EDITOR, The Tribune.
There was a local programme hosted by Dr Keith Wisdom, where he interviews prominent Bahamians about what was and is important to them in life, and he ends the session with a question that tugs at the heart of any nationalist like myself, “What is a Bahamian?”
There have been many responses to that question, most of the answers I agreed with, because all of the answers touched on an aspect of what it is to be a Bahamian.
If Dr Wisdom has plans to continue the series, I want to suggest that he makes a change to that question that tugs at our hearts and everything else about us. “What is the philosophy behind being, wanting or claiming to be a Bahamian?”
I know that the show would end and begin again before that question is answered, but it a question that we will have to address as we see our culture being threatened by forces and events that are fuelled by economic and political expediency.
This question first reared its ugly head when the CEO of Love 97 and myself reached an impasse in a “Town Meeting” in the Harry Moore Library. It was a couple of years ago as the Gambling discussion was gathering steam.
I had opined that until the Nation and its leaders had arrived at a philosophical consensus on the Gambling question, we were not going to get anywhere in our attempts to deal with Gambling.
I still have that view and our present situation would support that view; the government is still muddling around. However, this letter is not about gambling; then again it is because the subject is about a huge gamble the government is taking with a very important pillar of our Culture. Junkanoo.
There was a Talk-show last Friday, in the mid-afternoon, and the planned “Jukanoo-Carnival” was the main topic. It was more of a public relations exercise where the guests were giving suggestions and the host was taking calls. It was an attempt to get the Bahamian public acclimated to a series of events that they were spending nine million dollars for.
The programme was going well, there was a lady from Jamaica who was the main spokesperson and she was doing a commendable job, until the “talk” went in a particular direction. One of the callers had brought up the idea of the possibility of Junkanoo being taken into the southern Caribbean in a similar manner that Carnival was being promoted here. There was a silence, and then some brave soul remembered the impact that Junkanoo has at the Carifta Games and how all of the persons in any venue would want to be near the pulsations and sounds that one can only get from this cultural expression, but there was a question floating in the background that must have had the guests on the show on the edge of their chairs, but it was never asked or allowed to develop; and the question was a philosophical one.
Would any Government in the Caribbean spend nine million dollars to promote Junkanoo in their country?
And the question that naturally follows, “Would any of our Caribbean neighbours allow a ‘cultural invasion’ on the scale that we are going to allow next year?”
The obvious answer to both questions is no. What Government would spend nine million dollars of borrowed money on an event that would not strengthen their culture but promote the culture of other nationalities? An event that is seen by many as an attempt for a select group of persons to make some money at the expense of the Public Treasury?
Our Government and those who promote this exercise will have to eventually answer this question as these “discussions” are popping up all over the place.
There is no doubt that people are going to visit for this event, but the Minister of Youth and Sports should take a shot at the question and the speculative one that follows,“ Just suppose we had spent nine million dollars on establishing Jumbey Villages in some of the Constituencies?” Perhaps it is time for a Town Hall Meeting.
EDWARD HUTCHESON
Nassau,
November 30, 2014
Comments
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
Jumbey Village died as a still-born concept that has been retooled as UR 1.0 and 2.0 ............... Junkanoo is generally a personal sacrifice and deep love for one's African cultural passion .............. Carnival is a pseudo-Christian economic spectacle of frivolity.
