The Junkanoo
It isimpossible to find a more authentic expression of Bahamian culture than its carnival: the Junkanoo. While the origin of the word is uncertain - it is believed to derive from John Canoe, a famous African tribal chief who became a slave in the 18th century - it is known that the celebration of carnival dates back to the Spanish conquest, when settlers imported it to America. Originally, the two periods of its celebration corresponded to the days before Lent and the summer solstice. Today it is celebrated around Christmas, a little bit everywhere on the different islands of the archipelago, with the climax being reached on Boxing Day (26 December) in Nassau, when the parade starts at 2am (yes yes!) and ends around 11am. A cousin of the Rio carnival or the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Junkanoo is above all a popular festival where all social classes join in the jubilation, with costumes and masks erasing distinctions. It is also the latter that express the Bahamian past, between traditions, customs and African roots. The music, absolutely feverish, that accompanies the parade - called
Junkanoo Rush Out - is a real parade of goatskin drums, horns, brass bells and whistles. Collective improvisation plays a big role. At the end of the parade, a committee of judges awards prizes to the best groups. These groups win the right to parade again on January 1, from dawn to the end of the morning. Once the excitement of the Junkanoo has subsided, the groups quickly set about preparing for the carnival the following year. It should be noted that from now on, in response to tourist demand, another carnival is organized on weekends from June to August on Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco, Exuma and Bimini. This is the Junkanoo Summer Festival, the same colourful mix of music, art and culture where the sounds of whistles, brass instruments and goatskin drums vibrate, but in a summer version.The Goombay and the rake n' scrape
Apart from Junkanoo, the other musical genre par excellence Bahamian is undoubtedly Goombay
. Coming from the Bantu term meaning "rhythm", Goombay mixes African rhythms with the melodies of old Europe. The term rake n'scrape is used to describe the orchestras that perform Goombay - which is why it is sometimes referred to as "rake n'scrape music" - traditionally played on tool-based instruments (such as a saw or screwdriver) as well as accordions, guitars, maracas and a violin. More modern instruments such as the saxophone or electric guitar have also appeared more recently. As far as dancing is concerned, the steps performed on Goombay resemble those of the quadrille or polka.The late musician Joseph Spence is perhaps one of the most famous ambassadors of Goombay (and Bahamian music as a whole). Guitarist and singer who became cult, he inspired many American musicians such as Taj Mahal, Grateful Dead or Ry Cooder with his unique and singular style, a mix of calypso, blues, folk, sacred songs and Bahamian soul.
Every year, during the first week of June on Cat Island, the rake'n'scrape festival is held, an excellent opportunity to hear the best artists of the genre play iconic tracks.The calypso
Although it originated in Trinidad and Tobago, calypso spread throughout the Caribbean, before settling and thriving in the Bahamas in the 20th century. This traditional languorous rhythm of the islands is inherited from the period of slavery, when slaves challenged each other with humorous or polemical verses set to the rhythm of clapping sticks. This oratorical joust has become a more elaborate music with guitars and drums, enriched by the influences of African rhythms. Often sung in French Creole or English, the genre mutated according to the islands where it landed to become, for example, rocksteady (then ska and reggae) in Jamaica. A superb overview of the genre has been produced by Smithsonian Folkways (the label of the Smithsonian Institution), with the compilation Calypso Awakening from the Emory Cook Collection. Otherwise, to discover the Bahamian star of the genre, go to the album Blind Blake & the Victoria Royal Hotel Calypsos published by the Swiss label Moi J'Connais Records. The object compiles all the great standards of Blake Alphonso Higgs, the most famous calypsonian of the Bahamas. A small masterpiece of local music.
Popular music
One of the most popular forms of music in the Bahamas is gospel. A remnant of the Loyalist passage from the southern United States, gospel music is very present in religious celebrations and it is anything but rare to come across a congregation singing accompanied by spiritual dancing and applause. Among the Bahamian performers who are now nationally and internationally known and recognized are Ronnie Butler (1937-2017), the author of the famous 1967 song Burma Road. Always considered one of the best singers in the country, Ronnie Butler has crossed all styles - calypso, rake'n'scrape, rock, bluegrass, funk, romantic ballads... - and was even knighted by the Queen of England at the end of his career. Another great musical figure, Diana Hamilton mixes Cajun blues, country, calypso, jazz and hip hop in her albums and founded a rake'n'scrape Summer Camp on Cat Island. The last notable artist, Nehemiah Hield was the leader of the group The Baha Men (whose hit Who Let the Dogs Out you've obviously already heard), won the Bahamian Grammy for best singer in 1991 and has been one of Lenny Kravitz's backing singers since 1999. Names that have marked the country's musical history and continue to resonate with the Bahamian colours today at delà̀.
