NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Charles Maynard said recently that the Toronto Caribana Parade “Class B” win by a group of Bahamian Junkanoo “Allstars”, partnered with the Trinidadian mas band Connections, is a commendable achievement, especially since it was the first time Junkanoo officially participated in the Festival in almost 20 years.
“When we were first approached about this project, we saw it as a wonderful cultural exchange and an opportunity, really, to expose Canadians – and the North American following that this event has – to our number one cultural expression, Junkanoo ” Minister Maynard said recently.
“We are so pleased that it turned out well and to go and to win … we are so happy to have that effect on the parade, itself.”
Association of Bahamians in Canada (ABC) member Mr. Nelson Armaly presented the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture with a certificate of appreciation for the support the Ministry gave the association in allowing them to take part in what is known as the largest Caribbean festival in North America.
Mr. Armaly said about 20 Junkanoo performers – 10 of whom were already in Canada – performed last year and garnered a spot in the main parade this year, which had over 1.2 million viewers.
“This year, when we went in that parade, we actually won our division, from having Junkanoo participating in that first parade,” Mr. Armaly said.
Mr. Armaly pointed out that being chosen to participate this year was also noteworthy because it is usually a three-year process to being allowed to perform in the parade.
“From that performance of 20 people, they asked us to be in the parade and I think that is significant,” he added.
“We had a lot of volunteers from amongst our major Junkanoo groups, to participate in this event and so, we thought we would do our part to provide some funding and make this a reality,” Minister Maynard said.
Mr. Armaly said that there were 46 members in this year’s “Allstars” from groups such as the Music Makers, One Family, the Roots, the Valley Boys, the Saxons, and the Swingers Junkanoo Group from Freeport, Grand Bahama.
“The guys actually put this together,” he said. “We solicited and raised the funds; but we really have to thank the guys who came because they made it happen. Without them, we would not have won. Without them, we would not have been able to represent The Bahamas.”
Minister Maynard added that the achievement should inspire those Bahamians who took part in Caribana and the general public to appreciate Bahamian culture even more and realise the significance of it.
The Junkanoo “Allstars” also performed on Canadian television CP24 and City TV, which Mr. Armaly said are “like the NBC and ABC of Canada,” with viewerships in the millions. In fact, he added, they performed twice on one of the morning shows.
“It shows that a lot of people want to see Junkanoo, they want to see our culture, they want to see what we have to offer,” Mr. Armaly said.
He added that next year they looking forward to increasing their numbers and raising funds to allow for a “Class A” entry into Caribana.
“I think, sometimes, that we take it for granted; but when you get a chance to go outside The Bahamas and see how people receive it, it makes them realise that they (the Junkanoo performers) are artisans and they are professionals and they are among the best of the best when it comes to creativity, the creation of the music, the dance and the costuming,” Minister Maynard said. “We look forward to next year and beyond.”
By ERIC ROSE
Bahamas Information Services
