Jamaican Traditional Dances

Jonkunnu (John Canoe)

A Jamaican Traditional Dance Jonkunnu, also known as John Canoe, is a vibrant Jamaican traditional dance of African origin, performed primarily during the Christmas season. This dance is characterized by its unique and dynamic characters, all male, whose movements reflect their distinct roles. The dance's rhythm is set by the fife and a "rattling drum," played with sticks and carried on the shoulders, creating a sound distinct from other Jamaican ritual folk music.

Key Characters in Jonkunnu

Over time, Jonkunnu has evolved to include a variety of characters, some of which have disappeared. These characters differ across regions and are influenced by both African and Caribbean elements, reflecting the rich diversity of Jamaican culture.

Set Girls: Red Set and Blue Set Girls: They wear full-skirted costumes with puffed sleeves, large hats, and elegant jewelry, carrying parasols both day and night. Their attire, reminiscent of European finery, highlights the influence of the Plantocracy.
Sailor: Clad in a white shirt and trousers, a black tie, and a gold-trimmed hat with gold-rimmed sleeves, the Sailor recalls the era when uniformed men were a common sight at Jamaican ports.
Policeman: Representing legal authority, the Policeman wears a black hat with a red band, a red cloth hanging from the crown, and a black-and-white striped uniform with red stripes.
Belly Woman: This character, often played by a male, mimics a pregnant woman, amusing the audience with her belly movements that sync with the music.
Wild Indian: Equipped with a tall cane and crossbow, a feathered headdress adorned with various items, and a foil-covered heart on his chest, the Wild Indian pays homage to the lost Indian populations of the Caribbean.
Devil: Dressed in black, carrying a trident, and wearing a cowbell and a mirrored cone headdress, the Devil serves as a reminder to resist malevolent forces.
Horsehead: Featuring a mule's skull with an articulated jaw, Horsehead represents the overseer of the plantation era, depicted as mounted and wielding a whip.
Cowhead: Wearing a calico cloth and a coconut shell with cow horns, Cowhead charges at spectators, embodying the strength and power associated with horned animals in African traditions.
Jack-In-The-Green: Covered in coconut palm leaves, Jack-In-The-Green symbolizes the gardener's group and represents life, death, and rebirth, camouflaged in his environment.
House Jonkunnu: This character carries a house filled with puppets, reflecting the architecture of the Great Houses from the Pre-emancipation era, symbolizing power and oppression.
Pitchy-Patchy: One of the most popular characters, Pitchy-Patchy, wears a costume of shredded cloth in bright colors and interacts energetically with the audience, representing a "ghost from the past."
Koo-Koo or Actor Boy: Dressed flamboyantly in silk, satin, and lace with a headdress of mirrors, feathers, and beads, Actor Boy emphasizes pantomime, music, and dance, reflecting Jamaican theatre traditions.

Other Jamaican Traditional Dances

Kumina

Kumina is one of the most African of Jamaican cults, associated with wakes, entombments, births, anniversaries, and thanksgivings. The dance features a circular, anti-clockwise movement around drummers, with intricate body movements including spins and dips. Primarily found in St. Thomas, and to a lesser extent in St. Mary and St. Catherine, Kumina involves instruments like shakas and graters, alongside the central drum.

Maypole

Originally a May Day fertility celebration from England, the Maypole dance in Jamaica features 12 to 16 dancers weaving colored ribbons around a pole. The dance has adapted to include Jamaican music, such as mento and even reggae, while retaining traditional patterns like the grand chain and the cobweb plait.

Quadrille

Quadrille is a ballroom set dance that originated in European courts and was adopted by Jamaican gentry during slavery. It exists in two styles: the European-influenced Ballroom and the Creolized Camp Style. Accompanied by Mento Bands, this dance highlights traditional European tunes, with the fifth figureuniquely featuring mento, Jamaica's first indigenous music style.

Revival

Revival is a syncretic religious form blending Afro-European elements, characterized by its vibrant spirituality and dynamic practices. Originating from the African diaspora, Revival incorporates elements of Christianity and African religious traditions, reflecting the complex cultural heritage of its practitioners. There are two main branches within Revival: Zion and Pocomania.

Zion:

This branch leans more towards Euro-Christian influences, integrating Christian hymns, prayers, and symbols into its practices. Despite its stronger European elements, Zion retains a distinctive Afro-Caribbean identity through its unique rituals and expressions of faith.

Pocomania:

In contrast, Pocomania has a more pronounced African influence, emphasizing traditional African spiritual practices. Spirit possession, where individuals are believed to be inhabited by spirits, is a significant feature of Pocomania rituals. This phenomenon is expressed through dance, music, and other forms of physical expression, creating a powerful and communal spiritual experience.

Ring Games

Ring Games are traditional movements and songs performed by children at play, showcasing a blend of African and European cultural elements. These games are often played in a circular formation, with participants engaging in various rhythmic and coordinated activities. The songs and chants that accompany Ring Games are crucial, as they set the pace and structure of the play.

African Ring Games

These games often incorporate traditional African rhythms, melodies, and movements, preserving the cultural heritage of African communities.

European Ring Games

Influenced by European traditions, these games might include nursery rhymes and folk tunes that have been adapted over generations.

Ring Games serve not only as a form of entertainment but also as a means of cultural transmission, passing down traditions and social values to younger generations.

Ettu

Ettu is a cultural retention from the Yoruba people of Africa, particularly preserved among their descendants in the Caribbean. This dance form is typically performed during significant social events such as feasts, weddings, and memorials held on the 40th night after a person's death. The practice of Ettu highlights the importance of community and continuity in Yoruba culture.

Sawling:

A distinctive feature of Ettu, sawling refers to the graceful and deliberate movements performed during the dance. These movements are often symbolic, conveying messages of respect, remembrance, and celebration. Ettu dances are vibrant and communal, reinforcing social bonds and preserving the rich cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.

Bruckin's Party

Bruckin's Party is a celebratory dance that emerged in the post-emancipation era to commemorate the abolition of slavery. This dance form is both a historical narrative and a jubilant expression of freedom, often performed during annual celebrations and community gatherings.

Procession and Competition:

The dance begins with a grand procession, followed by a spirited competition between two sets of participants: the Blue King and Queen and the Red King and Queen. Each set is accompanied by their entourage, which includes grandchildren, knights, and followers, all dressed in rich and colorful costumes.

Songs and Themes

The accompanying songs narrate the story of emancipation, with lyrics such as "Queen Victoria set us free" and "The Queen has arrived, and the money must flow," reflecting the historical context and the joy of liberation.

Bruckin's Party is not just a dance but a vibrant cultural performance that celebrates heritage, freedom, and community resilience, keeping the memory of emancipation alive through generations.