John Canoe dancers, Jamaica, W.I.

http://45.33.1.181/images/d_0000289_john_canoe_dancers.jpg

Title

John Canoe dancers, Jamaica, W.I.

Description

A troupe of John Canoe dancers including the "Queen" and Pitchy Patchy. John Canoe/Jonkonnu is believed to be derived from the name of a famous African Chief of the Guinea Coast named John Connu and a cultural retention of slave society. In Jamaica, John Canoe is viewed as a recreational activity and is usually reserved for the Christmas period when there emerges a band of diverse masqueraders. Some of the major characters include pitchy-patchy, horse head and belly woman. John Canoe was most prolific during the plantation era where slaves used Jonkonnu as a form of self-expression. It is also said that this was one of the few activities that the planters sanctioned as they saw no threats in the activities of Jonkonnu.

Subject

John Canoe - Jamaica; Folklore - Jamaica; Jonkonnu - Jamaica

Source

NLJ Postcard Collection

Identifier

D0000289

Rights

Permission to reproduce this image must be obtained from the National Library of Jamaica.

Format

JPEG

Type

Postcard

Citation

“John Canoe dancers, Jamaica, W.I.,” National Library of Jamaica Digital Collection , accessed November 12, 2024, https://nljdigital.nlj.gov.jm/items/show/3520.