It's easy for a sensible Bahamian to see where we need to invest in the national interest
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
If another country will not spend 9 million on Junkanoo it is because they feel it would not be profitable. It is a great festival but it is not profitable HERE! Embracing another culture does not mean we lose our identity it means we evolve. Cultures of the entire world have evolved why should the Bahamas be any different. We need this cultural evolution more than most. It is ineveitable so get over it open your mond and embrace the change. There will soon be a new defination of 'Bahamian Culture'.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
Junkanoo has evolved but it is still recognizable. We are now breaking with the concept of Junkanoo and embracing a new cultural concept ....... To be honest, Junkanoo is a more powerful tool. If you put Junkanoo up against Carnival, Junkanoo will be a greater crowd pleaser ......... but it will not be given that chance in The Bahamas. We hate what is ours............ SAD
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
I agree,Junkanoo looks beautiful. Carnival looks "messy". Narrowed it down to the fact that the purposes are different. The Junkanoo street parade is designed for the viewing public and cleaned up for all age viewing, the performers are ordered. The carnival street parade is designed for participants and anything goes, there's no order. I'm still at a loss for why they gave up on Junkanoo so easily. The marketing argument behind "carnival" doesn't fly, if you told anyone anywhere in the world you were hosting the Junkanoo Street Parade, they would know exactly what you meant.
Will it fail? I don't know. I hope it succeeds and I hope they try to make it cleaner than what I've seen from the other Caribbean countries. We don't need to import watlessness (and I do love my Caribbean brothers and sisters)
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
It is not a matter of hating what is ours it is a matter of making it bigger and better. It will always be Bahamian regarless of the influences of other cultures.
ohdrap4 9 years, 4 months ago
Who is going to carnival in May/ it is ludicrous.
this is Urban renewal 3.0, just giving money away to certain people at the expense of others.
many of the songs for the festival are just soca.
I am not worried. No one is coming.
For one thing, they will not find skinny locals to dress in the bikinis, and no self-respecting Bahamian man is going to shave and dress to dress like ben hur gladiator.
Furthermore, take a walk downtown on Tuesday and tell me how many skinny tourists are there to buy those skimpy costumes. The tourists are all McDonald's size.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
I hope it succeeds, but I am worried about how the money is moving
Emac 9 years, 4 months ago
@AndrewHarris-"There will soon be a new definition of Bahamian Culture." What the hell does that mean??? The Bahamas does not lack a definition of it's culture. The Bahamas lacks Bahamians who do not appreciate or understand our culture for what it is. Bahamian culture is not just Junkanoo! Our culture is the way we speak, the food we eat, our style, our colouful houses etc. And you are wrong! We do not need to embrace another country's form of festival when we have our own. Junkanoo was voted as the Best Caribbean Celebration by USATODAY readers. http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/b...">http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/b...
The government should have simply opted to expand on a Goombay Festival.. Goombay is unique to the Bahamas and it was well loved by both Bahamians and foreigners. Every time I travel to Ohio to visit my friends, I could never go there without taking them case of Goombay Punch, the iconic drink that represented the Bahamas and the Goombay Festival. They simply love it! In my book, no other festival in the world could have compare to Goombay, with scrumptious native dishes, authentic Bahamian music with jump 'n' dance, the best Bahamian performers, the world famous Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and the list goes on. And no sane government in the world would ever, ever spend nine million dollars to promote a cultural festival that has no roots in their country. Business entertainment promoters might do this, but the government? While it is important to respect and appreciate other people's culture, it is equally important to embrace our own and be proud of our profound heritage.
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
You are allowed to disagree but Junkanoo itself has been evolving and embracing the culture of Trinidad Carnival for more than 20 years. Object all you like you are fighting a losing battle. All cultures have been influenced by other cultures since the dawn of culture itself. This tiny country with its tiny Junaknoo festival will not be the exception. You are powerless to stop this. The food you eat, the music you make, the way you speak have already been influenced by other cultures...or maybe you did not realize.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
Yes we're evolving slowly, I hope we never have to stand up and ask how did we get here?
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
"Junkanoo Carnival" is by far the best idea any administration conceived so far!
Junkanoo itself will never be profitable, as it was not created to be profitable and never intended to be profitable. It is a local cultural expression geared to local Bahamians.
Junkanoo could be made profitable as an "excursion tour" show.
The Bahamas must not stop at "Junkanoo Carnival". Competitive regional resort destinations have long ago proved that carnivals, jazz fest, reggae fest, calypso fest, socca fest and others are very successful tourism profit centers.
