Junkanoo   Rocks   and   Sways   in   the   African-American   Day   Parade

Tallahassee-Bahamas Junkanoo Group Jams in Harlem Enjoy these photos and the Junkapoetry of the group's historic debut in the world's largest Black parade, the African-American Day Parade - Harlem, New York - September 17, 2000.

Junkanoo drummers layin' down the sounds
that rocked and rolled Harlem-Town

The pretty Showtime girls
who introduced Junkanoo soul dancin'
to the New York world!
He finished this Junka costume in a few hours
in an empty Harlem room.
Now when his Junkahorn blows,
the Junkanoo rhythm will rush
right to the core of your very soul.
A topnotch Marie Brooks Company dancer
who on September 17, 2K,
became a Junkanoo groover, rusher, and prancer
for one rhythm-soaked New York day.
The tom-tom drumbeats
of this Junkanoo locks brother
brought smiles to every Harlem body
from l'il ole ladies to l'il ole babies
and their rhythm-rockin' daddies and mothers.
Jammin' the Junkasoul rhythm sounds.
Hey, Junkanoo SPIRIT'S rushin' in New York town!
The great Marie Brooks Company dancers
with their famous whirling, swirling skirts
in the African-American Day Parade,
September 17, Y2K.
Oooh, you just should've seen
how they rhythm-rushed that day
Everything and everybody were boppin' and rockin',
slammin' and jammin'
when those l'il sistuhs soul-flowed through
with the powerful SPIRIT of Junkanoo
Marie Brooks on the left,
a high-cultured elder artist we celebrate
and whose dancers whirled, swirled, twirled and Junkanoo rushed
in the African-American Day Parade.
Now as for the culture-roots sistuh
and her parrot on the right,
well, both that sistuh and that parrot
jammed with the Junka sounds with all their might!
Junkanoo groovin' in Florida
and rushin' free-style.
No way you can experience Junkanoo SPIRIT and not smile. ;)
Imagine! Just plain ole cardboard
the foundation of the Junka costumes.
Well, the culturally wise are not surprised
that the Junkanoo SPIRIT was birthed
from Mama Africa's ancestral womb.
The indefatigable Dr. Jan DeCosmo,
a Junkanoo aficionado who loves the culture so
that with beaucoup energy and mostly her own limited monies,
she brought the Tallahassee-Bahamas Junkanoo Group
all the way across the country
to rhythm-rock the Junkanoo SPIRIT
in the AA DAY Parade
September 17, Y2K, Historic Harlem-Town way.
The Tallahassee-Bahamas Junkanoo Group
culture-bearing youth
rushing with the ancestral SPIRITpower
of JUNKANOO.

A bouquet of thanks and blessings to Mr. Abe Snyder, Coordinator, The African-American Day Parade, who enthusiastically welcomed a presentation of Junkanoo in this historic event and to members of the Bahamian-American Association and the Bahamas-New York Rushers who accompanied the youth in the parade and rendered hospitality at the Bahamas House. Also to Ms. Pat Belcon and Ms. Marie Brooks for arduously working with Dr. DeCosmo and Junkanoo SPIRIT Pro-Motions to make the appearance a success and a memorable event for those dedicated youth and elders carrying on the deep cultural Spirit of JUNKANOO.

Junkanooingly yours,

---Linda Cousins, Director,
Junkanoo SPIRIT Pro-Motions


Junkanoo poetry - copyright © Junkanoo SPIRIT Pro-Motions 2000
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <}}>< <}}>< <}}>< <}}>< <}}>< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Return trip to Junkanoo Soulsite homepage

This page has been visited times.