Jonkunnu, also called John Canoe, is a lively Jamaican dance of African origin, most commonly performed during the Christmas season. Featuring an all-male cast of colorful characters, this tradition thrives on the fife and “rattling drum” rhythms - distinctive sounds produced by a shoulder-carried drum. Over the years, Jonkunnu has evolved, incorporating elements from African and Caribbean cultures, and highlighting Jamaican diversity.
Each Jonkunnu character has unique attire, movement style, and cultural significance:
Kumina is among the most African-rooted Jamaican rites, associated with wakes, entombments, births, and thanksgiving ceremonies. Centered in St. Thomas, this trance-like ritual features circular, anti-clockwise dances around drummers, accompanied by shakas, graters, and a resonant central drum.
Originating from English May Day festivities, Maypole in Jamaica incorporates local music styles, including mento and even reggae. Dancers weave ribbons around the pole in choreographed patterns such as the grand chain or cobweb plait, blending British tradition with Jamaican flair.
Quadrille arrived via European ballroom culture and was embraced by Jamaica’s gentry during slavery. Two key styles persist: Ballroom and the more Creolized Camp Style. Accompanied by Mento Bands, Quadrille exudes a spirited dance hall dynamic, culminating in a final figure accompanied by mento, Jamaica’s earliest indigenous music.
Revival is a syncretic faith blending African spirituality with Christian elements. Zion leans toward Euro-Christian rites, while Pocomania emphasizes African traditions, including spirited possessions. Both branches celebrate worship through vigorous dance and communal energy, reflecting a unique Afro-European fusion.
Often played by children, Ring Games combine African and European influences in circular formations. With songs and chants, these games encourage community bonding, physical coordination, and the passing of cultural stories and values from one generation to the next.
Ettu, derived from the Yoruba people of West Africa, is typically reserved for momentous occasions like feasts, weddings, and memorials. Notable for sawling—graceful, deliberate movements - Ettu underscores community bonds and Yoruba heritage through its music, dance, and ceremonial customs.
Bruckin’s Party commemorates post-emancipation jubilation, marked by the lively rivalry of the Blue King and Queen versus the Red King and Queen, each flanked by costumed attendants. Songs like “Queen Victoria set us free” weave a poignant narrative of freedom, making this dance form both celebratory and historically rich.