WE MASH UP DE ROAD!

WHOOOY!!!!!! Or should I say the road mash we up! LOL. Man, what a time!

I know all of your newsfeeds have been littered with carnival pictures and stories. As promised from last week's blog here is...

MY JUNKANOO CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE

BY TIMELINE 

5:30 a.m.
Yes, 5:30 a.m.!! I woke up not only because my body is used to waking up that time but also I  woke up in anxious anticipation for road fever.  I messaged Tiffany, because I just knew she would be up. We go back and forth about the costumes and logistics of getting to the site.

7:00 A.M.
Showered, fed and packing my bag to head to Tiffany's house to get dressed.

7:30 A.M.
Arrived at Tiffany's house and ensued in lots of girlie things. Makeup, hair, accessorizing and of course girl talk. 

We didn't have our head pieces just yet and so I arrived to Tiffany's house with my hair fixed a certain way to suit the particular head piece we were shown by picture. Come to find out our head pieces became something else and hair had to be re-done! Arghhhh

9:00 A.M. 
Met up with our other junkanoo carnival going friends for pre-road fever pics and shots. Wait did I say shots? I guess I did. **shrugs shoulders** #JudgeYaMa

THE CALM BEFORE DA STORM

NO CLUE WHAT WE WERE SAYING TO EACH OTHER BUT I'M SURE IT WAS NOTHING APPROPRIATE! LOL

PRACTICING, BECAUSE WE LIKE SHENANIGANS! LOL

                 

I READY, LET'S GO!

DAMN! All of that and we haven't even started yet! LOL

10:00 A.M - 10:30 A.M.
We picked up our drawstring backpacks that contained our mug that we would need for dranks for the day. The bag came in handy for keeping my little knick knacks safe like my phone, lipstick, keys, etc. We were then dropped off to the sports centre only just to BEGIN our day for real for real.

We hydrated with water, lots of water because it was hella HOT and mainly because the bar on wheels wasn't open yet. **side eye**

I don't believe I shared which Junkanoo Carnival group my friends and I participated in, did I?  It was Enigma Bahamas! Shout outs to ya!

WAITING FOR THE MARCH TO START, BUT FIRST LET ME TAKE A SELFIE

12:00 P.M. and BEYOND!!!
On de road....more on de road...and on de road some more. 

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

THE BEGINNING

DA CROWD

MIDWAY THROUGH, LIPSTICK GONE AND HOT, BUT TIFF STILL LOOKS GREAT!

DANCING

NO LAW FOR US!

BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS TO A BOOTY SHOT, JUST TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

Two things I would change during the entire day was, ONE, the route was too long.  At a certain point I marched off the road because I was done! PAHTEE DONE and that was about 9:00pm! Sorry, no evening pictures here because at that point my phone had died. (Remember to pack a backup battery for next time). SECOND, too much stopping to judge. I know the groups have to be judged but it took away from the vibe because it wasn't free flowing. 

I enjoyed the coming together by all my fellow Bahamian people AND non-Bahamian people. There was nothing but love on da streets and really that's what it's all about! 

To the spectators and onlookers out there that may have felt some type of way about Junkanoo Carnival or didn't fully support the event, I hope to see you out there next year rather than be on the sidelines!

Signed, 
#I'sAJunkanooCarnivalist 
Candilaria

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival 2016

We are in the second year of the recently created Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and once again it is still met with lots of controversy. Controversy because a lot of people believe we are adopting another country's culture. At least that's the crux of it. As if the concept of "Carnival" is limited to only these countries. 

Well if we look at the definition of "Carnival" according to the Webster Dictionary it means...

: a festival held before Lent that includes music and dancing

:  a event where many people gather to celebrate something

So there we go, I think of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival as a celebration of Bahamian culture. The food, music, clothing, and essentially the PEOPLE!

I know the focus seems to be on it not being "Junkanoo" enough but come on people, is that the ONLY thing we feel we have to offer?

Do we underestimate the value of our Bahamian people?  

Why does it matter HOW we bring people to experience our culture? Whether it is a festival, a carnival, a concert, an art show, etc. Aren't all of these events universal?

I will let you know this, this Bahamian Gal ga be on da road dis Satdee! Yes, this Married Working Mother. And I ain shame!

Costume from the group Enigma Bahamas, taken from their Facebook page.

Unfortunately, some of my "conservative" people will be overly critical especially when they don't agree with it. Possibly, because they don't agree with dancing half naked in the middle of the street. I, personally don't have an issue with it. The thing is, many of you will dance half naked at Trinidad and Jamaica's carnival. Why? Because you don't want "people" to see you carryin' on bad and require full anonymity or you are just too afraid to throw on that 2 piece and whine up ya body. My body is never where I want it to be but it's not going to stop me from enjoying something. I will be right there jigglin' down the road.

I've always wanted to experience carnival, elsewhere, but for whatever reasons, going never panned out. But I sit here writing this post thinking how proud I am that the very first Carnival I will participate in will be my very own, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival!!! Where I will celebrate with my beautiful Bahamian people. That's some pretty cool shit.

Because after all, it's about the PEOPLE! So tourists, HERE I COME, this is one Bahamian you will have a good time with :) GET READY!


Stay tuned for my follow up post next week documenting my experience!


Signed, 
#ReadyFaDaRoad, Candilaria