The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AS the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival draws near, more and more activities, celebrations and talented artists are coming to the forefront.

Just last Saturday at SuperClubs Breezes, the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) invited all musical groups interested in participating in the Junkamania portion of the 2015 Carnival experience to a free open call and workshop.

Junkamania is a concert of Junkanoo orchestras; a unique musical event showcasing Junkanoo music and other Junkanoo inspired folk forms such as drumming and dance. Musicians will let their imaginations run wild, producing new and exciting sounds by fusing the sounds of traditional Junkanoo instruments with that of other instruments from across the full music spectrum. Participants get a chance to win up to 10,000 in prize money.

The seminar acted as an open forum to outline the event, the concept, and the benefits to address any questions related to this event.

“One of the messages I would like to get out there, being CEO and being involved in the music industry, is to see how we can represent a concert presentation of Junkanoo music fused with rake n’ scrape, Goombay and other indigenous sounds of the Bahamas,” said Roscoe Dames, CEO of Bahamas National Festival Commission.

“The Junkanoo bells and cowbells become part of the entire ensemble of sound so that we have this Junkanoo orchestra that we can export and present to the world, and at some point in the future be able to have the performing arts centre where you can go and see Junka orchestra live performances.”

Just like there is a national youth orchestra, Mr Dames said, Bahamians can have another product to present to the world – not to take away from anything in existence currently, but to add to what the country already offers musically.

He asked for people to attend the seminar with an open mind and as artists, share, receive and walk away with a better understanding of their freedom to create.

“I love music from all over the world and I love musicians. I am excited to see what will be created. I expect for them to create music that not only we can present to the world, but be proud of when we stand up against other orchestras that present music from their countries,” said Mr Dames.

Guests at the seminar were also given a sneak peek of the children’s Road Fever parade costumes, where the kids showcased indigenous Bahamian costumes made from straw, sponge, sisal and more.

Dr Ann Higgins, research and special projects coordinator at BNFC, said this is the part of the Carnival that she is looking forward to most, the excitement from the children and presentation of Bahamian crafts.

“We want people to know they can sign up their community groups, school and youth groups. We are going as far as junior school, 18 years old and under. This children’s session of the Carnival is very important to us because this is where all of our indigenous costumes will be showcased through the children. The whole idea is to economically empower our Family Islanders and those craft people that produce these materials. The vision is for the vendors to be impacted in a financial and economic way as a result of the parade,” said Ms Higgins.