Junkanoo Carnival

As of Friday, May 1, 2015

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Just a little comment on The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival issue, and event. I really believe it has taken Junkanoo to the next level, so to speak, and, is a great positive advertisement for the Bahamas; also a big boost for the tourist trade here in the Bahamas and is very cultural.

Now since the event is mainly a “Bahamian thing,” one may have thought this great tourist attraction and street spectacular, with all fair judgment and good sense, would have had a Bahamian band or artists to perform at its opening, as opposed to the choice of a singer from another island country, however, Watch D also feels, and setting aside all prejudices, towards foreign entertainers of the Caribbean, The Bahamas does accept diversities and embraces music from all countries, but now since the “die has been cast,” and the misunderstanding and oversight in decision, we should all band together along with our Caribbean counterparts in love, peace and happiness, go out and support the event at its opening and if there is ever another debut of a future similar event, then a more rationale way of thinking will prevail for the Bahamian artists.

WATCH D

Nassau,

April 27, 2015.

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 11 months ago

I watched the Junkanoo performance at the IAAF. The free dancers were awesome, the drummers were great, the bellers were great, the music was great, nobody was wining on anybody, but it was pure energy. The costumes were beautiful and they were covered. Why did we need to change that "form"? Everyone I listen to who loves the importation of the Trini-style culture talks with fondness of how loose they are going to carry on at Junkanoo Carnival and I really wonder if we needed anything else to encourage our young people to get looser...I love Destra btw and I love the idea of a street parade that anybody can participate in. But we need to stop taking directions from old, sexually perverted, depraved men, who LOVE MONEY (we know what's at the root of that)

What is wrong with Junkanoo performance at IAAF and on Bay St? They are moving it too far from the people. Junkanoo is like all energy, it has to be close enough for it to hit you. The performance on center field is too far from the people. The energy gets dissipated. The dancers have to work too hard for it to reach the crowd. Get more dancers and have them spilt up so they are right up next to the stands. The band can stay center field and alternate the side of the track they perform on. It might be too hard to coordinate timing of two separate groups...unless they had electronic queues both sides could see....I'd even say put some dancers in the stands but that's too dangerous, the idea is, get them as close as you can. We need a Junkanoo stadium.

When I think of change that's what I think about, innovating the way the product is delivered or the ease with which the product is delivered, not necessarily changing the product. The Junkanoo style of dance is so native and raw and beautiful, it doesn't need nakedness as a draw

Do you think Machel Montano would have the same effect if he were performing by himself in the center of the Sports center? No! He might get some people up, maybe those closest to him, the rest would just stay in their seats. I've never seen an entertainer who performed to a crowd where the closest audience member to them was 50 ft away audience. The bleachers on Bay St are a failure.