NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Charlotte Patterson,
Education Coordinator
Release Date: Immediate
(252) 335-1453
End Date: December 7, 2013
Jonkonnu, a New
Bern based teen performance group, will perform at the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday,
December 7, 2013 beginning at 3:00
p.m. during the Polar Express Adventure Open House. They will also parade in the Elizabeth City Jaycees Christmas Parade
on the same night.
Jonkonnu pronounced “John Canoe” is a festive holiday that blends
African and English traditions. Because eighteenth and nineteenth descriptions
of Jonkonnu were written largely by whites, the full meaning for African
Americans is unclear. It first appeared in Jamaica and spread to the Caribbean
Islands, Bermuda and North Carolina. It is a celebration with African spiritual
roots combining costumes, dance and music used in West African religious
practices. Over the years it came to resemble the tradition
of English Christmas caroling. Even
after the death of chattel slavery in 1865, the tradition was continued by
African Americans in eastern North
Carolina for forty years. Jonkonnu in the 1800s was lively and
colorful. Musicians and dancers dressed
in masks and multi-colored costumes and armed with drums and cowbells would
parade from house to house. They would
continue playing, singing and dancing until the master of the house would come
out and pay them with coins. The head
dancers would then be greeted by the head of the house and they would shake
hands. This was the only time during the year that enslaved persons could expect
to meet his or her master on terms that “seemed” level or equal. The
celebration was a very special time because it was a rare occasion when the
daily workload could be put aside and they could enjoy themselves. By the late 1900s due to growing tensions
between the races, Jonkonnu had been given up in most areas. Jonkonnu returned to North Carolina in the late 20th
century.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jonkonnu
performers will dance and sing in the annual Elizabeth City Jaycees Christmas Parade
following behind the Museum of the Albemarle’s
banner. The lead dancers and musicians will form a parade with the others
following singing and clapping to the music. You will see the “Rag Man” dressed
in a suit of colorful rags and a horned headdress. He will shake hands with the
revelers. Join in the celebration by shaking
his hand, dancing and singing to the music and join in the fun!
Jonkonnu in the 1800s was lively and colorful. Musicians and dancers dressed in masks and
multi-colored costumes and armed with drums and cowbells would parade from
house to house. They would continue
playing, singing and dancing until the master of the house would come out and
pay them with coins. The head dancers
would then be greeted by the head of the house and they would shake hands. This
was the only time during the year that enslaved persons could expect to meet
his or her master on terms that “seemed” level or equal. The celebration was a
very special time because it was a rare occasion when the daily workload could
be put aside and they could enjoy themselves.
By the late 1900s due to growing tensions between the races, Jonkonnu
had been given up in most areas.
Jonkonnu returned to North
Carolina in the late 20th century.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jonkonnu performers will dance and
sing in the annual Elizabeth City Jaycees Christmas Parade following behind the Museum of the Albemarle’s banner. The
lead dancers and musicians will form a parade with the others following singing
and clapping to the music. You will see the “Rag Man” dressed in a suit of
colorful rags and a horned headdress. He will shake hands with the revelers. Join in the celebration by shaking his hand,
dancing and singing to the music and join in the fun!
Historic information was taken from www.tryonpalace.org/pdfs/jonkonnu.
All Jonkonnu performances are supported by the Judge Thomas
Watts Memorial Endowment, which is administered by the North Carolina Community
Foundation.
For More Information Call 252-335-1453
The Museum of the Albemarle
is located at 501 S. Water Street,
Elizabeth City, NC.
(252)335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook!
No comments:
Post a Comment