Bahamian junkanoo parade group

The junkanoo parade tradition, featuring vibrant percussive music and finely crafted costumes, is one of the most prominent symbols of South Florida's Bahamian community. As Bahamians began to migrate to Florida, they brought with them the tradition of junkanoo. In the past four decades, hundreds of thousands of people from the Caribbean have settled in Miami, transforming the cultural life in the city. Joining us at this year's National is the Bahamas Junkanoo Revue, one of Miami's most famous junkanoo groups. Formed in 1993 as an offshoot of Miami's first formally organized group, the legendary Sunshine Junkanoo Band formed in 1957. Junkanoo has its roots in the Christmas season celebrations held in the Bahamas during the pre-emancipation era. Once practiced in many areas of the Caribbean basin, the practice went into decline after slavery was abolished. It is now only in the Bahamas that the tradition continues in a spectacular annual festival of national significance. Junkanoo has evolved into a highly organized parade with elaborately costumed groups that compete for the prizes awarded in different categories. The highly spirited performances feature rich, finely crafted costumes and dance-like body movements accompanied by vibrant, percussive music. Traditional instruments of Junkanoo include whistles, bells and the goatskin-covered goombay drum which is suspended around the neck and played with both hands, with the recent addition of brass instruments such as trumpets, trombones and sousaphones. The 15-piece Bahamas Junkanoo Revue will lead parades and stage impromptu performances throughout the festival site.

To be able to play the music sampler you must have RealPlayer G2. To download free RealPlayer G2, please go to: Download RealPlayer G2.

Music Sampler : Junkanoo