The PLP and FNM lack obvious vision. They totally and utterly failed to develop the Bahamas as a "fun resort destination" by not focusing on resort activities, theme parks, shows, etc.....
Having 5M tourist visits a year is absolutely pointless without having the infrastructure in place to allow these people to 'SPEND' in the local economy.
Most puzzling and damming is the fact that from Independence July 1973 EVERY MP AND TOURISM MINISTER have taken their families and children to Orlando, Disney and the best theme parks in the world but NONE OF THEM HAD ENOUGH SENSE to grasp the concept that the Bahamas as a destination must create "fun resort activities" to increase tourism spending, stimulate sustained economic growth, create jobs & opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business's and to be more competitive as a tourism destination.
UNBELIEVABLE the level of ignorance and sheer bloody stupidity of successive governments not to have recognized, and act accordingly as a number one priority by simply looking to the amazing success of Florida and coping their tourism economic model!
Bahamas proximity to 400 million North Americans alone make us the best potential playground of North America.
Bahamas should be totally awash with tourism from Inagua to Freeport especially in winter Months.
Dumbass does .... as.... Dumbass is !
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
I agree 100% our governmentS have lacked vision and inovation. Here comes something new. It is long overdue
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
Shiny and new doesn't necessarily equate to good for you.
ohdrap4 9 years, 4 months ago
and, talking about theme park, whatetver happened to the slave plantation they were going to have in cat island?
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
Go right down to Clifton Heritage Park ............ what you think that is????????
Emac 9 years, 4 months ago
@AndrewHarris-"This tiny country with its tiny Junaknoo festival will not be the exception" You sound like you gat the "I am a white person and I say this little country needs outside influence to be successful"syndrome-Apparently you know nothing about the history of Junkanoo or the Bahamas. And yes I am quite aware that every culture has some roots from another country. It is when we take that influence, mold it and make it unique to us is when we gat our own thing going on. At this stage, we do not need another country's influence in regards a festival. We need to expand and fully exploit what we already have. Do you think Jamaica, Trinidad or any other Caribbean country would ever hold a major festival influenced by Junkanoo music? Never! So the same argument can be posed. Why won't they embrace Bahamian culture? I have visited and performed in almost every Caribbean country, as well as South America, and I love em all! So don't try to lecture me on cultures.Seems as if you think that 'tiny' countries like the Bahamas cannot compete with the world stage. If that was true, we wouldn't have Bahamian world-class athletes competing with other world-class athletes from other countries around the world. Anyone who has sense knows that the Bahamas can never be self sufficient. But only an idiot would think that Junkanoo or Goombay could never be as successful as other festivals around the world.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 4 months ago
I agree. I think a multi day parade around Junkanoo could be just as successful. And MOST importantly, you would have all Bahamians in support of it, not this Junkanoo vs carnival divide. Junkanoo is a little more costly, but no one needs to build the monster costumes they build for the Dec parade. Junkanoo would have done just fine. Junkanoo hasn't made money because it was never designed to be a money maker, plain and simple. That's easily remedied.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
When Neville Wisdom tried out the twelve days of Junkanoo concept over ten years ago, Bahamians thought he was crazy ....... but look at where we are today. if that had been allowed to blossom, we would have been on the roght road.
