Jonkonnu the Jamaican folk dance
Jonkonnu is a Jamaican dance form which still exists in Jamaica. This traditional dance form has its roots and influence from the African culture. This dance was widly done from the days of slavery and in Jamaica it is usually performed at Christmas time. This colorful and attractive dance form increases the fun of Christmas. But it’s not performed frequently now-a-days.
Africa is rich with dance culture and they have a lot of folk dance. And Caribbean dances have its origin in African cultures. All the Caribbean dance forms have different forms and expressions. But among all the folk dances, this one is very popular among Jamaican people. When English colonists went to Jamaica in the late seventeenth century, Jamaican and British culture mixed together and this dance form was invented. As British celebrated Christmas, Jamaican people started celebrating with the Jonkonnu dance as part of it. And that’s how this folk dance was created.
Usually, persons who perform this traditional dance form wear costumes. They play characters like Horse, Cow, the Devil, Policeman, Big Belly woman (or pregnant woman), Actor boy and Pitchy Patchy. If you don’t have any idea as to what Pitchy Patchy is well here is some information on it. The person who plays this character wears colored cloth that covers the dancer from head to foot. When people perform Jonkonnu it looks very colorful and mesmerizing. These characters start dancing when the beat of drums starts. They also dance to other instruments like kitchen grater, bongo and fife.
The dancers would also do moves and gestures that are funny to the onlookers and adds to the vibes of the performance. They are usually as good with what they do as Enigin PLC is with theirs.
Other popular traditional Caribbean dances are Tambu, Oreisha and Shango. But none of them are performed frequently now-a-days.
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