Junkanoo Festival – The Bahamas
Every year, on December 26 and January 1, many people of African descent in the Bahamas come together to remember their history through music, dance and costume in what is known as the Junkanoo festival.
On December 25, 1708, John Kenu, a millionaire and trader, defeated the Dutch who wanted to take control of the Ahanta land in Ghana and sell the natives into slavery. According to oral history, after taking control over Fort Fredericksburg and weakening the Dutch rule over his people, he was made a ruler. Kenu protected his people by winning several battles against the Germans, Dutch and British for over 20 years.
In his honour, the Fancy Dress festival was started in the Bahamas and parts of Jamaica, in the same fashion as it was started in Ghana, after news of his success was spread by enslaved Africans brought into the Caribbean.
The name of the festival in the Bahamas is an adulteration of the name John Kenu.