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
You are putting words in my mouth. I am not suggesting that anything is wrong with Bahamian culture or anything else. I am not a white man nor is my opinion 'white'. Bahamian culture is already stronly influenced by other cultures, this is normal. So is Canadian culture, Swiss culture, Korean culture, Brazilian culture. Junkanoo has been influenced by Trinidad Carnival for more than 2 decades. I have watched that evolution. I have also watched the evolution of Trinidad carnival. Bahamian artists today are strongly influence by reggae, soca, rap. Most Bahamian resturants now have Thanksgiving specials. You do not realize it because you cannot hear your own accent but the way we speak is very strongly influenced by America. The food on your plate every Sunday is mostly American. Macaroni and cheeze (that Bahamian staple) is American so is potatoe salad and cole slaw. The influences of other cultures is everywhere. You can find a jerk pit just about anywhere you go in Nassau. Now we even have Black Friday sales. All of this is the influence of other cultures. All I am saying is that our country is too small to prevent the 'invasion' of other cultures. I do not understand why people are so up in arms about this. I am neither for or against. I am just accepting the inevitable. makes absolutely no difference to me one way or another if this carnival takes place. Or if Black Friday sales become the norm or if Bahamians sing reggae or soca or if you cook a Thanksgiving dinner. With regard to Junkanoo music at carnival ridiculous. Junaknoo music at Junkanoo, soca at Carnival. Because they have a reggae fest every year does not mean there will be reggae at Junkanoo or Trini Carnival. But there is still a reggae fest. We will have carnival and eventually it will become a Bahamian thing with Bahamian. Nothing wrong with teefing an idea and shifting it around to suit your tastes. Open your minds
SP 9 years, 4 months ago
Good points! Nationalism is always the best way to go and the only way to build our culture.
I totally agree raw Junkanoo could be just as profitable as carnival if similarly packaged.
My suggestion is to keep Junkanoo as is at Xmas and New Years and simply add the "carnival flair" to the new Junkanoo Carnival concept with tourist participation as the main selling point.
The naysayers out there praying and betting on Junkanoo Carnival failure next year may be right. However, what we learn from this first one is invaluable information that "should" be used to fine tune this new product and EXPAND to more versions of festivals, carnivals and fests.
The biggest negative I foresee is the retarding of cultural expression at Junkanoo and especially Junkanoo Carnival by the christian counsel.
Dancers are "forbidden to shake naturally" at Junkanoo performances.
This Taliban mentality is a major deterrent to Junkanoo dance expression and will definitely put a huge damper on Junkanoo Carnival for people traveling Carnival circuits.
Government must ignore the christian counsels nonsense and allow Junkanoo and Junkanoo Carnival participants full expression if they are to become "their own unique entities" competitive on a regional scale.
Lets not forget this is the same group of CHRISTIAN COUNSEL CLOWNS that predicted fire, brimstone and the WRATH OF GOD UPON THE NATION if government allowed shops to open on Sunday!
asiseeit 9 years, 4 months ago
Who is going to ANY festival in this country to risk your life? I will not leave my house much less go up in a large crowd of drunk idiots these days. Murder, rape, gang beatings, robbery are just too frequent, me and mine will be trying to stay safe at home! Note the word "trying" in the last sentence.
duppyVAT 9 years, 4 months ago
Good point.. teh fear of criminality will impact attendance/participation in or at any public event right now in this country
concernedcitizen 9 years, 4 months ago
We have been trying to make junkanoo profitable forever ,spending millions sending groups all over ..2 days a year Christmas and New years w/ a captive audience ,us that is supposed to love it ,and strong arming the foreign firms to sponsor it and it still loses money .I say junkanoo is nice but if we did not have it not one less tourist would come ,they come here b/c of proximity ,sun ,sand and drinks ,,,etc ,,Our tourist are mostly white ,how many white people you see running to Trinidad for carnival ,,Stop wasting money let Junkanoo remain for Christmas,,sorry folks a billion dollars won,t create the next madi gras
Andrewharris 9 years, 4 months ago
You obviouly do not know much about Trinidad Carnival. Tens of thousand of tourists flock to carnival every year. It is a hugely profitable event. So profitable that there is now a Trini carnival in about 5 different cities around the world. Even other Caribbean Islands have starte annual carnivals to stimulate their economies. That is the idea behind having one here. Trinidad is sold out of hotel rooms some 6 months before carnival. rental cars are impossible to find. Flights are sold out 3 months before. Prices increase for everything.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID