkanoo and help us get it back. When that happens, the festival will take on a new meaning.


Rather, it's old meaning!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the origin of the word “Junkanoo” is said to have come from the name John Canoe, an African prince and slave trader operating on the Gold Coast in the seventeenth (17th) century. To the slaves, he was a hero and was worshipped and idolized by them.

This would explain the music, dancing and costumes. It does not, however, explain the rivalries, violence, bleachers, or the interjection of political issues and politicians into what should be a time for rejoicing.